Alan White

Mike how could you slip over to the dark side 😉😉

Guilty as charged your honour, it’s the need to try something else that does it, curiosity. However presently under control due to finances.

Nice, not heard of these before, presume this was acquired while you were in the US. Looks a great set up on your SW pier with the APZ.

@The60mmKid looking through the site and seen your pier mounted newt, is that a mark newt and what is it. Just being curios really.

Now that’s a novel solution, thank you for sharing.

I was drawn as I at the time did not want to join a club.... I met friendly folks online, I asked stupid questions and got mainly sensible answers back 😉 Its a friendly place where folks like to share the joy of whichever direction your astronomy takes you. That friendly place lead me to an Astronomy club near home, new friends and somehow over the years ended up on the committee of it. (Full circle). I have met a number of folks from here in person, who I consider friends. Long may SGL remain the calm, friendly, ego free place that it is.

The atmosphere, the view and the sounds firstly. Often followed by Roibos Tea (just like @DirkSteele), which is caffeine free and a taste acquired by working on a desk opposite two South Africans.

Great images Paul and interesting to read your journey in achieving them. As a visual only observer I always enjoy the wonders imaging can produce.

Hello Andy and welcome to the forum. No help on Astro Imaging as I am a pure visual astronomer only. I understand why down size from a nice 10" may feel a bit tough, but with some of the kit now available, I am sure if your purse will stretch you will enjoy. My most used kit is a pair of 10x50 Binos.

Nice to see @mikeDnight has received a mug with a self portrait on it, what placing was that 1st 2nd or 3rd? Very nice 20mm for that 150 and the Dob @Saganite

This is great to see the AZ75 being so well used with such a variety of scopes. And to think the noise made to me and @Stu over no slow motions etc. I still love my AZ75 and it’s the mount of choice for me.

Congratulation Nigella. You will soon need a trophy cabinet for them, clearly not going to be used.

Ed, As you said looked good, It was clear as it got dark, then clouds all over as darkness fell. I am not so fed up with my lot now, I couldn't have observed even if I wanted to 😉

I feel your pain, I am in the same situation, but could not observe anyway as I have a back issue flared up at the minute, which is not much fun. So there is someone more upset than you out here.

Just found the thread. I do no science when observing, it’s just for pleasure and my well-being. If the term Star-Gazer was good enough for Leslie C Peltier, then perhaps it’s too good for me, but I have no issue, to gaze is to look steadily and carefully, I do that when observing.

David, are the Nagler 22's not a 2" barrel?

Never too late to ask and your most welcome to do so. The project has stalled, the mirror is sat wrapped carefully stored for a project one day, but not that soon. I would still soak it off and have an adjustable cell myself, but that will not all fit in the existing tube, due to the length and also wanting to change the spider to a thinner 4 vane job. My present thinking is buy a SW 150 f8 with a messed up secondary and shorten the tube and use all the bits to make the f6 hinds mirror live again. So far its got no further than this removal and thinking stage sadly. Good luck with what you do and please make a posting of progress.

I think the UK & Europe supply was running down the MK1 stock before supplying any MK2. The discounts is to clear the last of the MK1 stock. The foil spacers or a foil ring visually will make no difference, I think its Vixens chance to 'update' the existing scopes to a 'new' one for those who like the latest model.

I know of a circa 200mm APO set up near me, its of a very high quality from the US. The owner has publicised it in the very dimmest past. I was very lucky to look through it and wow what a peach. UK seeing does limit it, as does most UK pocket depths no doubt, he has a second observatory with a 120 instrument set up. Both of the above are visual use mainly instruments as well, warms my heart that.

I love my SD103, the sale is for the first SD such as my one and its super. They have brought out a SD103ii, the only change is no foil spacers between the two elements and its now a ring spacer now. These scopes are so under appreciated but they are a gem.

I think @JeremyS must have only shown one half of his Tak collection, That or else he has far more to add yet 😉 Those six Tec 180 made me have a similar reaction to @Sunshine Andromeda could have had a dome Steve, but it would be outsized for uk planing no doubt and not count as a temporary building. And so far thank goodness no one has started posting finders as an entry.......,ooops that has done it now.

How wrong you can be Jeremy....... I found this on Newt Lickers Anonymous! In all seriousness, I am a Refractor man too as many know, first scope was an Achromat and many more since, but I do dabble with Newts as well, but the true wow factor comes from my Refractors. At the minute I am pondering how to observe going forwards with an ongoing long term back issue that I have. If I had the means, health and location I would have an observatory and a large refractor.

I have just found this thread while sitting with my work PC updating itself. Perhaps with all this lens licking and eyepiece sucking going on, then a Therapist could specialise in such issues and help the Astro community no end.

As a visual observer, these mounts are outside my area of knowledge, but I must say it looks like SW have upped the game with bigger and even smaller mounts. Nice to see you Solar Imaging Nigella with the new mount. So is your night mount the EQ8 SW still? All of interest, but all very much outside of my knowledge area.