Jump to content

SkySurveyBanner.jpg.21855908fce40597655603b6c9af720d.jpg

mark81

Members
  • Posts

    597
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by mark81

  1. Fantastic sketch! I would be chuffed with that !
  2. I guess many people suffer this way. I suppose you could take a couple of positives... You do have a great scope and you can get away to rural locations. With a bit of planning and some degree of luck and determination, you'll get there. I've got the opposite, rural skies, 80mm scope 😥 I guess your using a decent light pollution filter? Good luck with the rest of the challenge!
  3. Achim, Very nice sketch! You captured some great detail Marj
  4. Back in 2004, 2029 seemed like such a long way away...
  5. Another good read, Thanks, And a nice review of what looks like a pretty good chair
  6. 2am and observing before a day at work..... Nicely done
  7. Very nice Mike. The more I hear about the Tak, the more I want one?
  8. Congrats on grabbing m51. That's one I've never seen myself - I have tried a few times but it seems to have a way of avoiding me...
  9. Nice sketch Mike. A good job on that very subtle detail..
  10. Hi Paul I have used a pair of 8x40s, the Olympus dpsi, which give a very pleasing FOV, about 8degrees if I remember rightly and they are going to be that little less weighty than a 50mm but of course you are sacrificing that extra apeture needed to pull out those fainter objects.. if the unstable image was an issue I would stick with the heavier larger bins and tripod mount them...
  11. Yeah, very slim I'd say. M46 itself only ever shows as a smudge through my 80mm - maybe something to do with how low it sits on the horizon. With the correct filter, a different location and the right mag? Hmmmmm. Better leave that one to the big dobs
  12. I've always thought that one of those smartphone neck holders would be ideal - much bigger and stronger of course...
  13. It's an interesting subject Kronos. I am very lucky to have Bottle 3/4 skies so many of the large DSOs like the Beehive, Andromeda etc are clearly naked eye visible. My 10x50 binoculars here for example, can resolve mag 8 stars on a good night and mag 9 as very small grey pixels, but in outer London visiting family where the bottle is 8 I really struggle with everything through the bins so more aperture is essential. Also reading other members observing reports from light polluted areas I have sometimes been surprised how little can be seen, so I would imagine an 8inch newt under bottle 3/4 to be amazing. I think the 130 heritage will be very pleasing under dark skies - so many people sing it's praises and I wouldn't be surprised if it would rival your dob. Mark
  14. mark81

    ngc 4945

    Very nice sketch. The galaxy looks fantastic
  15. Hi all, The ES 24/68 I have been using in my ST80 over the last few months was borrowed from a friend and has now gone back I need to pick up a new low power EP for about £50 and was wondering if NPL 30mm would be any good? I do like the BSTs but fancy trying out something different... Thanks Mark
  16. I've not heard of them before but I they seem in good condition, you can't go too far wrong for £10. Are they Porro prisms? Have you got any pics? I suppose a clear night will tell you all you need....
  17. Hi all I have read a number of threads recently about high power for the ST80. We know that this scope is great for low power wide field and the only reason you would want a high power EP is I this was your only scope and you want ed to push it best you could. Often the recommendation is a highly priced Explore scientific 6.3mm or the Meade 5000 but at well over the cost for the ST80 I guess it puts some people off. I came across a SW UWA 6mm a couple of months back and had a couple of sessions with it on the Moon but only managed it in afternoon skies. Last night was perfect, black skies and a great looking Moon. At x67 the image is very nice and crisp, perfect for picking out some of the larger craters and features but not enough to resolve some of the finer details. I added a Barlow which pushes it to x133 and I was actually blown away with the results - lots of great little features that x67 just doesn't show up and real texture showing up inside the craters. Ok, comparing to the view through a Mak or a longer f ration scope there is no comparison but they really were pleasing. The nice chunk of glass on top and comfortable chair seemed to work brilliantly. Well worth the £33 Mark
  18. Are, Nicely done. I am yet to witness a transit (tough with my 80mm) but I think I will wait untill Jupiter is up at a reasonable hour before I attempt it...?
  19. Nice session once again... I have actually been taking sketches as you do during each session . It really adds a finishing touch to it...
  20. I find them great for handheld. I have some 11x70s and the image is a little too shaky to study an object. From a dark site the 50mm is great at picking out faint objects too...
  21. I was out with the 10x50s last night scanning around the sky and came across Melotte 111 mentioned by @BinocularSky in this month's newsletter. This is a great cluster to view a low power as the main stars take on a sort of necklace shape. So I took a little sketch - which really doesn't do it justice - it really is a nice cluster to see. While I was in that area I had a go at the Globular Cluster M53 - which I have never viewed before. I wasn't expecting much but was very surprised at how bright it was - similar to m13 on a summers night. ?
  22. The BAK7s would put me off I think. When viewing the night sky you will want to grasp as much light as possible and little things like the type of prisms, the glass used and the coatings applied really make a difference. For not much more money you could get a pair of Olympus 10x50 dpsi. Mark
  23. Lookin forward to reading some reports from this scope. Hope it stays clear before the Moon steals your light....
  24. I would hate to go ahead and give poor advice or suggest you give up on your scope for a new one, but you might find looking at these objects (and many others ) quite a challenge with a 50mm scope. The money you will spend on a couple of eyepieces and a Barlow will put you well on the way to picking up a real nice starter scope like the Heritage 130 from Sky watcher ....
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.