Rob Sellent

Thanks for the review, @Second Time Around. Very informative. I'm just wondering but do you have a link of the headlamp in question? I'm out in Spain, so a picture of the gear would be handy I've never used a headlamp but in my search for an ideal red light to sketch with and read star atlases, I've found that even the best often use a 620 - 630 nm range of the visible spectrum. To achieve a better night vision a wavelength around 660 nm or greater, in the deep-red range of the visible spectrum, is more fruitful. Not only that, but it's helpful that this light is adjustable. I've tried the typical trick of covering a normal torch with nail varnish or sweet wrapper material but with these kind of torches I've never found that I could adjust the light and moreover have never found the light diffuse enough so that there is no bright point-source of light. A simple moment of singular brightness and dark adaption is inevitably back to square one. For most of this decade, then, I've used Rigel's Starlite Torch. It does everything I want from a torch and although initially pricey, after ten or so years of continuous use it seems a very small price to pay in terms of astro-gear when at the extreme fringe of dso targets and trying to sketch them, or hunting them out in my star chart and back to the eyepiece or tweaking a truss dob’s collimation at 3am in the morning.

I've been out practicing almost everynight with the binoviewers I purchased a couple of weeks back. The set up has been an unbranded binoviewer, 1.6x GPS, Mark IV zooms, Tak 1.25" diagonal and a 2" to 1.25" TS twist-lock adapter to keep everything from slipping. Jupiter and Saturn (and Mars) are no longer visible at the hours I can observe and I've only been concentrating on the Sun and Moon. Over the next 2 weeks as the skies darken further, I'll try deep space. So far I've found: H-alpha solar 60mm B1200 - exceptional surface detail of the chromosphere; prominences lose clarity and detail, along with spicule features around the limb. White Light Herschel Wedge - to date there has been very little activity but the view is very nice. I'm sure the binoviewers will come in handy as solar minimum draws to an end. Lunar - surface detail and contrast is excellent. Viewing for extended periods whilst sketching is significantly more comforting with binoviewers. Technically, I've found: longer focal lengths are easier to merge and observe with. As such, I feel it is better to optain magnification with Barlows or a GPS, rather than shorter length eyepieces. I haven't noticed any significant drop in resolution or brightness (only looking at the Sun and Moon, after all!) more faffing is required with binos and they add weight to the set up. the narrower field of view still feels very immersive. tricks of the brain, visual summation and improved acuity wih the two eye use makes it easier to see detail at lower powers. Should one purchase binoviewers? I think one can only decide this by trying them and then sharing their experiences on SGL to help inform and educate others. For good or bad, that's the only way one will be able to answer the question for themselves.

Thanks for the review and photos @Alan White. The AZ100 certainly looks a very substantial, well engineered and aesthetically gorgeous mount. No doubt this is probably one of the most interesting and hopefully successful new releases this year.

Thanks for the insight, Mark. It's comforting to note you've found similar results with the binos. Although they offer a visual aesthetic single eyepieces cannot match, for h-alpha they are to a degree limiting. Sorry to hear about the weather. We had our floods a couple of months back but since then it's been almost nonstop clear day and night. Hopefully you guys will get a similar kind of fortune after the rain falls

Gorgeous Sun today. Very dynamic and seething with interesting features. There are three impressive prominences flaming high into the darkness of space. At this hour, there's one about 2 o'clock, another at 5 and a huge series of plasma flames at about 10 o'clock spilling over the sun's limb. A faint filament or two can be spotted but what cannot be missed is a very bright patch near the 5 o'clock prom. Curiously, in white light this area reveals not sunspot, so I'm tentatively concluding that it is a huge solar flare blasting enormous amounts of energy into space. I'm still getting to grips with the binoviwers and Mark IV zooms for H-alpha viewing. I'm not sure if others have the same effect, namely, that for surface detail the binos are outstanding but perhaps not as sharp as single eyepieces for picking out fainter spicules, proms and the such. It would be interesting to hear opinions on this. Anyway, I've made a sketch but for time's sake it'll be easier just to post up an image from Gong to give a good idea of what was viewed today.

I'm not convinced one needs to compete with the kiosks and newsstand's glossy racking fodder. Indeed, as vinyl and tapes were to yesterweek are glossy magazines even relevant today? Stretching the analogy further, sure, vinyl isn't dead but is it still the place where one goes to find the best of new music being produced around the world these days? The decline in printed magazine sales correlates remarkably well with the rise in digital media and personally, I think that's where the majority of the best - not all the best - is being produced. Specialist magazines - those into ponies and knitting, or scale modelling and astronomy and the such- are likely to always have a print fanbase - in the old day that media used to be called 'zines' or 'fanzines' but one is no longer restricted to them. I still love magazines, newspapers and the such but only ever read them online for free or via a very shallow subscription fee. I'm not an imager, but if one is and produces images that work on a desk-top at home, it might be an idea to get those images on to platforms around the world and gradually reach an audience. Engaging in relevant social media and networking those images to expand and broaden one's reach is probably a good way of dealing with the current state of affairs. Spain's biggest astro magazine, for example, is predominately an online affair and I'm sure this practice isn't restricted only to Spain. In short, the internet provides much of the content we are consuming these days. Personally, I look forward to the day when SGL & FLO start producing its very own PDF magazine and if produced with care would surely become one of the most widely read and greatest astro-magazine in the world

To be honest, there's no personal concern. Merely raising the notion of privacy, of the settings, so to say. Other than that, sites such as these do raise a few interesting points.

Just wondering out loud, so tell me to mind my own business if I'm stepping in but....wouldn't it be better to put this thread in the other lounge where your images are a tad more private and not open to all and sundry?

This is worth repeating. In the long term, it is probably cheaper to buy decent quality eyepieces - especially if you pick them up on the secondhand market - than simply going for some quick fix cheaper eyepieces that may eventually need upgrading and may inevitably lose a wack on the secondhand market. Premium eyepieces will fit a range of different scopes and focal ratios, will retain their market value better, will sell quickly if ever the need to move them on, and won't leave the observer with any nagging feeling of 'what if...'. It is rarely a bad move to buy premium, one just needs to slow down a little to save up for them and keep a careful eye on the secondhand market. I feel in the long run, it will save money, time, and doubt.

Maybe a peer reviewed paper for NASA's climate scientists is in order? Hate to think their own folk are labouring under a misapprehension: NASA: Sun's Role in Climate Change

Spain's climate variability is huge. It has mountains, skiing resorts, beaches, desert and scrub lands, lush green regions and so on, so take what I say with a pinch of salt. Although I've moved a far bit, I have only been star/solar gazing on the eastern half for the last 20 years or so. What I've noticed is the following: heat waves, their duration and intensity have been increasing there are significantly less cold spells and they are significantly less intense (mid November and we're still in the mid to high 20ºCs) precipitation is generally decreasing and droughts are generally increasing when it does rain, it is generally more intense and violent On average, I reckon I could squeeze at least 200 night sessions a year and around 300 day sessions. Obviously, doing such a thing I'd go nuts and get bored very quickly, but the opportunity is there if one so desired. If this trend continues, I reckon within a 100 years or so, Andalucia will become mainly desert and huge areas around Aragon, Castilla de la Mancha, Murcia and Valencia will become extremely arid.

I appreciate what you're saying @Greymouser. We could argue that amateur astronomy is as expensive as you want it to be. There's no reason to spend a lot of money - if anything - on this hobby and what you do buy has the potential to last a lifetime. Naked eye astronomy is free. You can see a little more with binoculars that cost €50. Spend a little extra on an 8" dob and you can see even more. Furthemore, such a hobby promotes self education, patience, fortitude, humility, diligence, wonder and awe, the hunger for more knowledge and further discovery, encourages environmental awareness, concerns about pollution, urban sprawl, the erosion of our night sky and might even educate the general public with out-reach programs. It's also great fun and offers great peace of mind and calm. As such, it's tricky to put a price on such a passtime and aestheitc. On the other hand, if we look at it from a purely €/£/$/hour basis, there might be some cause for concern. If one is only able to observe once or twice a month with a kit that has cost thousands, for example, then each session is going to be pricey. That kit has the potential to last years without upgrade, so the hourly rater will drop but if one is beginning to question their economic outlay relative to use, then I agree, it might be a good idea to take stock of what is going on and act accordingly. I'm not an imager and have no idea of actual prices and what is involved but I imagine there's no such thing as a free meal. Remote online astronomy would be a business venture, be quite pricey, and as @geordie85has noted, you are probably not taking the actual picture yourself. All that will happen is that some remote gear will image an object of your choice. You could ask a member of SGL to do much the same for a fee and either way, the image will never be 'yours'. Other than that, if you're into visual astronomy, you could simply cut back on your gear, use a frac or dob, two or three eyepieces, Barlow, finder and star atlas and away you go. Even if you only had a dozen or so sessions a year, within time the gear will become relatively cheap. I'm know I'm banging on a bit but another thing I've noticed is the idea of 'keeping up with the Joneses'. Someone will say how awesome gear X is, others will try out that gear and before long we've got many folk saying the same kind of thing. Most times they're right, gear X is awesome and now one may feel as if their own gear is second rate or deficient in some manner. But in absolute seriousness, other than seasoned astronomers most folk wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Inexpensive gear can and does give just as much enjoyment and pleasurable views as gear costing five times as much. Everything boils down to the individual and whether that person in question decides to get outside and make the best of his or her own potential. It's not so much with what we're using but rather that we're aiming high and reaching for the stars.

Not knowing what accessories you already have, for an 8" f6 Dob and the chance of some goodies for Xmas, I'd be looking into: Cheshire EP seating arrangement (ironing chair, drum stool) red torch which can be suitably dimmed S&T's pocket sky atlas Baader solar film to make a solar filter equipment case keeping bits and bobs in one place Illustrated guide to astromnomical wonders Rukl's Moon guide Fingerless gloves, warm hat, warm socks, winter coat and boots big enough to accommodate 2 or 3 pairs of socks primary mirror fan Jaffa cakes, Donuts, snacks, coffee, hip flask (medicinal use only) note/sketch book, pencils, rubber and sharpener Widefield 10mm and 14mm plus x2 Barlow And for those cloudy nights: Patience SGL Stellarium Another hobby like scale modeling, music, reading Spending time with your loved ones and leting them know they're loved

Lovely story and set of photos, Paul. Good to hear you guys did see the transit and all got home safe and sound. Hopefully you didn't put your leg under too much strain and were able to rest up today. I think we were a little more fortunate weatherwise in the west part of Spain. Out in the midday sun, it actually got a little too hot to observe comfortably for any length of time

Lovely images, David. Glad you had a little luck with the weather. I guess I was a tad more fortunate down in Spain. It was a very hazy, bad seeing day but like you, managed to view some of the transit.

You could line up around 285 of those little Mercuries across that face of the Sun. Just that tiny prominence to its north could pile up around ten of them Folk who aren't into astronomy are often offended surprised at realising just how small our rocky planets really are.

Nice show over here. A little hazy but decent proms at 2, 4, 8 and 11 o'clock and a wee little Mercury creeping in around 3 o'clock. Will make a quick sketch and enjoy a quick siesta

Welcome to SGL, @DandD2014 My tuppence advice is to take your time. Try to appraise your gear first and then you'll have a better idea of where you want to go and how exactly you want to get there. I feel you ought not to upgrade or buy anything until you know you are missing out on something that is essential to your observing and just as importantly when you know or have a general idea of how it can be improved upon and bettered. If you haven't used your scope that much, it's going to be more tricky to make a sensible and informed decision. Your scope is a 3" fl11, so with your suggested eyepieces and Barlow, you have magnifications of: 20mm & (x2Barlow) = 45x & 90x 15mm & (x2Barlow) = 60x & 120x 10mm & (x2Barlow) = 90x & 180x 6mm & (x2Barlow) = 150x & 300x In general, only under good seeing conditions is one able to push more than 200x to view detail on objects like the Moon or planets. We can also take into account a rough and general rule of thumb which suggests that a theoretical upper limit to how much a telescope can magnify before the image becomes too faint or blurry is the aperture of the scope in inches multiplied by about 40x to 50x. As such, your 6mm is going to be about the maximum power for general viewing. Needless to say, before buying anything more in terms of eyepieces, slow down a little, practice with your scope, put it through its passes with the gear you already have. If you haven't already done so, a star atlas is a very useful purchase, as is a red torch to read the atlas at night and perhaps a book like this or this. Hope that has helped a little. Good luck and let us know how you get along

Take care with the idea, Paul. I don't want to sound like a mom, but it's probably not worth risking your eyes. In astronomical terms the next transit is literally just round the corner

Just out of interest, how do you get focus? I've got a Lunt 60mm B1200 Tilt tuned with Moonlite. Using a 1.6x glass corrector I can't reach focus. Do you think a 2.6x glass corrector might get there? - - - - Some more interesting links on bino summation and the such here

I've recently purchased an unbranded set of binoviewers to work out whether they should be part of my tool kit or not. As far as I can gather they look like Kunming's generic binoviewers which can be found in the likes of TS Optics, Orion, Omegon and William Optics which I believe are all internally identical. That is, all prisms and correcting glass are 25mm in diameter whilst the clear aperture on each eyepeice side is around 20-21mm. With a few sessions under my belt I can only repeat the general consensus herein. Most objects or starfields appear very immersive, almost three dimensional in appearance. With both eyes working subtle detail becomes a tad more apparent, comfort is slightly augmented and there is a reduction of floaters at higher magnifications. Obvious downsides include added weight and possible balancing issues, doubling up on eyepieces and a slight dimming of the object. In my case, I've purchased another zoom so as not to buy any more eyepieces and restrict myself to observing brighter objects. Other downsides is the necessary increase in magnification required to reach focus (typically you need to use a glass path corrector (GPS) or Barlow) and to avoid using eyepieces whose field stop is larger than the clear aperture of the binoviewer. This means low power and/or wide field observing is very difficult to achieve with most binoviewers. Needless to say, I think you ought to purchase your binoviewers secondhand. My own came with a pair of decent 20mm eyepieces, 1.6x GPS and nice case for under €150. If you decide they're not for you, I feel you could easily move them on without losing out. Finally, is it worth it? This is a very subjective call. Like @John, I feel they're not essential to observing. However, like all the others in this thread, I do feel they add a lovely dimension to observing and have certainly increased my enjoyment and viewing experience at a relatively low cost.

Congratulations on the scope, Deisler I think you've chosen one of the finest scientific instruments open to all on the market. In particular the 8" Dob is an excellent all-rounder that will surrender wonderful views and require little in the way of maintenance. I sincerely wish you many happy years with your 8-inch Newtonian. Observing the night sky with a telescope can often mean listening to songs of subtle melodies and muted sounds, of faint whisperings muffled by light years. In a peculiar way, almost paradoxical to our everyday existence, visual astronomy is about training the eye to see some of the largest and brightest things in existence, not because they're so large and bright but because they're so dim and so far away. We need to tune the eye to those tenuous murmurings of nature and help the eye see in almost complete darkness. The poet Ted Hughes asked himself about the purpose of his writing. He answered, "It's about trying to take fuller possession of the reality of your life." By like manner, we could ask ourselves, "what is the purpose of visual astronomy?" And we could paraphrase Hughes and answer, "It's about trying to take fuller possession of the reality I see." To my understanding in visual astronomy there is one essential feature to this possession taking: observing. To this degree, I think that if you want to progress visually in this hobby and if you want to witness a very real progression, every so often you need to get down to details and give yourself some time to observe. Observing is not just looking at something. Observing requires active engagement with what is being observed. It is a style of concentrated looking, of picking out features and textures, of training the eye to see more. It is about purposeful practice. It has been said many times but anything glanced at will always look like a featureless something or other, so the trick is to go beyond this style of looking and practice picking out features and textures. A useful method for observing is to ask questions about the object being observed: what is there? what do I know about it? what does it look like? what shape does it have? where does it sit in relation to the other objects in the eyepiece? If observers wanted to go a step further they could write about what they see, or talk into a recorder about what they see, or sketch what they see and it makes no difference what method they choose, so long as the objective of such practice is to strengthen their stargazing eye, their observational skills. Clearly, there is no right or wrong way to plan or record your sessions and the observing procedure just mentioned is certainly not one I'd recommend for every session. For starters, it can be exhausting. It can also be very boring if we want to get on with things and see more objects in our session. Another problem is that engaging with what we observe can and does slow us down, so it may appear we're not being that productive. Nevertheless, I do feel that from time to time it is important. With practice, depending on the complexity of the object, such an interrogation shouldn't take too long. The questioning process, for example, can be done quite quickly, writing or sketching will take longer and can be tiring, so I usually dedicate it to one, maybe two objects at most and certainly not on every session. It is also extremely important to have sessions where you just sit back and drink in the beauty around you without thought or mind, or to plan other projects which don't involve such intensity. If you’re keeping a log book, it might be worth including detail such as: Object Date Location Observing Conditions (seeing, transparency, temperature, wind etc) Moon Status (rise, setting time, phase) Telescope used (focal ratio and aperture) Eyepiece used (magnification, field of view) Filters used Description/sketch of the object Whatever the tools or techniques used, when sketching or writing be sure to use a dim red light and try to be as comfortable as possible. A seat can add a virtual inch or more to aperture. I certainly don't record every session, nor sketch or observe. So, above all, whatever you decide, just as @Paul M says keep it simple, keep it fun and don't make it a chore

I think the best thing your friend can bring to urban observing is a good positive attitude and at least an 8" Dob . If he starts observing DSOs from Greater London, he ought to know that it's going to be tricky, but any failures shouldn't be upsetting. Your friend could also work through something like the Urban Observing Program. Many of the objects will look fine in an 8" Dob and all can be found with a little effort. And the best thing about all the work he does in the city is that when you two get together at your darker site, after his jaw is picked from the ground of a star filled sky, he'll be better equipped to savour it and drink in its delights

Just picking up from what @Jamesmentioned, here is a link to some of the 'astro' miradores in La Palma. And here is a brief translated description to many of them. Here is a map to some fine restaurants and here is a list to some of the most recommended. Dress warmly. It will get cold on the island, especially if out at night. Average highs will be a nippy 15ºC or so, and at night expect single figures. Also, the Spanish estimate when dealing with its hills and mountains (the peninsula is the second most mountainous in Europe) is to prepare for a 1ºC drop for every 100m you climb above sea level. The 6th is a Bank Holiday Any help with translations, phone calls, or what have you, just drop me a line

Love my little TeleVue 76. Gorgeous views, quick cool down, easy for travelling, compact and built to last several lifetimes. It exudes quality and is exquisitely engineered. I think it is one of the most perfectly made and prettiest 3" refractors ever designed. When I'm too old to cope with anything heavier, I think this will be the last scope I own.