Stephenstargazer

Fit for a nuclear war, but will it survive the dreaded spilt cup of coffee? Or is that classified 😀

Congratulations @Spaced Out you best decision has been to start with the naked eye and learn your way round. I go with the Philips Planisphere as the instructions are so good. Then choose a book by browsing in a good bookstore, most have an astronomy section. Oh and best to get or make a red torch to keep eyes dark adjusted when looking at the planisphere.

Thanks @Second Time Around I notice that all the charts are predominantly green, with some yellow and a little red. The beauty of data in charts! So easy to see the big picture from your efforts, and not judge by personal instances, which can be frustrating. Perhaps we should be less dismissive of forecasters and acknowledge that most of the time it is helpful. Especially services that are free to the end user and in no way compulsory.

The negative comments to Telegraph look very short sighted. What is Musk's proposal for clearing up his space junk after its economic life, when he will no doubt have left the company and taken his money? It is as thoughtless as nuclear generators without decommissioning plans. We must get away from development that does not address future impacts. Surely we have learnt that from climate change?

I was a long time owner of a VMC200L for visual and occasional video live. I changed to a VC200L 18 months ago. Both are very well made and have longevity built in. Good 2nd hand buys but beware ones not cared for. Also Vixen accessories cost! Visually it is excellent. Collimation is well held due to fixed mirror, but if needed must be done with patience and care in correct order. My VC arrived spot on and still is untouched. If you want to know more about capability for imaging, check out Ian Morison's Astronomy Digest. He rates it highly. PS the focuser is adjustable and the micro focuser needed for AP. There is not a lot of back focus, especially with reducer, so check that out.

It is expensive but my posted overseas subscription to Sky and Telescope is worth it as I will read more than 85%* of every edition (and it is well written and worth keeping as they reference back to older related articles). You can subscribe to online only too. * I skip the imaging and processing stuff.

Possibly... but the USP of fluorite is that it has virtually zero scatter compared to glasses which makes for best contrast.

@LDW1 you have a choice of 51.5N, 42N, 32N, 23.5N and 35S ! I am at 53N. Little mistake 😬 it is PHILIP'S Planisphere and I dont know if they sell in Canada.

I still use (and have given several as presents) the Phillips 11" variety which are still (?) available for several latitudes. The instructions alone are a primer for getting to grips with the sky. What I use much more often is the annual printed Alamanac published by S&T. An example for 2012 (the rare pdf edition!!!!) is attached for the curious: I await with eager anticipation my 2022 edition! ST_2012Almanac.pdf

Indeed but will it tell you what is going to happen 20 mins after the scope is set up and cooled down? 😀 Before lunch I was looking at sunspots and after it photographing s garden covered in snow 🌨️🌨️🌨️

The Met Office have most invested in UK conditions but don't provide a specific astro forecast ?, eg with cloud at different levels. Their rain radar is brilliant for knowing when I will get wet on the golf course ! Often the forecast is about right but the timing can be out. For a look ahead in the week I like Metcheck, despite clunky interface, and it is maybe better than CO, must depend on the weather models they use. I'll try some alternatives mentioned above. The solution is to move to a continental climate! Scope Nights looks promising, but I am an Apple free bod.

It's like watches and straps that fit well on your wrist, or a car that you just enjoy driving. Telescopes and mounts can give joy through ergonomics,feel, fit and finish, or just long use and reliability. The optics can please you but the sky can defeat you. Some want to see, some to image. There are hundreds of reasons to pay more for things astronomers enjoy using or 'appreciate'. Trying to justify the necessity, or prove the worth of them, defies logic. If you think you have what you need you are fortunate. I have enjoyed reading this thread for the varied views. A brilliant question with so many good answers. You may think your kit is pretty good, tbut then there is the James Webb.

Would be vey interested to hear a comparison , one of these has been on my wish list due to flexibility of the plain version.

Good on yer mate!! I saw what time it is up and decided to stay asleep 😀

There is an encouraging article in December Sky and Telescope on winter objects for smaller scopes, and wider fields. Some will be too far South for me, or need darker skies. It might help new comers or inspire old hands to wind the magnification back 🙂 Something to read on cloudy nights @MalcolmM??

My (new!) FS 60 was out last night, for an hour and half. I too was struck by how enjoyable lingering over low magnification views is, with a scope instead of binoculars as usual. I sold my WO ZS66 a long time back and had forgotten the pleasure of the big picture. I used a TV 24mm Panoptic much of the time which gives the same field of view as the Tak 28 Erf.

Arrived by stork this morning, a baby Tak. And the predicted clouds were in the box.............. Will be fighting for travel spot with Questar, but wins on widefield by miles. Also comes to focus with Q 1.6X as an F/9.4 which will be a bit handy as no screwing and unscrewing required. Seems to sit well on AP mount but can travel with something smaller too. Likely to try it on empty side of AZ100 too. So much to try, so little clear sky to play with! Added a photo with the Q 1.6X at focus for the curious, surprisingly no other extension required.

A long Harkila shooting jacket (lots of pockets) with fleece liner, lined walking trousers and English sheepskin boots with thin wool socks. Plus hat with silly ear flaps and fishing mits. Who cares, it's dark and I am alone ☺️

Well at least they gave the last word to Sandy Denny........................so that's OK by me🙂

I really must find an old Vixen refractor.......no rational reason, just want one ☺️

Is it a complete red herring to want to look around the Zenith with a manual AZ75, or any similar az mount, anyway? Very difficult* to track by hand through there. In the UK there can be no transitory events, such as on planets and lunar. So why not just observe say 40 min earlier or later? Enjoy the AZ around the polar area and an EQ around the zenith * OK, you can go exactly E-W by setting the elev axis N-S, but that only tracks just at the Zenith itself.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/384795-rowan-az75-mount/?do=findComment&comment=4157075 Was my answer to similar comment on the other thread. Wont suit all but works for me 🙂

What in the presence of Stu !!!!!!!!!! his very own device.............🤩

No. With an AZ100 I used the Rowan EQ5 adaptor and a Vixen one to get from 45mm to 60mm spigot. However an AZ75 would I think go straight on, but you might need a slightly longer tripod screw for safety. The Vixen tripod is good for it's weight but just slightly 'under' with the AZ100 as shown, surprising as it works with an EQ mount of comparable weight (SXD2), so it might work fine with a counterbalance on the AZ100. Pretty sure it would be good with AZ75 as I had a similar weight DS 2b twin mount AZ on it in the past as my grab and go..

No the AZ100 does not. But Rowan make an AZ100 M10 Pier Puck / EQ5 Tripod Adaptor for that mount which fits directly onto a Vixen GP/ EQ5 tripod head, and it does! I wonder if that would also fit the AZ75 base? @Stu Whilst on the base subject is the center thread on the AZ75 base M10 or M12 ? (sorry if you have told us before!)