barkis

The 130p is an Ideal instrument to cut your Astronomy teeth on,. Versatile and easy to handle. Many objects will be accessible through your eyepieces, good steady skies prevailing.

I concur with the posts warning of the sun's danger. You need to be equipped with suitable protection to enable you to observe it. Always seek advice on the best filters. If the scope has a finder fitted, you must cover it's lens to safeguard anyone curious enough to chance a look without realising even a finder is dangerous if not filtered properly. 

Enjoy the scope, and post your viewing experiences with us.   

Ron.

Another sad Loss, and so missed on our TV Screens.
She cooperated with Nigel Henbest writing  books quite  bit.
RIP Heather.
Ron.

3 hours ago, maw lod qan said:

I prefer to believe there is really no such thing as science fiction.

As a young child I grew up dreaming of the Space Plane they talked about, only to see it come and go.

Buck Rogers and the Thunder Birds, look what E. Musk is doing now.

Most of us wont be around, but what will change in the coming decades would probably make all of us dreamers and believers smile.

And yes, keep traveling you two incredible machines!!

I understand what you say, I too read a lot of books on what in those days can only be described as fiction, however, our deepest hopes were that in the future, some of what we avidly read, would actually materialise.

My remark about a possible intervention by an interstellar intelligence, may perhaps occur, however, the Voyagers are light years short of any possible encounter. Sadly you and I will be ancient dust on a planet that  may already devoured by it's mother star, along with others of her family. Now this last part isn't fiction, but distinct reality😉.

Ron

24 minutes ago, Mark at Beaufort said:

Ron I was fortunate to meet Dr Thomas Paine - Head of NASA in early 1970 when he gave a lecture at the Royal Society. Part of his talk mentioned the 'Grand Tour' of the outer Planets which was still in the planning stage.

The attached shows the proposal from the early 1970s which clearly was changed. Interesting to look back and then admire what was achieved all these years later.

That planetary alignment  fortunately  encouraged the plan  to  make that journey Mark.  They planned it well, but success could not be guaranteed. However, history has proved the attempt was well worth it. Thanks for your input here, that very early description of the route is  historical.

Ron.

1 hour ago, Paul M said:

Maybe, in the long distant future, the Voyagers will reappear in Earth orbit; a label on each saying "return to sender" and an explanatory note informing that, under intergalactic WEE regulations, we are required to recycle our own junk..

Wouldn't surprise me Paul. Fly tipping could well be an Inter Galactic Nuisance .

32 minutes ago, Barry-W-Fenner said:

They really have achieved so much. Incredible to think that if they make to to the next nearest star it will be in 40k years time. These distances are truly incomprehensible to try and get your head around. Keep going little fella!

Excuse my ignorance but how much further until they reach the oort cloud?

 

Unknown methinks Barry, rough estimates vary between 5,000, and 100,000 Au's.

It's an incredible story the journey these two craft are on. Goes without saying so of course,
but I understand both vehicle are beyond the Heliopause.
V1 is apparently 14 Billion miles from Earth, and V2 11 Billion.
probably being bombarded will all sorts of exotic particles.

These two human creations gave us a first close of the Solar Systems Giant gas planets, and how great was that?
The first encounter with another star is expected in about 40,000 years.
Another wonder, is the communication  we still receive, a result of the Nuclear fuel supplying
the energy to broadcast the signals down to Earth, although the engineers have to have much patience in waiting for these.

It just seems fair we continue to acknowledge these two small craft, as they are a credit to those who built them
and monitored their journey out of the Solar System.
Perhaps some time way in the future, they will be examined by another species,

and some form of contact will be forthcoming. A bit science fiction perhaps, but at least the bulk of this is very real.
God Speed you two tiny adventurers.
Ron.

I hope the Hubble is allowed to function for as long as it's feasible to do so James.
The JWT of course as you know, will be  imaging in the Infrared, and will reveal very distant objects denied to the Hubble 
due to the vast distances involved.
I'm just hoping for a launch sooner rather than later, and that the telescopes deployment
is entirely trouble free. Nasa's taking their time testing, getting it as perfect as it can to ensure a perfect result.
However, it's still in the lap of the Gods.
Ron.
 

Captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, this arms  wide open Galaxy NGc 2008 
is just another spectacular Image to add to the so many this wonderful Instrument has blessed us with.
I try not to dwell too much on how much more life the Hubble has left.
I guess that will be determined by  how successful  the launch and Commission of the James  Clerk Maxwell turns out to be.
 

Try and acquire  copy of Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' series. I know it isn't reading material, but you will find enthralling, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyable.  

Ron.

Another fast delivery from First ( Light Speed) Optics.
Diamond Steeltrack arrived a short time ago.
I just love that Tracked Service.
Thanks again Flo Squad.
Ron.

On 08/02/2020 at 19:01, TerryMcK said:

I’ve just ordered Lakeside Focuser Kit from FLO. My last outing Feb 6th and 7th imaging the fish head was slightly out of focus

Astro Pixel Processor detected no stars. There were hundreds! But apparently its star detecting algorithm likes stars to be spot on.

So I’ve put off motorising the focuser for far too long. Looking forward to a package that says “May contain clouds” and then wait a month until I can try it out in anger! It’s made in Britain and has great reviews and I also ordered the bracket kit for the WO ZS73.

 

Deep Sky Stacker still worked OK on the data I collected so all is not quite lost.

I hope it does the job for you, the Lakeside looks a useful bit of kit. I'm sure it will be very capable.
 I have a JMI NGFS linear fine focuser  which I intend using with a Steeldrive focuser I've just ordered from Flo.
It's going to make an additional weight to the scope with the   CCD Camera, and Filter wheel in the train.
It's on a MN190, and I just hope I can get good a balancing  act worked out 😀.
Ron.

The big Fellah will pop in his own good time. He ate too much in his lifetime, and
the penalty for that is boom. All those fluctuations in his magnitude are simply him taking deep breaths from so much exertion.

By the way, how are all you weight watchers getting on. I remember you setting off on a regime of weight loss.
Hope you're all eating sensibly, and getting plenty of exercise.👍
Ron.

Not a bad effort at all Helen, considering on site fixes required. 
There's nothing new finding problems you didn't know existed until zero hour
arrives. The remedial fixes can be made permanent when you get it all  into the surgery
and really go to work on it.  
Even so, I'm not sure how much better it would  be to outdo the above image.
We await round two 😀.
Best Wishes
Ron.

On 22/01/2020 at 12:02, rwilkey said:

I have stopped going to this show, the ones I have been to were heaving and over two or three floors, no good for someone partially disabled like myself.

I can well understand your predicament RW. Far too much packed into too small a venue.
It's uncomfortable and exasperating for everyone who attend there.
A shame really, I stopped going awhile ago simply as a result of the difficulty in getting around easily, and managing to 
see all on display. I think many folks are opting for the Midlands Event now, because Kensington Town Hall 
is too cramped.
Having said that, I do hope those who do attend the London Event have a good time there.
It will help If you have a lot of patience though 😃.
Ron.

Your skill and effort has come good for sure. 
Exceptional  creation, it almost  looks alive with energy too.
A worthy candidate for an APOD 👍.
Ron.

That's a real corker. Delighted you got a decent sky to enable you to capture the event>
It really is a beaut. 👍.

Ron.

One gets very attached to their Astro stuff, and comes the time when change appears to become inevitable.

There has been remarkable progress in technology in this field of ours, especially in mounts and scopes. That promotes a feeling of the need to improve on what you have. This is the thinking cap period, and  much thought is needed to reassure oneself that what you do about it, really will improve the pleasure you already experience from the equipment you are presently using?, you need to be honest with yourself answering that question. 

Another point to query, is the one of  ego, is the impending upgrade driven by the need to satisfy a desire to be held in a higher regard by your peers?    Study your answers to those two answers, and your answers if true, will allow you to make a right choice, one way or the other. 😁

Ron.

Worth the scatting about to find some gear to do the job Ant. It's a great result.                                                             Ron.

Steve must be really down losing such a gem of an instrument. Especially so having spent a long 
time creating this lovely telescope.

It's horrifying knowing some low life,  who  will have no semblance of a conscience, could crawl so low 
to steal something he/she ? can't possibly use due to the item's uniqueness. It could be spotted from space.
I sincerely hope enough people are informed about this awful act, and the perpetrator is soon brought to justice.
For my part, justice would be a short rope over a long drop. I despise thieves with a passion.
Lowest of the low.

Sincere condolences, and I hope and pray you get your work of Art back Steve.
Ron.

Perhaps Skywatcher are using Fluorite. Since Large deposits are available in China, why would they not exploit that, and encourage the Apo fraternity to their product.  

Heh Heh, perhaps I'm hallucinating.                                   Ron.

Nothing at all wrong with your equipment, and certainly nothing wrong
with your very first Image either Terry. There are so many Deep Sky targets, so you are 
quite ready to tackle many of them in your own time.
You have made an excellent start. 👍
Ron.

3 hours ago, Helen said:

We (well my friend Jean) made SteveL a full size proper Jaffa cake when his birthday was during a starparty.  It took a bit of testing to get the jelly flavour right, but was epic when done!  No argument over whether it was biscuit or cake 😋.  I think even Olly would have approved!

Helen

My best wishes to Jean Helen, I hope she's keeping well.

13 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

I can see fried eggs taking over from those horrendous tangerine biscuits (what are they called?)* on SGL. Jolly good thing, too.

Olly

I remember: Jaffa cakes. Give me alien slime any day!!!!

'Heavens to Murgatroyd' Olly , are you seriously berating Jaffa Cakes, the glue that cemented SGL Star Parties in byegone
times, parties that enjoyed the presence of the Legendary Steve L. , Astro. photographer extraordinaire. If I'm correct, twas he who
propelled that excellent piece of confectionery into SGL Folklore. Shame on you sir. 😖

Ron.

2 hours ago, Rusted said:

Only when they stare back at you! Spooky! 

Yeah! pretty grim I must say, but perhaps it's their happy face.