Alan White

Thanks, that is a great link, more online resource is always good 👍

Hi Ed I agree with you on Magazines for Visual Only, but they do offer insight into the Science and Space exploration that goes on as well as talking about the Dark Art of Astro Imaging etc. Until this year I was a regular to Sky at Night and Astronomy Now, both subscriptions have now lapsed. Due mainly to the fuller focus on imaging and imaging equipment, but an indicator of the times I think. I will say you still got the Binocular Tour and Other observing parts of Sky at Night, but I wanted more and that more are now online, the many online resources are now my point of reference, but if it was on paper, well that would be wonderful. Alan

That’s looking great, and wow what a location.

Having recently again bought a Vixen GP all manual mount in a fit of nostalgia and comparing eq manual tracking to nudges on alt az, this thread hits all the points, oh and adds in @Stu’s brain to jelly comment as well 🤣 I cut my Astro teeth on a very wobbly, poorly mounted Bresser EQ back in the late 80’s or very early 90’s. I used it how Michael @Mr Spock describes and that is how I use the GP now. But I do find star hopping a slight challenge, but so far my brains have not liquified and leaked from my ears… Perhaps they did years ago and nowts left to leak! On Observed targets the tracking was nice, but I am unsure it’s worth the back and knee pain due to my non rotating focused and finder on my Vixen 103 scope. So guess what’s now back on the observing pad? This is the test AZ75, not a production model for record.

Indeed it is and marked so on my one I own, silly me not wearing my readers when posting🤣

Is this the 32mm 82 degree one at over £300 your talking about @Westmoorland? Why not look at the APM UFF 30mm, very flat field, same 2" fitting and from my experience and others super, Its a 65 degree field, but feels wider and plays nicely with Morpheus etc. Oh and just over £200 as well. https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/apm-ultra-flat-field-eyepieces-65.html

Respect to all who manage such late nights or early mornings. I observed between 8.30 and 11.30 but as others have said, it was challenging with the jet stream, but with many careful targets had a great time. Jupiter was not in the best location for me at that time, but in the good moments was amazing for the conditions. More nights with a more stable atmosphere ahead I hope.

I will send you a Eyepeice-O-Holic Anonymous link straight away, it always start with that line...

Never truer word spoken Don 👍

I would love an observatory with an AZ100 with drives and a very nice Vixen or Similar 150mm Refractor on it and a Nice 80mm Ha cope alongside. But presently all but a dream for now. Oh and the real impossible one, Clear skies on my demand and availability to observe, yes I know that's a stretch too far!

Rob, Louis has it bad, real bad..... But I do like the eyepiece trumps idea.

I am guilty of being an eyepiece-o-holic, I just cannot help myself, so many have passed through my paws. BUT Often on a target chosen night, I will only use two eyepieces and sometimes even just the one, BUT having a number to choose from allows me to use that choice of 1 or 2. Not getting into eyepieces, well its good for your wallet and mental health perhaps. and nothing wrong in not indulging.

I know your temptation, I kept looking at a used one listed on Fleabay a month ago, the distance away and needing collecting, fule prices and not least saving funds for other things stopped the itch, well for now. So I encourage you to be tempted, but and its a definate but, is it too niche?

Thank you @JeremyS for the sad emoji, perhaps I should start a go fund me and solve the situation 😉

I have just caught up with the Rowan website, pre-order live, that’s great news, looks stunning. At that price point for all that kit and quality engineering it feels well priced, quality costs once don’t forget. Only problem is that I don’t have an AZ100 mount at present…..

A collapbsile seat terrifies me to be honest, I hope it works well for you though, let us all know.

Sadly that is a true observation, but did you see the petrol prices drop abit after oild dropped?

See!

Sadly a contagious affliction, once you touch Vixen kit, well ….. Same with Takahashi kit as well!

Funny how things work through Jeremy. Now if I can find some clauses in my paperwork with my kit .....

Welcome back, it’s like riding a bike and comes back.

Nice build, good to see folks getting full time set ups. Just being ready is worth its weight in gold. My set up is a pier and mount out in the open, just pop the scope on, for visual that’s really good.

Focus shift is perhaps just an inherent part of the design of this type of scope.

Slightly out of context quote, sorry Michael, but I had no idea that the Mewlon cost so much, but with Jeremy’s link to a sports car, we’ll that makes sense 😉 This is all send with good humour and tongue in cheek.

Nice one, and let's face it always useful for shaving 😉 🤣 I await the first shave oops, light report.