ScouseSpaceCadet

Thanks. Signed up again and posted the link on the Society's FB. 👍

Another vote for the Skymax 127. Compact, light weight, ED like optics, rarely if ever needs collimation and relatively cheap. Used units appear for sale regularly but I think that's down to their popularity as starter telescopes rather than poor quality. For planetary the Mak works well on the AZGTI using Point and Track mode but the aluminium tripod that comes with the mount is barely adequate.

I can't go. 😟 We're taking our daughter to an Aberystwyth uni open day and making a weekend of it. I hope the weather holds out for you all. Have fun. 👍

This evening the skies have cleared for the first time in approx 10 days. Despite the moon and urban light pollution, using Capella as a signpost the comet was easily located at 2230 with the 15x70s. Although on this occasion with no visible core but a prominent elongated fuzzy around 1° in length.

Bright lights don't help. If dodgy characters want your stuff they will have a go, lights or no lights. Our cul de sac is very well (overly) lit, including an LED street lamp at the bottom of our front lawn just a few metres from our driveway. Five years ago we were burgled for car keys during the early hours and a new car stolen. Having that LED and another just across the road made absolutely no difference. Btw has anyone else noticed the Alien/PRC/Illuminati* drone hovering in Wookie's yard?! *Delete as applicable.

At a dark site I've enjoyed impressive views of DSOs with my 4". Although I'm easily pleased... 😀 At my urban home I'm mostly limited to solar system, double stars and the brighter Messiers.To be fair my 8" dob at home didn't do much better. Two years on I don't regret the purchase.

Very sad Nick. Even here 6 miles from Liverpool city centre the skies have brightened obviously. I remember years ago before getting into practical astronomy & when I smoked, watching the Geminids from my patio. The main contributors are I believe, are edge of town warehousing complexes. Looking out from roof top Velux windows, it's possible to see the cones of light shining up.

If you're on the ground then LEDs are no better, so if the lamp is replaced I hope the manage to shield it for you or even better turn it off. 👍 On a similar note last week driving into my housing estate I noticed the LED lamps are all somewhat dimmer. Typically we've had clouds since...

I am imagining a fur lined parka and an ice trench outside a hangar on Hoth. 😀

In no particular order and a historical perspective: The Mt. Wilson Hooker 100 inch. The Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank. The Horn Antenna.

Point and track is my favourite feature of the AZGTI. Just about as quick as setting up an unpowered mount but with tracking. Great for solar system observing.

It's all been said above, however... A nice 4" refractor is relatively easy to handle, mount and is incredibly pleasant to use. I've had 130, 150mm and 200mm newtonians, 102 and 127 Maks plus a 120mm fast achromatic refractor. Without a doubt the 4" f7 ED refractor has provided the most pleasure and the two years of ownership next week has left me with no regrets. I just wish I lived somewhere darker because at dark sites the tiddler really opens up the heavens. Of course the 4" will never go as deep as a larger aperture dob for instance but it can keep you busy for a lifetime nonetheless and also compliments a big Dob or SCT.

I have an AZGTi but despite others stating they use their 4" f7 refractors with the mount I was not convinced after a couple of tries. Looking around for an alternative mount for the 4" I considered the Ioptron AZ Pro or one of the Skywatcher AZ-EQs, but not wanting to spend up to £1500 on an infrequently used item I settled for a secondhand Celestron AVX. £600 off Ebay and eighteen months later still OK. Equatorial mounts are a bit more of a faff but the 4" is only around a 1/3rd the weight capacity of the AVX and rock solid on the mount. The goto works and the tracking is marvelous. I tend to save the AVX for those nights I'm going to be out for a few hours and astronomy camps. Shorter sessions I pop the refractor onto the Skywatcher AZ5 (not the greatest match but it works). The new AZGTI-X looks promising but I'll wait for first adopters' reviews.

Using monopod mounted 15x70 binoculars I bagged the comet at 0430 this morning. Urban light pollution but excellent seeing and transparency. Finding the target took just a few minutes using Mizar as a signpost and simply moving the binoculars down, until the comet was captured. A not so faint fuzzy with a brighter core. Describing the shape I wrote "shuttlecock" in my observing notes.

Kielder is smaller and a bit more back to nature than Kelling. However the location really is remote and the sky is breathtaking on a clear night. Also from the north west half the travel time compared to Kelling. Hopefully I'll get back to Kielder this year for the annual midge apocalypse!

You're doing it wrong... North Level alignment is accurate: Level the telescope, keep it level and point it north with the aid of a compass. Don't use Polaris as an alignment star. Pick two stars like so: CHOOSING ALIGNMENT STAR: Alt-azimuth mount – Altitude is between 15 and 60 degrees – Difference between altitudes is between 10 and 30 degrees - Difference between azimuth is between 45 and 135 degrees - For 3-Star alignment, the first two stars should have similar altitude and the 3rd star should have 30 degree or more variant in altitude compared to at least one of the first two stars. Initial alignment requests will usually be off. Centre the alignment star using the manual movement keys and a wide field eyepiece.Then swap to a mid range eyepiece, centre the aligned star and then finish using up and right key presses.

What he said ^^. I've a modest collection of 10 eyepieces stored in one case, covering two telescopes of very different focal ratios. Slightly more than the suggested 'three for each telescope' but they all do get used especially during planetary sessions in variable seeing conditions. I don't get why anyone needs twenty five eyepieces in three cases either, but whatever makes them happy. 👍

I read the thread title and couldn't help saying, 'Oh no!" out loud, clicked on the title and my fears were realised. 'er indoors asked what is wrong and I just said, "John's dead" and further explanation continued... Obviously I didn't really know him, but I spend far too much time browsing these forums and noticed he hadn't posted for a while. John's advice was influential regarding my equipment choices (and window shopping!) and I enjoyed reading his posts a great deal. Sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

Great report. I try to take a day or so annual leave most months around new moon. Often the weather scuppers me however occasionally I strike lucky, so fingers are crossed for Friday 20.01.23 (and Saturday) in the vain hope the weather will be kind...

M20 was the nearest washer size, with a slightly larger internal diameter of 21mm. They arrived today and one went in OK with just a hint of play. The washer plus an extra turn of the two ADM saddle retaining bolts seems to have sorted it. The Skymax 127 was solid at lunch today with no play. 👍 Thanks again.

Tonight a week or so of cloud and rain gave way to clear skies and chilly air. So, despite still feeling fatigued after my brush with disease, I popped onto the patio the AZ5 mounted Skymax 127. Tripod legs fully extended and the extension fitted for a spot of casual observing throughout the evening. This session was first light for the Takahashi prism diagonal and paired with the Skymax, also the Svbony SV190 10mm UFF. Both I'm pleased to say worked admirably. Compared to my mirror diagonals, light scatter was much reduced. Even the chunky Altair 24mm UFF felt secure. The 10mm UFF provided almost refractor like contrast on the lunar and Mars. Cranking up the magnification to 214x with the 7mm OVL Nirvana-ES, Martian albedo features were strong and for the first time this season Syrtis Major revealed itself along with the adjoining Mare Tyrrhenum and Mare Serpentis. Airborne moisture, local light pollution and the moon light washed out the sky considerably so observing anything else besides the moon and Mars was not particularly satisfying. When packing up I grabbed the 10x50s for a quick scan and the Double Cluster was barely observable. Although the expansive open cluster Melotte 20 was still eye catching. Overall a nice casual session. Probably my best Martian observations this season and it was nice to be outside breathing in some cold air!

Santa left me a Tak! Ok it's just a diagonal but I'm happy... 😀

Lee you may be lucky and not need to fettle the AZ5. I've had mine three years and the mount works just the same as it did when I bought it... Without any tweaks or maintenance (😱), the AZ5 has outlived an Explorer 130PS, Explorer P150i, Startravel 120 and Skymax 102. It's currently used with a Skymax 127 and Altair 102ED... From all the above, the 130PS was the most stable. Ergonomically just about perfect with the slomo cables removed and just using the short knobs. I could stand there all night with that scope mounted on the AZ5 at a perfect height. Enjoy your new mount. The AZ5 is great for very small, short refractors (the Skywatcher 72ED DS-Pro for instance), Maks 127 and below, 130mm reflectors & 5" SCTs. Anything else starts getting a bit awkward due to the short slomo cables and focussing vibration is not so great at higher powers with longer scopes.

I have a very, very similar version from Amazon. I run it off a Talentcell power bank. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TalentCell-Rechargeable-6000mAh-12000mAh-Lithium/dp/B0713T4XT9/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=TalentCell&qid=1671655388&sr=8-3 I've not noticed the dew band cutting out, but did find the heat controller to be a waste of time if the band is strapped around my 4" refractor. I found only the highest setting is really effective and must be switched on before dew settles on the objective.