westmarch

Cracked it this evening at 16:30. Clear SW horizon and got them both in FOV of my 20mm 68o EP. Could only do it from an upstairs bedroom window. My wife thought I was running for a bus. 😀 John

Hi there, a properly installed and calibrated dew heater will only heat the air in the scope by a few degrees or so above dew point and generate minimal air currents. A telescope stored indoors can be ten or more degrees warmer than the outside temperatures and will generate significant air currents while it cools down - interfering with seeing. Fans on reflectors speed up the initial cooling of the scope mirror on taking it outside. Hope that helps explain the paradox. John

Some impressive video captures of a fireball in Japan on BBC Asia feed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-55121824 John

Just had a look. I can see the gap but not the difference in shade. No doubt a combination of skies, scope and eyes. Clear skies already clouding from the west so thanks for the heads up. John

OK. The warm front has just moved in from Scotland. Yorkshire sky is completely buttoned up now. I’m packing up. John

Aargh!!! It seems everyone is having their bonfires and setting off fireworks tonight to avoid the lockdown. 😬

Cracking drawing. Well done. John

I think the only thing that is less dramatic now is the polar ice, that was a big wow prior to opposition. The detail now does compensate though. John

Hi there, welcome to the forum. As Zermelo has said, if using the low power eyepiece on your Newtonian reflector, everything is back to front and upside down. Your Sky Safari App allows you to compensate for that by flipping the image. The menu comes up if you do this:

Thanks for this report Stu. I have been using the 90mm Mak., mainly because it is quick to set up to grab a gap in the clouds. I have a good forecast for tonight, though and aim to get the Dob and platform out. John

AP is not my forte but sorting out colour balance can’t be that hard. 😉

hi John, welcome to the forum. Clear skies. John

Can I please point out a typo in my original post. The pillow bearings and steel shaft that I used were 8mm and NOT 18mm. Here is where I got my pillow bearings: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01120P4LQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6.vKFb0R54YA2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 Here is where the steel rod was sourced from: as https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MV83GXB/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_AcwKFbRG33SF5 Sorry once again for any confusion caused. John

I’ve seen me resort to a long hoodie to block out side light but that often just makes you look like an even more suspicious character after dark. 🕵️‍♂️ John

Ingenious. Where there’s a will there’s a way. John

Hi Gerard, I agree with the advice above that the most efficient placement is opposite the viewing assembly but you may find it more convenient to put it on the top. If you buy a magnetic kitchen knife holder and attach it to the primary mirror casing, you can attach iron weights to it and move them up and down until you achieve balance. John

Hi George, I’m closer to N Yorks so I cut the 54 degree curve. If you are nearer the south of W Yorks you may wish to go with the 52 degree curve. Once I printed out the curve, you just trace it onto the aluminium and make a series of straight cuts (marked red) and then file the waste away - aluminium is relatively easy to work with. The aluminium is so thin that you just cut it at right angles. this eBay link should help: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aluminium-Sheet-Plate-Flat-1mm-4mm-multiple-sizes-grade-1050A-H14/283528663514?hash=item4203a011da:g:hCcAAOSwsBtaMTUF&var=584704869652 You need two rectangles of 200mm x 100mm. If you buy the 200mm x 200mm sheet of 4mm aluminium then you can cut it in half. John

I wish you luck. My biggest problem was finding the names for the components and where to buy them, like pillow bearings, but if you search google long enough anything is possible. John

Hi Gerard, sorry I missed this post. I will PM you with some information. John

I was going to write a review but this was it, almost word for word. Last time I used my 90mm mak-cassegrain but last night pulled out the dob. Couldn’t keep Mars in the objective until I realised that the equatorial platform was on Southern Hemisphere mode! 🥺 Once stabilised, this was one of my best sessions with Mars. I agree that the polar cap was much reduced since last viewed in late August. I often hear that stopping down improves planetary views. Can anyone explain the reasoning for this?

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum. Wishing you many clear nights with your new scope. John

Hi Daniel, welcome to the forum. John

Come on guys, this is clearly an art competition that has been judged and won. Interpretation and creativity has been given equal status to guiding, kit and software manipulation of an image. Who is to say what has the greater intrinsic value? A photograph or a painting? Most photography, other than photo-journalism or raw images, is an art form requiring judgement and taste, is it not? John

Hi there, welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy your new scope. John

Hi there, welcome back to the forum. John