Steve

We will email everybody who booked a pitch ASAP but please help us spread the word. If you know someone who has booked please check they are aware it has been cancelled. Then hopefully nobody will unknowingly make the journey.

Not good news I am afraid 😥 Due to heavy rain and flooding, half of Lucksall campsite (mostly the half used for the Star Party!) is underwater and more rain is forecast later this week. Unfortunately we are unable to proceed with this year's SGL Star Party. All pitch and meal bookings will be refunded in full this week. SGL Star Parties are an opportunity for us all to meet, face to face, in the real world so are an important part of the SGL calendar. We will do our best to arrange an additional SGL Star Party next year. Thank-you for your understanding.

What he said ^ 🙂

Working well and super fast. Thank you Grant 😀

Thank-you Grant. Looks good 🙂

Welcome back, John ?

If you post it and it doesn’t show correctly we can remedy that ? We are assuming William Yang is happy for you to post his email to you on a public forum...

Thank-you to all who entered and congratulations to the winners ?

Discussions and communities don't work like that so we cannot (and don't want to) make rigid black & white rules that dictate what subjects can or cannot be posted in SGL's discussion boards (with the usual notable exceptions, of course). If you choose to post about your experience using an image intensifier eyepiece attachment (for want of a better description!) in a discussion board normally occupied by astronomers using regular eyepieces then we respectfully suggest you mention the equipment you are using, otherwise it might cause confusion. Topic based discussion boards, when used, make it easier for members to find like-minded people and information on a topic that interests them. This is not an unusual approach. It is a well established format. We are confident the new EEVA discussion board will prove popular over time as the equipment becomes more affordable and more easily available. HTH

Nobody was banned from posting in the general observing forums ? Individual discussion boards help people find and share information with like-minded people on topics that interest them. They are not rigid enclosures. They are quite open because discussions and interests often overlap. HTH

This new EEVA Discussion board is us embracing a new approach and change ?

I think the Esprit-150 will be too heavy to piggy-back on another telescope, even a large one. HTH

That is not reason enough to hijack another member's thread. Multiple times. Try posting more pictures and info in your own thread.

You have posted the same post and pix multiple times. Your new telescopes will gain more attention if you start a new discussion about them ?

No, no, NO! Please no bikinis!

Sorry about this but I was wrong. I hadn't noticed we had already specified "images taken with mono cameras". It is of course possible to use OSC cameras for narrowband imaging but if you do please submit those images to the OSC competition. Apologies for the confusion.

Mono is the norm but if someone is using a DSLR or OSC for narrowband imaging then they are welcome to enter the images in the narrowband challenge. Please, everyone, enjoy your weekend.

A picture, yes please Gina

Eeerrrr.... Yup, that's the Stu we know and love

Oi! There is a rigorous process that ensures only those with complete integrity, strong moral principles, honesty, uprightness, probity, rectitude, honour, nobility, virtue, decency, sincerity, truthfulness and good humour... achieve the position of SGL Mod. So there!

We are assuming you assembled the telescope indoors then took it outside to use. The mirror, having been indoors, will be warmer than the air outside. When you take it outside it starts radiating the heat (stored in the glass) into the atmosphere until its temperature is about equal to the outside temperature. If you try observing while the mirror is radiating heat it will be like looking through water. Here in the UK, we generally allow 10 mins cooling time per inch of aperture but this is approximate. If you can store the telescope in a shed or garage so its mirror is always close to the outside temperature you can be observing much sooner. Regarding fans, opinion is divided but most believe a fan shortens the necessary cool-down time. HTH

Yes, I think so too Raanan, it is going to be fun watching your progress. Please keep us updated.

If you have the fused mirror then it is bang up-to-date, which is good To achieve good views you will need good collimation (you need more than the laser, ask your supplier for a Cheshire) and an understanding of your mirror's cooling requirements, and your sky's seeing conditions. I fancy a large-aperture Dobsonian myself so will be watching your progress with interest.

Welcome to SGL Is this really your first telescope? If it is then you have jumped into the deep end. First things first, are you confident you have achieved collimation and allowed enough time for the mirror to cool to ambient temperature? I wonder what type of mirror is fitted to the telescope when sold in Israel. If you are able please post a photograph showing the rear of the mirror, we will then know if it is the early cast mirror or the more recent fused together mirror. I agree with the others, your experience regarding assembly is rather disappointing.

Tom, Olly, that really is astounding! Thank-you for sharing.