Neil H

Hi I use space weather live app on my phone it will tell you how many Sun spots your see and were to look there is loads of info and the app is free , enjoy the bright side of this hobby

It's always been the way if you have money you can do what you like , I know FLO do a cloud gun we need a satellite gun a really big one

Hi I have the HEQ5pro and what I found is clear PAE do the 3 star alignment now go for an easy target once the mount tells you it's on target take a look if it's off press esc then utility find PAE training press enter it will ask you centre target once on target then press enter now go to another target and repeat PAE training , Now you should find it will be on target , I don't know why the mount over time starts to miss targets but PAE training will get it back Next time you polar align you stars should be very close but getting polar alignment as close as possible it does help

I don't have a dob but have an Orion Optic VX8L and wanted it a little higher in the mount so used flat stick on car wheel weights a big box of them is cheap on ebay they may work for you as well

Hi on Astro buy and sale there is a guy selling off some magnetic Orion counter weights with handles they were made to balance dobs https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=170944

Does it not change resistance to the Dec so easy or less easy to move

I asked the same last year , it the F number tells you the speed F6 and lower are fast scopes draw in more light quickly F9 to F6 medium to fast F9 and above F15 are slow , there is a lot more to it but that's basic was told for a really fast scope you need fast eyepiece or the image is poor at the edge of FOV . I hope that's right but some one tell you better than I can You're I think is F11

I use a bahtinov mask then you 100% focused they say it don't work on planets but I tried it Mars and did get focus pattern https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bahtinov-focus-masks/starsharp-bahtinov-focus-masks.html Or you can download a free one and make it your self

Yes that's what I thought it was , So how does it work ?? In lay man language please

E bay does it and I think I saw it on Amazon called cubed foam

Paul good list but how did the tal Barlow do

Nigella I have a question when I look at the photo of your Lunt solar scope what is the round part that's at the side just before the focused it sits 90degs to the tube ???

I love my HEQ5 used with 200/1200 and with extension 127/1200 refractor

As long as the snow dont cover the top of the dob you should be ok lol

Taking bets on what get here first van or clear skies