LukeSkywatcher

I bought a bino bandit a few weeks ago. I haven't used it yet.

On 27/04/2021 at 15:42, skyhog said:

So this month's moon is the "pink" moon.... Don't remember them having names when I was a child. Still today's headlines imploring everyone not to miss tonight's pink offering... 🙄

I saw on the news a couple of days ago that it was a Super Moon. The media has a lot to answer for.

We are actually listening to the German version right now.

2 minutes ago, blameTECHIE said:

I'd like to award @LukeSkywatchera medal for the reference, but now I've got Nena stuck in my head .... (including the German version) 🤣 

The German version is so much better. Cool image. If you zoom in, you can see the strings.

I'd get worried if 99 Red Balloons go by.

13 hours ago, fifeskies said:

 

A great little book written by an 8yo astronomy fan.

Nice photos and some of Aston's own drawings.

Only £5 and worth every penny.

Very easy read for children.

The Solar System by Aston Smith | First Light Optics

That's a really good book, and brilliant for kids. 

I do wonder if Aston raised enough money to get a nice scope.

Fantastically sharp. I even zoomed right in.

I have one of those in my garden. Its a compass design with all the markings. Funny because I don't use EQ mounts anymore. I'm in a wheelchair, so mine had to be wide enough for me to be able to move freely around scopes. The guy who did my patio area,and side lane did it FOC as a gift. Its coloured concrete rather than paving slabs. Mine is almost identical to this one. Its 8ft in diameter. Its in an area of the garden that maximises my views N,E and W. It points to N.

I have a set of Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars. Great for a quick scan in white light to check for sun spots, before dragging out the scope and Quark, or Hershel wedge.

Lunt-SUNoculars-8x32-Black__23771.1598226882.webp

On 05/04/2021 at 08:47, niallk said:

Wow 😮

How do you even get up there?!!!

Looks spectacular- wonder if the public can visit...

There's a couple of ladders up the side, in those images.

My vertigo just kicked in. 

This time last week it was summer like weather. This week, bitterly cold, windy and snow flurries.

Oh wait, that is summer weather.

Brilliant. I fell for that.

Six more weeks of winter.

Send them round to mine. I've no view South.

On 22/03/2021 at 12:01, Neil H said:

Graymouser You have the perfect dog in your avitar  can't beat a German shepherd

That's why they have the nick name of land shark 

Gimme a Yorkshire Terrier and day (or night). Protective, almost to a fault.

Then again, I observed a couple of times in a local small holdings farmer's field. 2 Donkey and a flock of sheep to keep me company.  IIRC, there was a herd of cows and a Bull close by. The bull never saw me as a threat, so kept his distance whilst keeping watch over his ladies.

On 20/03/2021 at 15:24, barkis said:

How about The Strawberry Nebula, surely that can't offend anyone.

I would just hope   "And Cream"

Looks more like a Raspberry to me. 

1 minute ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Not my bag but still would love to see some sun 🙂 

Steve

It makes up for thr rubbish winter weather. 

Time to dust down the Quark and Bresser 102. Its solar season soon.

Personally not planning any travel plans until about 2023. When I did travel pre-Covid, I usually just put a set of 10x50 bins in my case. I did once bring a 70-80mm  travel scope in a backpack as hand luggage, to Lanzarote. Never used it.

56 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

It’s arrived in Ireland from France, this morning. Now awaiting delivery across the border to the north.

 

Ah go on!!!. Tell us what it is.

It was a bit fierce windy here yesterday, accompanied by monsoon rain showers. Today, its a gorgeous sunny morning.

8 hours ago, A McEwan said:

Exactly! I had one of these mounts before and regretted selling it. This one is just as good as the first one was. Long slow-mo's definitely make it easier to use though.

I'm more of a fan of the short slo mo cables. IIRC, the Az5 comes with both long and short. The short make me feel like I've more control/more connected with my scope(s).

1 hour ago, Sunshine said:

Nice mount! I see coffee and a toothbrush makes for a great cleaner! 😂

Looks like a strong cup of tea to me. The type you can stand a spoon up in.

I don't know if you want to do imaging or not. If you want a really nice scope for your budget, you should seek out the Skywatcher Heritage 130P. Its a fantastic scope for the price. Its a mini Dobsonian.