mark81

That was a great session. What an interesting report too and I love the drawings.... These sort of reports really give me inspiration to get out there as I have become quite lazy over the last year or so.... Keep them coming. Mark

Ive actually gone back to binoculars for all my observing, nothing to do with a visual impairment, but I am very tall and suffer from chronic back pain and any kind of telescope work causes me real problems now. So all my observing is with binoculars in a comfortable recliner and the best part about using a recliner is you can easily get away with using 80mm bins handheld... Perfect..

A few people have mentioned the Vortex Diamondbacks which I think are fantastic for the money. Nice build quality and very user friendly - and I have used them side by side with a pair of Hawke Eds - I have to say (if my memory serves me correctly) the view was ever so slightly better in the Hawkes but for some reason I just preferred the Diamondbacks. in terms of CA and the general quality of the optics, yes the Hawkes are ED but I'm sure the Diamondbacks are di-lectric.(whether that narrows the gap, I'm not sure) But of course how you view this sort of thing is a personal preference. I also seem to remember there being a difference in dew control? I believe the Vortex have their lenses set a little further back than the Hawkes... (I may be wrong) but worth checking depending on conditions you'll be using them.. And finally of course there is that lifetime guarantee that Vortex have - which can't be overlooked... Mark

For the price I think the Celestrons do a great job.. some may argue that spending a little more could benefit you, for example the Helios Stella ii which are pretty much the same as the Orion Giantviews - may give you slightly crisper view and deliver a more pleasing image but I don't think you'll be disappointed.. Will they give you beautiful views? I think that all depends on what you consider to be beautiful. There are many objects that will look fantastic visually, star clusters mainly... But a lot of DSOs using 100mm will be faint fuzzy blobs. I love faint fuzzy blobs because of what they actually are and in a way that makes them beautiful..

That's a nice selection you have there... I have the Stella's but the 10.5s and for the price you really can't go wrong - also the weight is still manageable, if you go for some Apollos it's quite a jump and makes handheld too difficult.. (although any 70mm really need some sort of support to get the best out of them) I wonder how long it will be untill you add a pair of 80mms or bigger... Mark

Nicely done! That's one I've tried a few times in the past and have seen under bottle 3/4 with 70mm - but like you said, only because I knew exactly where to look.. it's not an area I go to that often , mainly because my best viewing is east, west and south - but I must give it another go using that starhop and maybe a pair of 80mms... Clear skies Mark

Very nice! The detail you have captured is impressive and I like the way you've used the white ink, really brings it to life... Mark

Hi All, Just had a general glance at some big binoculars, went to the usual places, FLO, Harrison's, etc and came across these... https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/explore-scientific-bt100-binoculars.html I've never seen or heard about them before....but of course I wanted them! Not sure about the price though... A nice set of APMs can be had for under £1000.. not sure what extra you'd be getting here....? Has anyone seen them, heard good/bad things about them? Clear skies Mark

I've used the stella 16x80s before and was impressed by the way they performed.. Brilliant for widefield as there is a lot of light gathering power there.... But if I had the choice I would stick with a pair of 70's, many people love the 80s but by then, your in 'small telescope territory' and if you have to take a tripod out with you I would rather take a small scope and have a variety of ep's for different mags.(but that's just me) if I went for a bigger pair than 70s I personally save up and get some 45 or 90 degree 100mm for the ultimate experience and comfort... But like I've said, it's all personal choice... If you like the 80mm Stella's and don't mind the straight through viewing on a monopod - you won't be disappointed... Mark

The 70mm Stella ii are very nice, they produce brilliant crisp images and much lighter than the Apollo's if I remember rightly. You'll probably have to use a tripod for the 15's but I have used the x11's handheld loads of time with good results... But they don't have filter threads.. neither do the celestrons - which are really only about 63mm (I could be wrong ) - so something to think about there... You could also look at the Lightquests? - although the money takes a jump on those.. The Opticrons are another option - again I think they are also reduced, but have great reviews for the money... There are almost too many choices - enough to send you mad Let us know how you get on Mark

Thanks Steve, I've been looking forward to this despite the short month.. Clear skies Mark

I've spent over 200 nights with the ST80 and love it. The more I use it, the lower the mag I want to use... the extra widefield views under dark skies are amazing.. Agree about using it on the moon, fine for low power - up to x66 max and I find the CA no big deal at all. Enjoy Mark

Great to read these reports on this scope. Every time I'm near Aylsham in Norfolk I peer into the Altiar shop window and look at this scope... I must get one one of these days... Enjoy Clear skies Mark

Great news Doug... That chair looks perfect for the job.. Happy observing... Mark

Very nicely done! I've always taken quite a rushed approach to sketching, but there is something quite satisfying about placing those stars perfectly.. and the going the extra step after the initial invert really makes a difference.. Thanks for sharing Mark

I, like many others feel the same... I saw a huge stream of those Musk satellites go up last year - I did throw a stone in the general direction but I think I missed... I also threw a few choice words that way too... I guess there will be petitions online somewhere, but once its been approved there's very little to be done... This sort of thing can be soul destroying if you think about it too much... I do a lot of beach cleaning and it never fails to amaze me how quickly the plastic bottle tops regroup... Mark

Nicely done... Over the last year or so I have been viewing with binoculars only and recently have been neglecting getting out - whenever I do I always sketch what I view... Seeing your sketch @Nik271has just given me that kick I need to wish for clear skies... Nice sighting... Mark

You should definitely go for some 50mm either X10 or x7.. Loads of nice Messiers await you with a pair of 50mm under bortle 4 skies and laying back in a lounger and scanning the skies is great fun too... .. I've found the lightpollution.com map to be quite accurate if I remember rightly... Mark

Nicely done! Always nice to grab some nebula with binoculars, I've only viewed the California Neb once with binoculars as I don't currently have a pair with filter threads, but I do remember it being very faint and almost cloud like... I generally find M42 with binoculars is either fantastic or very little to write home about - when it's good, it's one I really like to study and keep going back to throughout the session as your eyes becoming fully adapted... I think quite often people go for bigger targets first of all and then try and pick out smaller objects before going back indoors, but it's always well worth revisiting to grab that extra detail.. Look forward to your next session with the big bins... Mark

Great sketches Mario's...

Nice session Doug, thanks for sharing It's always good to read these doubles reports.. after a while you get to know which doubles your scope/s can achieve so you can easily decide which to go for... And of course how they appear in the scope your using... Mark

Nice one Doug. I have to applaud your dedication. I looked out to see clear skies, I then saw the Christmas tree lights and some scotch by the fire and thought twice.... Nice to read about some doubles, that's actually the one reason I will one day get a GOTO mount, for easy access to some doubles... Merry Christmas to you... Clear skies for 2021 Mark

Thanks for sharing those John... I use my 'averted imagination' quite a bit too - but before pencil hits paper, I think, 'lets just be content with what can be seen' Amazing to see that detail on Mars with a 60mm Mark

Thanks, Lots of layers and fingerless gloves... Mark

Have you seen the Geoptik bags? I haven't looked at one for quite a while, but I remember a friend having one for his 150/1200 which I seem to remember seemed really well made.. but had lots of room left over as I recall... I'm sure they do a bag for a 100/750 but like I said, it might not be a snug fit.(something to look into)... They have them at RotherValley I think... Mark