Alan White

Been away on holiday and returned to post, but sadly missing the FT focuser for the Lunt still ☹️ But some goodies are here 😁 The long awaited SLV 9mm, got it off eBay and only 3 weeks from new, not to sellers taste, my gain in this case.

Arnaud, what a super job, you must be very pleased. That mount is like a cat more than one life.

Thank you for the update Steve. Much as we really thought physics being advanced by the new ultra short, longer fl scope, we all truly knew the reality. Looks a super package, just the red anodising makes me 🤪

Not quite the same time frame from me, but your words echo my own otherwise.

Fully agree on what you say. Getting to study a star close by is something we should feel blessed by. The keeping the Astro mojo alive and well is a pleasant side effect.

As I have only an Ha scope with me at present, much thanks for the images Stu.

I have the 40 and love it. The instant use and ease of use are the making of this scope for me. I am a visual observer. The helical focuser is the scopes weakness, but once used to it things settle down. I do admit to having the FT focuser on order though. Whichever way you jump, go for it, the Suns going nuts at the minute and now is the best time to go for it.

Venus is a great challenge to test you observing skills and it’s fun stepping up to that challenge. I love observing cloud, well other planets clouds anyway. Being seated, spending plenty of time at the eyepiece and being prepared to try various filters has worked for me. As others have said, not easy. In my view that’s the whole point. Oh and doubting what you are seeing is the biggest challenge of all at the start.

The new facility may have en-suite 🤣

That Vixen is quite a find.

Mike the Khazi is 3 x 18” deep. 6x4 is the size of the base left and a fence panel wide in standard uk sizes.

6x4 Wooden pent with double doors on order with local shed maker. ETA early July 🤞 watch this space.

Interesting list, many of the points are ones I have similar feeling about. Congratulations on nearly 10 years of observing, shows the bug is truly bitten.

More like lovely Vixen content 😁

WOW @Franklin I think you have a Japanese box fetish going on, I have decided to help out and shrink the size of the problem for you above 😉 Indeed it does start to get adictive, so far just mainly watching and going darn it, I should have bid!

Thanks for that input, appreciated. The noise point is well made and noted, hence the rethink. A Wooden shed is now the likely contender, it can be more easily taken down and moved for any future move. 6x4 Pent, No windows with side double doors opening onto the pad area.

Nice solid solution. The Tan Lines have now gone too, which is always good.

Postie has just been with an import from Japan. You will have to call me @Franklin very soon. This is the last spend for a while now, its the last of my pressies pot.

Funny how the original plan still needed more work even after all this time. I said back in 2018/19 that the pad had an 'Area for Shed Store in future'. Well after a lot of discussion at home and looking at what others have done etc. We are go for a store / shed in the original marked space. The 10" Dob in the Dining Room and lots of scope bags and cases have won the day and a store is required I have been told, so not wishing to upset anyone, clearly under suffernace I have agreed 😉 Played with long sticks in place of roofline and it does not cause me a problem seated at low level with my 103, may limit me with the 10 just a little, but scopes and mounts in shed, accessible and away from the accountants eyes as well, a double win. The plan is a metal shed like this one 6 feet wide 4 feet deep, its just a store after all. Others have used them as observatories, so I am sure it will make a decent enough store. Only doing this as the ongoing solution until we downsize and I can build a sliding roof observatory (I hope). Thats in the future and for now is a cheap solution with employment uncertaintity looming in my life just now. So any thoughts or pitfalls others can think of?

As long as the larger stone ends up as the top layer all should be ok, Bigger stones work upwards over time in my experience.

Now that takes Observatory finishing to a new league, wonderful garden feature. Your whole project is so well executed and with such careful craftsmanship.

Is that because your 60mm centric? 🤣 But I can see why you would have such a sentiment, it is a cute sized scope.

Looks great and as always with these projects, final tweaks as you go and learn.

A certain Lunar Atlas, held off for a while but then was told to get something in for Fathers Day, so I did. Very nice indeed, but now removed from me until it can be presented back.

Virtually next door then, in large teritory terms.