ScouseSpaceCadet

Assuming a degree of light pollution then no fuzzies but still impactful would be a selection double stars, open clusters, planets, lunar etc. Therefore my choice of 2 would be: Saturn (and/or Jupiter) The Double Cluster in Perseus.

I'm looking forward to your episodic observation comparison! 😄

Hah. Not exactly right out in the sticks but almost perfect. Just a few widely separated flat pitches. Strict noise rules everyone adhered to. Clean showers, toilets and a washing up area. A hot snack trailer on site opened for an hour each morning and evening. Dodgy seaside towns and some great beaches 20 minutes drive. Hilly walking trails about the same distance. Traffic allowing, the site is only an hour's drive from me with no winding mountain roads to navigate and compared to home the skies are marvellous. There is some wildlife to. I heard both a fox and tawny owl close by and the mini tarantula in the washing up sink had me stifling a scream. 😄 No electricity but I take my own. The only real down side is the site is only opened May to September.

The Skoda Yeti is a magical beast! 😄

My Trekology UL140 mattress is very comfortable. It's the old knees that are still sore a few days later due to the crawling around. At dedicated astro camps the 6ft tall, 4 person tent comes out along with a Vango Grande Camp Bed.

Great Nick, I was just getting into the swing of things when the forecast clouds arrived two hours early... 🙄 At least you had a good one. Thanks for the write up.

Wirral I believe... I'll drink an extra litre before setting off.

Tie up any unsecured craft. I'm going again w/c 21st August... 🫣

It is... Every August I stop for a pee in Bala on the way to Aberystwyth... 😀

The AZ5 handles the SM125 OK and I had no issues balancing, but much like the 4" f7, focusing vibes are too much as one increases magnification. I imagine an aftermarket saddle may improve things but I have resolved to get a Skytee 2 or better. As stated in my last post, the AVX is probably the perfect mount class for the scope. Although last night I did experience a diagonal and tripod leg collision, so next time I'll mount the scope further up the tube rings and maybe swap to one of my 1.25" diagonals.

Clear to 3am the forecast said.... At 00:15 just as I'm about to aim at Saturn a thick blanket of cloud arrived... The night started well with a cracking fireball at 2315 as I was polar aligning... 🙄 The SM125 is solid on the AVX. The stiff breeze didn't have a noticeable effect.

https://www.pitchup.com/campsites/Wales/North-Wales/Denbighshire/St_Asaph/corn-bwch/?adults=1&type=4

I've just tucked myself in... 😴. The clouds rolled over about 2200 but after 2300 I was treated to several clear patches. It's not too bad now but I need a kip. 1 definite meteor at zenith. 2 corner of your eye flashes. Several familiar targets ticked off with the 10x50s and dozens more I need to look up! Topped off with a nice waning crescent moon. My second night the forecast might be a wet one so I'm glad I stayed out. Now I just need to ignore the animal noises and get to sleep! 🙄😄

I already have twice... sober... 🙄😀

Hah that looks like good stuff. I've finished the Old Peculier now. Just eight cans of very cold and equally palatable Doombar to go. I don't actually drink very often these days but when I do it has to be a good pint. I'm having a breather with a diet Tango Fruit Twist. 😀 ...and the sky is still clear... 😱

Summer has returned and one of the advantages of working part time is occasionally having three days off during the week, so off I've popped off for two nights in North Wales. The sky has cleared as forecast, the beers are flowing and I'm hoping for some pre peak Perseid meteor action. I've also brought the 10x50s too. Fingers crossed I can stop drinking the cold beers (The Coleman cooler box is ace), not fall asleep and enjoy the rural sky. 😀 A nice big pitch all to myself. Crystal clear! Too good to be true? 🙄 Hic... 🥳🧐🤩 Does anyone else forget something every time? I forgot my pillow... 🙄😴

First the bad news. Full disclosure, my first SM125 had a bubble and swirls of scratches on the dew shield. The whole telescope was swiftly replaced by FLO yesterday. On inspection I could not see any faults and last night I even managed half an hour under a clear sky. I was very impressed with the short session. Albireo's yellow and blue colours really popped. The orange colour of Gamma Aquilae was strikingly obvious even at low mags. I swung the ota up through Cygnus and was impressed with how the star fields were rendered even under the light pollution. M29 popped right out at me. A defocused Vega showed a tight even round circle and no false colour in the mix. A very quick test but so far I'm very happy with the telescope despite the initial hiccup.

Haha... The carbon fibre tube combined with the handle does make the the ota easy to wield. For me the tube is no more difficult to move around than the 4" f7. The AZ5 with the mount arm moved to the alternate vertical position just about did the job but I'll likely sell it in the coming months and pick up a Skytee II style mount. I did a rudimentary star test and to my very amateur eyes the optics showed no spherical abberations or false colour out of focus and in focus the stars sparkled... 😀

First Light. A very short session however I'm happy up to now. Typically tonight is looking good but I really cannot stay out. ☹️

I noticed an issue with a recently bought telescope and emailed First Light Optics for advice. Emails were answered promptly. FLO offered to arrange a return via courier and replacement without fuss or extra costs to me. Steve at FLO's customer service skills are impeccable. Thanks for your help.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/computerised-goto-astronomy-mounts/ioptron-az-mount-pro.html Watch this review of the c9.25 before committing to anything. Ed offers wise words near the end: To be honest if you have bitten off a bit more than you can chew, don't want to fork out a fortune for mounts then, sell the lot and with the £1200 or so profit, buy a £400 8" dobsonian, red light torch and a book.

You have won the astronomy jackpot obtaining that kit for £151...(is that a typo???) The c9.25 is £1895 new and used around £1250. Whoever sold you the kit didn't realise what they had assuming £151 really is not a typo! There's no cheap mounting solution for that scope.

Working less certainly helps! Aged 55 I've dropped to 30 hours over 4 days. Work the numbers and do it if you can. Life is too short.

I watched on catch up. A good effort at bringing lunar science and exploration to the masses over two hours. With a nod to back yard astronomers too. As good as anything the Sky at Night team manage.

Dara's presenting style is light however he obviously has a passion for the subject. Very watchable and I'm looking forward to the second installment. Hopefully Joe and Josey Bloggs who get excited about Wolf Icecream Cone Purple Supermoon stories in the press found the hour enlightening too...