Nyctimene
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Posts posted by Nyctimene
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Make sure, that you get the Meade 82 with a parabolic primary mirror -the image quality will be definitely better. Look at the specifications- if "parabolic" is not mentioned, I'd stick with the Heritage 100 P.
Stephan
P.S.: just found this review, have a look :
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The Heritage 100 P is in stock here:
A very reliable German retailer; fast delivery; ships to Ireland at moderate costs. Have been their customer for years, and was always pleased.
Stephan
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3 hours ago, Burns84 said:
I wanted to hesr a comment like that to be honest its just everytime you search mostly people will say bigger equals more light better views. I guess this is true but also i believe that you can do great things with smaller scopes i mean just because they r smaller doesnt mean they are all rubbish. I will enjoy the 6" bresser i know i will.
That's the correct mindset, IMO, (and many owners of 3"-5" refractors will consent). A 6" Newtonian (is it the 150/1200 "planetary" version?) will give you great views under your dark skies. It's a very capable and versatile instrument for many years of observing. Congratulations on your decision; I'm sure, you will not regret it. Enjoy your dark Lincolnshire skies (a map added)
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=9.79&lat=52.8536&lon=0.0026&layers=B0TFFFFFFFFFFTTFFF
Stephan
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According to this, you are already blessed with very decent skies (Bortle scale 4 or even 3), and your altitude seems to be above the ground mist level:
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=9.00&lat=52.5366&lon=-3.6498&layers=B0TFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
The little difference in altitude (170 vs 450 m asl) will, IMO, only make a small difference in transparency - but this will not outweigh the hassles of transport, setting up etc.
I'd try to make the best of your home observing site. A paved area, overlooking a lawn, with free views to E,S, and W, as a place for your 15x70 with tripod. Add a good 8" to 10" dob later(if you want occasional mobility, a Skywatcher 130P or 150P Flextube come to my mind); a decent observing chair; a table for charts, eyepieces etc. The advantages of having all things at hand and a rapid setup; warming up in cold nights inside the house; toilet, fridge and water kettle in reach cannot be overestimated. And, after observing, no long way back (sometimes dangerous - microsleep), but immediately to bed.
I'm doing 95% of my observing from home (Bortle 4/SQM-L 21+ skies - similar to yours), and will not change anything.
Btw., I'd avoid observing at or close to the beach. The salty mist or spray might harm the mirror's reflecting or lenses coating in some cases - or you have to clean the scope quite often.
Enjoy the journey!
Stephan
P.S.: there was a 22-page article by Roland Beard in the CloudyNights forum 08/09/07: "Refining your home observation site-why do it, where do it-how it's done". Can one of the Cloudy Nights members on here do some research and provide a link? Thanks.
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Under dark skies, a 70 mm scope is a very capable instrument. You might try to observe all the Messier objects with it. Or you go for this :
https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/articles/ttthe-year-long-60mm-telescope-challenge-r2784
I' m enjoying my 70/300 Infinity ("Blue Penguin") as much as my larger scopes. The main thing is being out under the stars.
Have fun!
Stephan
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Excellent post, Neil, the "traffic light" comparison is spot on. I've seen it only once in the minimum. So we'll have to wait until Lepus reappears in the early morning hours in August /September - and use a larger scope.
Stephan
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This gets good reviews :
I own its smaller brother, and I'm very pleased with it.
Stephan
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Just for fun, I observed R Leporis just now from indoors in pyjamas with the "Blue Penguin", a Skywatcher Infinitiy 76 /300 (too lazy to dress and go out in the cold). At it's culmination, easy to find even through the double glazed windows facing south. Best with 30 x mag, the orange colour clearly to perceive. Warm feet, cat company, and a Bitter Lemon, then back to bed.
Get a Penguin, it's an excellent little Rich Field Telescope (together with a Rigel Quikfinder, and the 15x eyepiece, only available here:https://www.astroshop.de/okulare/skywatcher-okular-15x-fuer-infintity/p,49819
Stephan
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Spotted R Leporis Oct. 25th with the 14x100 Wachter binoculars - easy. In the 8", it should be no problem at all. I've observed it several times with my 8"f/4 as well as with the 80/400 Vixen frac and the 5.1" Heritage. You'll need some patience. The finder chart looks good. Look for a deep orange coloured star, somewhat isolated. Good luck with the hunt (you may add W Orionis, another (6 mag) carbon star and not so far away at the southern tip of Orion's shield, to your list).
Stephan
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Maybe it's partially a variant of the "moon illusion phenomenon"; have a look :https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/moon-illusion-confusion11252015/
Stephan
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Observed the comet for the second time this morning 02.30 CET under slightly sub-average 4.8-5.0 NELM skies. With the 5.1" Heritage Flextube, the appearance was almost the same as a week before - a diffuse patch, the brightness seemed decreased to about 8.4; DC=3; diameter of the outer coma about 10-12 arc min. Stellar pseudonucleus, somewhat eccentrically located, rarely flashing up. Best view at about 50x mag (Seben Zoom).
A short sweep to M 42; the Trapezium nicely resolved. Not a hint of the Flame nebula, so no Horsehead attempt with a larger scope. Ended 03.10.
Stephan
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The areal brightness of any extended sky object (galaxies; moon) remains the same, when viewed through a scope - it's just a much larger part of the retina covered by the enlarged image, creating the impression of higher brightness.
Stephan
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On 16/11/2020 at 00:25, tenpinmark said:
if you want to view the moon, get a "moon filter" - sounds stupid, but at these magnifications, it's as bright as hell
I'd avoid a moon filter, and invest the money in a low magnification eyepiece. Of course, the moon is rather bright at low magnifications (but not brighter than observed with naked eyes). But, as detail is the most interesting thing, you will soon switch to higher magnifications, which will dim the apparent brightness rapidly. My moon filter is one of the least used items; and I'm observing with scopes up to 18".
Stephan
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Spotted comet C/2020 M3 ATLAS yesterday before midnight under murky and mostly clouded 4.0 - 4.5 NELM skies. With the 8"f/4 Hofheim traveldob and the new Docter 12.5mmf/84° UWA, giving 64x mag, the comet was found easily close S to Bellatrix. A large, diffuse patch, about 7.6 - 7.8 mag total; inner coma about 3 arc min, outer coma extending to almost 15 arc min. DC (degree of condensation) about 3 - 4. No tail visible. Stellar pseudonucleus sometimes flashing up.
A short sweep through the Auriga clusters, M 35+2158, M 42; the Docter giving again very crisp views across the whole field of view - no need to switch to another eyepiece. After thirty minutes, the cloud cover closed almost completely; but still a rewarding short session.
Stephan
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+1 for the Skywatcher Heritage 130 P Flextube. Excellent optics, versatile, compact, handling is intuitively.
In stock here ; a trusty retailer:
Stephan
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A nice report, and a lot of quite mixed targets; thanks for sharing.
Don't overlook the asterism Davis's Dog, nicely placed almost between the Pleiades and Hyades, have a look:
IMO, a very impressive celestial dog, on par with Canis maior, and way better than the less conspicuous ones (C. minor; C.venatici). Once seen, you cannot make it "unseen" any longer. A really rewarding view in any binocular; give it a try!
Stephan
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Hello, Rameez,
thank you for your reply. The Neutscher Höhe (that I don't know from own experience) is a place often used by the observers of the Volkssternwarte. Maybe, you'll meet one of them there in the future.
An old rule of thumb for clothing: dress for one season colder - in summer, like you would dress in autumn or spring; in autumn, like in winter; and in winter, as you would dress in Northern Scandinavia e.g. Often, in May, I'm still wearing my ski overall and moon boots (- no one is going to see me in the dark). Look for fishermen's or hunter's gear; they have the same problems: sitting motionless for hours in the cold (and partially darkness)
Stephan
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One of the last Mohicans....
The famous Docter 84° UWA 12.5 mmf arrived yesterday. For years, I've been lurking around this extraordinary eyepiece, but could not make a decision to buy. Oct. 21st, the CloudyNights forum announced, that the Zeiss (East) successor Docter in Eisfeld sadly is going bankrupt - so I decided to take the last chance to buy the UWA. All retailers in Germany were sold out, but Intercon Spacetec offered a demo model in excellent condition. This will expand my line of 84° eyepieces (Maxvision 24 mmf and 18mmf) to the shorter focal lengths. In the evening, I tried it with the 18" and the 8" f/4 to check the possibility to get into focus (even with 2x Barlow) - no problems. With the 8", at mag 64x and 1.33° FoV, I got very sharp views of the Double cluster (including the "Smiling Cyclops"); M 15 in the 18" (mag164; FoV 0.5°) was already down in the upcoming fog; so just a short look at it - promising. Very happy with the Docter - and I'll always easily remember it's delivery date for obvious reasons.
Stephan-
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Hello, Rameez,
congratulations on finding M 31/Andromeda! You will often return to this splendid neighbour galaxy; it should be visible naked eye from your location. Btw., where did you observe? Neutscher Höhe or Haselburg? Did you manage to spot some other DSO's?
Stephan
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Hello, Rameez,
thank you for the reply. This evening, the summer triangle (Vega, Deneb, Altair) will still be high up, also parts of the summer Milky Way; so a lot of objects are waiting for you and the 130/650. As you are new to all this, it's best to "learn the ropes" of stargazing with a small-to-medium scope, as yours is, because it will give you a wide field of view, which makes finding the objects easier. It's easy to transport and to set up. I' d recommend to use your scope for at least half a year before upgrading. Btw., a 10" is a beast, esp. the GoTo versions (weight); it's good to see (and use) one "in the flesh", before ordering. IMO, it's better to spend some money on decent eyepieces, a UHC filter, software (SkySafari Plus), decent maps (Pocket Sky Atlas; Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas), decent winter clothing etc.
Clear skies, and enjoy the journey!
Stephan
PS: please, post an observing report on here!
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Hello, Rameez,
lightpollutionmap is working again, and I've added a map of the Odenwald region SE of Darmstadt.
The dark sky site closest to you is the Neutscher Höhe, about 10 km SSE of Darmstadt (close to Nieder-/Ober- Modau; two wind power stations close by). You might also try the very interesting archeological site of the Roman "Haselburg", SW of Höchst and S of Hummetroth, that will give you an excellent panoramic view.
If you want still darker skies (Bortle 4 or even 3), you may try the Mossautal region (my own location), or, at the Hessen-Bayern-Baden-Württemberg border triangle, the tiny village Hesseneck-Hesselbach, 530 m elevation (cosy accomodation and excellent restaurant in the "Grüner Baum" hotel - but not at the moment due to lockdown).
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=9.50&lat=49.7194&lon=9.1075&layers=B0TFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Have a nice weekend; but the moon will be up still rather early, so don't lose time; clear skies!
Btw., what kind of scope will you use?
PS: link to the hotel added:https://www.gruenerbaum-hesselbach.de/wir.php
Stephan
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I'd vote for option 2. Having the dob already close to ambient temperature helps a lot. Dust and critters can be kept at bay (something like old fashioned shower caps on both ends come to my mind). A bag of silicagel will ban moisture (that, anyway, isn't often found in brick constructions). Having the scope easy accessible without hassles will increase the number of observations significantly, as you can make use of cloud gaps, unexpected clear skies late in the evening etc.
Eyepieces for me always in the house - the inherent reserves of thermal energy will keep away fogging up too soon. After use, put on the covers and let them warm up (under a piece of cloth) inside the house, then uncover next morning to let the rest of moisture evaporate.
Stephan
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48 minutes ago, ramxis said:
would be nice if you had some GPS coordinates for some good stargazing sites around odenwald ?
Hello, Rameez,
unfortunately, the lightpollutionmap server is not accessible at the moment. ASAP, I'll send you a map, and point out some good sites; have patience!
Stephan
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Hallo, und willkommen! I'm a German stargazer, living in the rural Odenwald region, approx. 65 km S of Frankfurt. Some great sites can be found in the Rhön region NE of Frankfurt, but also in the Odenwald, SE of Erbach/Michelstadt (Bullau; Breitenbuch). I don't know anything about the Taunus sites, but you may contact the people of the Volksternwarte Frankfurt (they run an observatory at the Kleiner Feldberg):
https://www.physikalischer-verein.de/sternwarte
S of Darmstadt are also observing sites; contact the people of the Volkssternwarte Darmstadt:
If you have special questions, you can email to me.
Enjoy the journey!
Stephan
Beginner Telescope Advice
in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Posted
This might be a solution (for his birthday):
https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p6827_SSkywatcher-Heritage-100P-Tabletop-Dobsonian---100-mm---4--f4-Telescope.html
Very easy and intuitively to handle, good optics with a parabolic primary mirror. It will show moon, planets and the brighter Deep Sky objects quite well, especially from your dark skies.
Stephan