Mr Spock

Slight pause for repairs - what numpty put the RDF on back to front... doh! (you can see it in the pic above).

Now I can start observing...

Nice and clear. Just about to go out now everything is ready.

Rrrready... 

I see the neighbour's ludicrous lights are on, sigh.

Very clear at the moment. Very breezy though. I've put the scope tight in towards the shed for some protection.

Fortunately 99% of us are not in the US  Pentax are £249, Morpheus £229...

When I'm not looking at the moon, or planets, I spend my time on double stars. I have no idea what the fascination is.

However, on the way to them, I'm looking at star fields as I'm star hopping. I enjoy that just as much as the doubles themselves. Is that unusual? Does anyone else do it?

I just like looking at stars!

Fabulous. Now that's something worth seeing 👍

The solution to everything is to put the word 'quantum' in front of it 

If I was at 20° north instead of 53° it would be an easy split.

Antares is very low here - just over the top of my fence. I can't split it with the FC-100 and it's too low (below the fence line) for the 12".

I need one of those gadgets to hold it. 

The eyepiece view is already sharp. I then just hold the iPhone in place - where ever it needs to be to get a full field - then let it do its own focusing.

42 minutes ago, PeterStudz said:

Looks good! Although do you need 2 motors for your 12”? I know that @Mr Spock uses a commercially made EQ platform for his 12” Dob and it runs well with just the one - same motor. 

The shaft is covered in rubber. If you have a metal to metal surface you will have a lot less grip.

They just make you want them 

Called it a night. Wind chill is around zero 🥶

Tried Antares again - no show. So I had a look at Polaris - that's nice and easy.

Just doing some doubles with the FC-100. Come in after 20 minutes to get the big gloves and woolly hat. My fingers are dropping off!

There is no dark side of the moon really. As a matter of fact it's all dark.

I have an old Meade 4000 32mm I picked up used many years ago. I don't use it now but it is very sharp. I'm thinking of putting it in my new finder for x7 and 7°

1 hour ago, Vroobel said:

I have astigmatism and use glasses daily, but I prefer the Orthos over anything else for planets and Moon.

A 40-45° fov isn't really practical for undriven Dobs. Around 80° gives you more 'hang time'.

30 minutes ago, PeterStudz said:

If I need to attached something I get a power tool and drill a hole then bolt it down

That's what I did. Couple of holes and a finder shoe, and job's a good un.

I've just hidden some comments. Please be be polite and respectful to each other.

I dumped the Telrad as it kept falling off. I have this now:

RDF and a RACI is ideal.

I find my 120mm, despite being an achromat, is far more detailed than the FC-100. The Continuum eliminates all the uncorrected wavelengths just leaving a perfectly corrected image.

Yesterday the large sunspot group had loads of grey areas which were just full of detail. There was one really dark spot in that group which had a 3D hollow round it. 

I wouldn't recommend the Hyperion, they aren't so good in fast scopes. The ES is good for the price. So the 6.7mm would be x179, great for Jupiter; the 4.7mm would be x255 - fine for the moon when the seeing is good.

If you want to spend more money, then the Baader Morpheus 6.5mm is highly rated by many.

Meh. Forecast was clear for tonight. It's changed now and there's a lot of high cloud coming over 😡

I suppose at least I'll get a full night's sleep