OpusElite

I can't recommend a particular brand as I've modified white torches by placing red lighting gel in them. Some have needed 2 layers to get it dark enough. A big problem with commercial red lights is the brightness/intensity and wavelength of the red. A dark tone red is much better and as low a power/brightness as is needed to see the bits on your scope. Unfortunately, some people come to observing sessions thinking they are being responsible with a red light, when in fact they are dazzling everyone and affecting night vision.

Have you tried using an electric blanket? The Silent Night single blanket is only 40 watts and they advertise them as being 1p a night to run. (Which I presume is 2p for a double.) They use a lot less electricity than a fan heater and provide heat exactly where it's needed.

Thanks for the feedback, glad I'm not the only one with light issues and that I'm thinking along the right lines for solutions. I've heard that dedicated observers wear an eye patch during the day and was told it's to enhance their dark adaptation. I think they might secretly be pirates

Wow, I've seen the images you get which makes them all the more impressive having that light next to you. Full steam ahead with observatory plans now !!

The two pole method with a hoist up 'shield' is top of my list of solutions. Hinge up poles would be the easiest to deploy or even just leave them up all the time and fly a patriotic flag during the day I've just checked .gov.uk website and there are no restrictions on the size of the flag, but any flagpole may not exceed 4.6 metres (15 feet) above ground level. That should be high enough to do the trick It's also allowable to have 2 flag poles, so I could leave them permanently in place.

Thanks, the link worked great. That's a good solution although as you mention wind can be an issue. It's nice to know other people have faced and solved the same issue, so I at least know it's worth moving forward

Hi Robin, thanks for the input. Leaving the North end fixed is certainly an option to help a bit however, I think the height and proximity of the lamp negates this. It would need something of the same height as the lamp to block the light

I am intending to build a roll off roof observatory over the summer but have an issue with a street light right next to the optimum site. The local council have replaced the old sodium light with an LED one, then with prompting they fitted shields, but it still floods the patio I can build on. My solution would be to make a raiseable 'screen' or 'shield' to cover most of the light whilst observing. Perhaps a fixed or hinged pole with some type of plate to cover the lamp area, or 2 poles with a winched up tarpaulin between them. I realise that whatever solution I use will block some of the sky however it will be to the NNE region. So my questions are please: Am I wasting my time putting an observatory right next to a light? Has anyone done anything like this before and if so, what type of screen did they use? I've attached a couple of pictures to show the area at day and night times. I am looking at using an 8x8ft shed with pitched apex roof. The rough sketch (not to scale) on the day photo shows how the shed will be on the patio area and the roll-off will go to the right over the plants.

There certainly is such a thing as an Orion Optics LX200, I have one on a Vixen SP mount. There don't seem to be many around and there aren't many pictures of them. It's a great scope, with mine benefitting from having the original 1.25" rack and pinion focuser replaced with a 2" Crayford. I've just put it up for sale today as I have too many scopes and need funds for my observatory project. I have another 8" scope so am letting this one go with the Vixen SP mount as they're matching. And yes, I probably will regret selling as it's a fab scope!

SteveWolves has asked me to post on his behalf to suggest Eastnor Castle

We have a street light next to our garden wall that floodlights our garden and house windows, lighting up my ground-floor bedroom, making sleep difficult. As for astronomy, it helped while I was learning as I could read the manual, but after that it was very problematic. I contacted the council mentioning the light into my bedroom and sure enough in due course, they replaced it with a 'shorter pole' and a 'lower power' LED light. I'm not convinced it's much shorter and when they say 'lower power' they obviously meant lower power consumption, as now my windows and garden were floodlit with a pure white light. I could read a book at night while standing outside my bedroom window. So, I got back on to the council and after a bit of a delay (and a polite reminder), hey presto, shields have been fitted, and what a difference. It now only lights a small area of garden and my bedroom is pitch black at night. Oh and yes, it's also been beneficial for astronomy 😉

The original post does say "..One of the pins inside the jack has snapped off", which I would read as being the centre pin has broken off inside the socket. The socket size is indeed 5.5mm x 2.1mm so the eBay item listed should be suitable. A quick internet search for electronic / computer repair shops shows a few in your area, I'm sure they would be happy to replace the socket for you. Unless of course there are any SGL members near by who have the tools and skills.....?

Having taken on board all the suggestions in this thread, I have bought snow-boots and thermal socks. The socks are 4.7 tog Heat Control, really thick and very warm. Less than £5 from an army surplus store, but brand new. In a stroke of luck I found the snow boots in a local charity shop for £3. They are a bigger size than my feet (9.5 vs 😎 and the 'inner-boot' isn't particularly thick. However, this does allow plenty of room for the thermal socks (and blood to circulate) With the rare clear skies last night, I had the chance to test them out in -2.4℃ conditions, whilst using my scope on my patio, which ended up like a skating rink ! After 3 hours the only issue was the top of my toes were a little cool, which I suspect was due to the thin inner-boot. Maybe an extra pair of socks may solve this as there is plenty of room, but for less than £10 it was nice not to have feet like ice blocks! My fingers were another story, but that would be better served with a new thread on warm gloves !!

Hi from a fellow Salopion, welcome to SGL and the amazing world of astronomy. You've certainly found the right place for information.

Very valid point about extremities. I certainly wrap up well with multiple layers.