ScouseSpaceCadet

Several areas of Bowland Forest are still recommended as dark sites. I have an open all year camp site I wanted to try right on the southern edge, near Bolton by Bowland. Alas, the pandemic hit.

I know that neck of the woods a bit, having been dragged up in Kirkby. Some areas around Ormskirk/Burscough are probably the better side of bortle 5. Gorse Hill Nature Reserve in Aughton might be worth a look, but I'd need someone to hold my hand. 🙄

The OP's blatant 'like' farming. Mods?! 😆 The forum is great, but don't believe all the nicey niceness. There's crackin' gang fights at the SGL star camps. Imagers vs observers, then the faction fights with the beanie wearing big dob lot armed with two inch cheshires and apo owners weilding Berlabach tripod legs. 'orrible!

As John says. Get the book. 😀

I used a short cheshire in both a 130p and 150p just fine... and a collimation cap worked too.

If you plan to observe the Beehive, then another open cluster, M67 is close too. Near to Pleiades is the cluster Hyades the head of Taurus. While you're thee clusters M36, M37 and M38. All in the above are south east-south west mid evening. In the northern sky try galaxies M81 and M82. They will fit into the 25mm eyepiece field of view. Small smudges but galaxies nonetheless. That lot should keep you busy on a first time out. Don't give the targets a quick glance. Spend some time looking and they should pop. Install a mobile app like Sky Safari or Stellarium.

That's a great mobile phone photo.. please, post it in mobile phone imaging section and tell us your method...

60 miles south east to th Peak District, 60 miles south to the northern tip of Snowdonia and 60 miles north to Bowland Forest. 🙄 The last trip was 175 miles to Kielder in Northumberland . Special skies and very hungry midges the size of birds I tell yer! If camping alone or with family, a 102mm Maksutov, lightweight altaz mount/tripod and a zoom and 10x50s. Star camps - the 102mm refractor and heavy tripod, azgti and all the eyepieces and the binoculars etc. Then spend as much time as possible floating around looking through all the big dobs and cats. 🧐😆👍

Ask FLO if they will split the package. It's not unheard of.

I've promised myself one of these 'soon' but I imagine if you have a Tak, you probably have a decent seat... https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/geoptik-nadira-astronomy-observing-chair.html I found the best observing accessories bought were a better tent and warmer sleeping bag... A shame the pandemic ruined the plans. ☹️

I'd give my left hand for bortle 5! Keep trying. As said above, avoid diffuse nebulae for the moment. Often they require UHC or OIII filters to make them pop out anyway. Concentrate on DSOs that are relatively easy to find. M81 and M82 are perfect starter galaxies. I've viewed those two many times under bortle 8 skies with several small telescopes. As spring arrives the Leo Triplet is a good test. As are planetary nebula - The Ring and Dumbbell. The globulars - M3, M92 and M13. Don't neglect double star systems either. The 10" will make many splits easy. To reiterate, start with the objects you know, once you're able to find them, you should be able to see on a good night with a 10" under bortle 5. Then aim for the harder targets. Urban observing - Start low, aim high, become disappointed and buy a tent.

Maybe try making your own planetary camera?

I'm sure it's possible Enceladus or Europa may harbour life of some sort. Hopefully we don't have to wait too long to find out. As for intelligent life. It's wholly possible they're out there given the size of the Milky Way and the number of galaxies generally. Whether we will bump into them. Highly unlikely given the distances but I'm not beyond hoping a radio contact is made in the future. While waiting it's interesting reading the musings of Frank Drake, Carl Sagan, Enrico Fermi, Stephen Hawking etc. It's rather nice looking up through the little telescope and wondering if anything else squidgy lives up there.

Buy her a telescope. No need to tell her it's the one you fancied for ages... 😁

Tbh I was out with the binoculars the same time as you and it took me a minute or two to twig. 🤫

Clanger from the 25mm MA, BST 25mm and 32mm plossl, I imagine the BST will be the best compromise of clarity, field of view and contrast. Report back please. 😀 Low power is where these scopes excel. My ST120 was brilliant with a 2" 30mm 68° eyepiece whether urban or rural observing.

A 9x50 Right Angle Correct Image finder compliments a pointing device. You can use both with a dual finder bracket. Loads of people use Telrads. I've never bothered, finding a red dot and/or RACI finder just fine. I regularly use a Multi Reticule Finder but mine was approx. £20 used so have a look on Ebay etc. The GSO 3 Element Barlow is great. Again picked up on Ebay for £20 BST Starguiders are popular replacement eyepieces. Plossls are easier on the wallet.

Great John. Just shows what can be done with a small aperture under decent skies. It's frustrating at times here in the urban jungle!

Binoculars never fail to impress. Much like yourself tonight I had an observing window of an hour or so before clouds rolled in so grabbed the Olympus 10x50s. Taking in M42 , M44, the Double Cluster in Perseus and for the first time from home spotted the California Nebula. Not bad under city skies. I'm tempted to buy a bigger pair, although the freedom of hand held binoculars is what really attracts.

As Sunshine said, it's all about Mars. https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/ https://www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/index.html Elon Musk wants to send thousands of people to Mars. "Soon". I believe Mars is quite cold so pack extra socks.

Don't expect much. I'm hardly an eyepiece expert. It will either be "Blinkin' 'ell look at that!' or "How much did I pay for this again...?" I'll let you know. 👍😁

An Altair Astro Ultraflat 24mm 65°. It's quite a beast! The Celestron X-Cel LX 25mm needs to go to pay for it. Ad in the for sale section. 😉

Nice eyepieces. My OVL ED30 presented a very pleasing image in the ST120. Edge correction and field curvature I can't comment on, being too busy making 'Wow' noises. Almost as good as the more expensive Vixen NVLW lanthanum 30mm, which actually lost to the ED30 due to the uncomfortable eye cup.

Well I gave in and decided on the Altair Ultraflat 24mm. Getting an extra fiver off due to loyalty points sealed it. 😉

Lots of nice mounts. I'm 90% happy with the AZ5. The only issue I have is the pants saddle. I've not seen a replacement ADM style one if anyone can point me in the right direction...