Sky-J

HI and welcome to SGL

Welcome to SGL! An excellent report and I’m glad your enjoying the binoculars! Bins are what got me back into astronomy and a great way to surf the stars. If you’ve not got it, “binocular highlights” by Gary Seronik has some fantastic binocular targets and great diagrams of how to find them. I love this book and always take it with me when I travel.

HI Mike - according to their site (berlebach) it's 120kg (264 lbs?)

Postman delivered my first observing chair - I'm very much looking forward to sitting down on the job...

@PeterStudz M37’s a stunning cluster, I love stopping buy. I would love to hear more about the Push to set-up you’re using, it sounds really interesting.

Hi @jetstream Thanks for the tip - I didn't know this and will try with the zoom and other Morpheus eps when I next get the chance. Clear skies!!

Amazing images!!!! Are you sure this isn't just a copy of the 2022 Astronomy Photographer of the Year poster?

Wow! Brilliant image, great work!

Actually @Justin P I got the wrong Sussex in my report - it was actually East Sussex so further along from the National Park. However I’ll have to aim us in that direction in the not to distant future!

Thanks @Stu it’s the first time I’ve got anywhere near to seeing it - no chance from my London garden. I’m constantly amazed what this little scope delivers!

Thanks - it’s great to be able to write one! I was using the Morpheus 4.5 which is about x165 on the Tak.

Thanks Rob! I couldn’t believe my luck when the clouds started parting the way down and I never even dreamed of 2 consecutive nights! Yes it’s a wonderfully simple set up, when at home it’s lets then 10 minutes from the cupboard upstairs to pointing at the stars. It’s also very quiet which is perfect in these situations.

Last weekend we stayed in a Shepherds hut down in East Sussex, the reviews said that the stars there were amazing, so with kind permission from the Mrs, I packed the 4” Tak and WOW! These were the best skies I’ve been under for years! Easy naked eye objects included M31 & the Double cluster and I could easily make out M81 in the finder scope!! Is this witchcraft??? So different from SE London… Set-up Tak FC100DC Vixen APZ & Hal tripod Baader MkIV Zoom & Morpheus 4.5 Sky Safari for star hopping The first night Time: 19:00 - 22:25 (with a break for supper in the middle) Transparency: Excellent Set-up: as above M31 - This looked great in the finder and even better through the scope. M32 (couldn’t see M110) M81 & M82 - M81 looked great and I managed to see some good detail in M82 M51 - It was brilliant I could see both components pretty well - I spend some time playing with averted vision to see if I could pull more detail out. M52 - An interesting cluster esp. at higher magnification. M103 - some great colour in this cluster M34 - Always a bit underwhelming for me I ended the evening on a couple of DSO's I’ve never been able to see: M59 - Not much more than a bright, concentrated smudge, but that's most galaxy through the 4".... M60 - I was initially confused as it looked like 2 galaxies, but when I checked the app, it was indeed a pair. The second more difficult to make out but definitely there! NGC 4638 - a smudge of a Galaxy making a triangle with M59 & M60 & at Mag 11.12 it’s the dimmest object I’ve seen through the 4” to date. Second night started with (drum roll please)….The Leo triplet!!! Time: 20:15 - 21:45 Transparency: Excellent Set-up: as above I knew that Leo would wonder behind the trees fairly soon so I decided to see if I could catch the Leo triplet, via m95 & M96. I star hopped over from Rho Leonis. M95 - I could defiantly see some structure in the galaxy and spent some time trying to tease out more. M96 - I found this one a little bit harder to see but soon started to make out a rough shape. M105 - What a brilliant surprise & finally! I’ve never been able to see even a hint of these from home. It was amazing finally see these galaxies as well as M 95+96, what a brilliant start a session! Trumpler 2 - A nice cluster to stop in on on the way over to the Double Cluster from Miram NGC 869 & NGC 884 - (Double Cluster) Always a joy to spend some time with the double. IC 1804 - Maybe the slightest hint of the Heart nebula, M31 - always enjoyable to stop by M110 - which I was finally able to see a hint of, I had to use star patterns in Sky Safari to pin point my location but is was in the right place and it was the smudge of M110. M51 - checked back in on the Whirlpool galaxy and I wasn't making it up last night, it still looks great with some good detail. M94 - From the whirlpool galaxy I panned over to Cor Caroli then it was an easy hop to M 94, this was an enjoyable visit, it’s nice and bright and easy to make out the shape and a small amount of detail within it. M63 - Hopped down from M94. The Sunflower wasn't as enjoyable as M94, good to see but I couldn't pull much detail out of it. C 39 - I finished the weekend by popping in on the Eskimo, who appeared to be wearing a shiny new hood! So much more detail from a dark sight!!! I think that I actually managed to see some blue in it. All in all the best weekend’s observing for a long time!!

Moved to full report.

I had a surprise session last night - I didn't expect it to be clear at all, so I'm very happy to have managed to squeeze in an hour and a half's observing. Started with Colliander 69 and a couple of easy doubles then on to M46 via NGC 2360 (needed time & averted vision to spot this) & M47. After this I spent some time with the Eskimo, which is my current fave, before moving on to the Auriga triplet - M37, M36 & M38 (these tested the neck). Unexpectedly at the end of the session, the Plough had wondered around the side of the neighbours roof so I managed to end my session with a look at M81 and the merest glimpse of M82. Set-up: Tak100dc - Vixen APZ - Baader Mk IV zoom & Morpheus 4.5 Location: SE London - South facing garden.

I think this is a good idea, I'm currently designing a 3d printed eyepiece holder specifically for the Vixen APP-TL130 tripod and which others might like to use. I've got other accessory ideas for my Tak that if viable I'll also be happy to share.

Hi everyone, annoyingly, the day after all my new camping equipment arrived I'm having to go into isolation due to having contact with a family member who is now a confirmed case. I'm especially annoyed as I'm absolutely loving my new scope and set-up, I've already done more obverting this year than I did in the whole of the last year! I feel fine but now's not the time to be taking risks, I'd hate to bring it up to camp. Hope you all have an amazing time and the clearest of skies, I'll defiantly see you at the next one! Jeremy

The atlas is the Cambridge Star Atlas which is new to me and exactly what I’ve been looking for for ages! Regarding the finder, it has indeed added some height. I normally prefer an RDF which will work well on this extension but I’ve been wanting to try an RACI finder too. Will see if it stays!

Thanks, it is indeed and also quick to set up and very portable! I've already bagged 3 M's hadn’t seen before, bring in the rest...

Thursday's delivery was my new Vixen APZ which completes my new line up: Tak FC100dc & APZ and for me it's a match made in heaven. This was my second delivery in the row that came with clear skies (the Tak also came with clear skies), so I got first light on the day of delivery!

I've just bought a Vixen mount from Europe as a result of this which was a shame as I like to use FLO whenever possible, however it was noticeably cheaper doing this.

Hi there, welcome to the SGL!

Welcome to SGL, its a very friendly forum and a great source of knowledge for your journey back to the dark side skies.

Thanks Helen, I'm really looking forward to putting to some good use!