Sunshine

Welcome to SGL! from just 45min east of you along the 401 (and up the 404 a bit) 😆 if you ever want to meet up for some observing just PM me, great to have you here!

37 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

My FS-60CB from last night… such a cute but effective setup 👍

😂 I love it! it's the little telescope that could!

5 hours ago, Naglerman said:

Here’s a teaser, whilst I work at creating my signature. 🤫
 

Ok, so it’s not a night time shot.  Although it was approaching the golden hour and darkness fell very soon after I took this image.   Does that still count? 🥴

Introducing Zeùs! 

WOW, equally as impressive as that stunning dob is the fact that wherever this is, the weather allows for what seem like Persian rugs to be kept outside. I'm not sure if I feel awe at your setting or I just want to cry. 😂

23 hours ago, Naglerman said:

my first post….. 
 

Here’s mine from a while ago 

A fantastic image and what a beautiful monster! is that your grab and go? or more like heave and drag.

Wow! the Heritage 114P Virtuoso makes the list for best AP telescopes! forget the EQ6-R I was saving for, I just saved a load of money!.

It has been months since I ordered a Baader mirror diagonal and with no end to my wait in sight I became frustrated and called my shop asking if they have any other high end diagonals, I was lucky. It isn’t the two inch I had ordered but my eyepieces are all 1.25 anyway and most importantly it is tangible. Unlike many astro parts which have fallen into myth in the last couple of years, a Televue Everbrite will do just fine in place of my old WO durabright with a small rattle in it. I’m sure the TV will be an optical improvement, I was so happy they had one I said what the heck give me an eyepiece too!.

Great capture and welcome to SGL!

That is one long refractor you have, these two actually look funny next to each other, David and Goliath.

1 minute ago, tomato said:

It’s good they have a freeze point on these projects,  otherwise they will just keep waiting for cheap kit to come out of China.☺️

JWST loaded with kit ordered on AliExpress.

1 minute ago, GrumpiusMaximus said:

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/webbLaunch/whereIsWebb.html?units=metric

Looks like it's the expected behaviour.

And thats what happens when you don't read, you look silly!

Looking at the live progress all but two of the mirrors seem to have moved from their stowed position. Two of them are still in stowed position, I wonder if there is an issue with these two.

15 minutes ago, Debo said:

I'm lucky to have some free space around the house to keep these scopes hanging around.

Courtesy of my lovely understanding wife  😇

Oh I love that! reminds me of my visit to the Galileo museum in Florence.

2 hours ago, niallk said:

Fully assembled 15" dob, stored in our bedroom 🤣

I love how you’ve gone to great lengths to find matching furniture! 

23 minutes ago, RobertI said:

I think it looks superb - such a simple, elegant, classic design - it’s a piece of art. I recently bought my EAA rig into my ‘study’ from the garage so that I could work on it in the warmth, and I have actually grown rather fond of it in the corner while I work. A refractor would look nicer though - I’ll see what I can do. Fortunately my wife is very supportive of my strange astronomical activities. 🙂

You see! look how nice that looks there, great that your wife is cool with it as mine came home and I’m hearing some squealing about my scope being there.😂

22 minutes ago, Dave scutt said:

My dob sleeps in the shed to make it easier for me to get in and out ,but my wife let's me keep my other set up in the spare bedroom just aswell all our family are still in the UK, don't get many family or friends coming to Ireland for a holiday.  I think it's great walking past and looking at it as it's not getting much use outside 

Looks wonderful right where it is!

2 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

..the tragedy is, that when I came out to set up at 7.30pm, although it was misty, the moon was SO still, fabulous seeing, although no other stars visible. Sadly it's now turning into a real "pea- souper"🥴..so I'm packing up as it's getting thicker by the minute!

I hope some of you are getting only the lightest mist..if so, you should get some superb seeing conditions!

 

OH NO!! how did it go so badly downhill in a few hours? I feel your pain!

My wife doesn’t think telescopes make good home decor pieces, I disagree. Usually my things are relegated to the basement where bicycles and boxes of junk are stored but while she’s out I put my scope smack in the living room. It won’t last long but I don’t see why it doesn’t look great here! I’m hoping she will be cool with it otherwise back to the dungeon with it. Anyone have spouses who are cool with scopes in the open?  Lucky you!

32 minutes ago, iantaylor2uk said:

Imaging with the Tak 102 TSA tonight

 

OOHH nice handle! I need that, I think I may have said that before 😆

52 Orionis you say? hmm, this is one double I cannot recall trying but when it gets a bit warmer I will for sure! it sounds like a tough one so may require multiple tries till seeing cooperates.

Looking at SkySafari I realized I have gone over it countless times, I have the settings set to highlight doubles it is not doing so with this double, I wonder why it is drawing a small circle around

nearby doubles as I set it too but not 52 Orionis, how many others am i missing? I have to check settings again.

These images are fantastic, exposure is spot on and the subtle detail captured is wonderful! 

Welcome to SGL! quite a bit to explore here, have a great time!.

If you are unsure, it wouldn't hurt to turn your headlights off as you're approaching and if you do see someone its best you don't turn on your torchlight around them as you me ruin an imaging session or what not.

3 hours ago, Swoop1 said:

Isn't JWST 'Old' technology?

My understanding of this type of project is that there is a cut off time during development when they say "No more upgrades- we build to this spec" otherwise they would never get it finished because they keep trying to shoe horn in the latest release of widget.

Which is why they decided on a good old reliable Telrad for pointing! it can withstand anything and can be had for less than NASA’s lunchroom sugar packets budget for the week.

I love the Tardis observatory, a family of nerds is a good thing, it looks much nicer than the typical wooden structure so having it in the garden is another positive. I say build it again except stronger and a bit larger, go all out this time

and let opinions roll off you like water off a ducks back.

27 minutes ago, GavStar said:

Lots of Taks out tonight. I was out with my largest one, an fsq130 on a Panther TTS160 mount

Wow, I need to see images taken with this imagers dream scope.