Zermelo

Yes, I think if I had my time (and money) again, I'd get a 2" Clicklock dielectric. My Revelation diagonal is very decent, but I like the look of the Baader mechanism. I believe Baader do a Clicklock 2" to 1.25" adapter, so I'm thinking of getting one to put in the Revelation.

The other advantage of a 2" diagonal, even if you don't have many 2" eyepieces, is robustness. My heavier EPs feel safer in my 2" than in my 1.25" tak prism. The larger diagonal is significantly heavier, so I do need to think about balance and mount capacity.

I have the GtiX and it does the same. I think it just means that the WiFi is connected, so it is going to be flashing the whole session. Stop it? In my case, thick black tape.

Arguably the single most useful development in mathematics, for modelling the real world, was the invention of calculus, based on the properties of a (continuous) real number system. The continuity leads to irrationals, transcendentals, and more, which some mathematicians have found objectionable. But the usefulness of calculus in science has tended to outweigh the objections from a minority of mathematicians - the universe seems to behave as if it were continuous, whether it is or not. Recent speculation that space and time might be quantized, and not infinitely divisible, would give support to the skeptics, but they seem to be entertained only by a small minority.

Polls taken among mathematicians and scientists tend to agree with you. I think it is also true that the appreciation of relationships in maths like this one can go through three stages: (1) the practitioner does not know enough about the context of the statement to feel any surprise (>unremarkable) (2) the practitioner understands the context, but not enough to understand why the statement is true (>fascinating) (3) the practitioner understands enough to see why the statement is inevitably true (>obvious) Lord Kelvin is said to have used, in one of his lectures, the remarkable(?) fact that: and then commented to his audience, "A mathematician is one to whom this is as obvious as the fact that twice two makes four is to you. Liouville was a mathematician." Liouville had reached stage 3, at least as far as that integral was concerned. Kelvin's audience were probably at stage 2. It's interesting that deep connections between apparently distinct areas of maths keep coming up, and even the most capable researchers find themselves, initially, at stage 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstrous_moonshine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langlands_program

I believe Hamilton tried to promote the use of quaternions in physics after he discovered them, and for a period in the 19th century there was some rivalry between advocates for quaternions and those who preferred to use vectors instead. The latter approach was found to be easier for most purposes, but both quaternions and octonions still get used oaccasionally. I came across this paper recently, describing a telescope pointing model based on quaternions.

Some physicists' ideal theory-of-everything is one that can be deduced only from the requirement that it be consistent, which is really quite ambitious. Eugene Wigner wrote about the "unreasonable" effectiveness of mathematics, in its ability to describe the real world. Some of the early quantum physicists took the view that the mathematics was the reality. More recently, there has been a bit of traffic in the other direction: theories developed specifically for a physics context have contributed to progress in some areas of pure maths. My hunch is that maths is not itself fundamental to reality, but is so "close" to it that the two are likely in lock-step for all practical purposes.

If you decided against the turret then the Morpheus are excellent, but I agree with the concerns about weight. If you were going with a turret and did want a 10mm, you could try one of the UFF variants. They have a 60 degree AFOV like the Starguiders, they give sharp, contrasty views, and are light and compact. The Svbony SV190 is possibly the cheapest of these, currently £60 on the big river.

Do you mean that you want to contribute an observing list to the set that users can import from the app, or that you want to add a catalogue of objects to the set that SS uses to create its own consolidated catalogue? For the former, I think you can email Simulation Curriculum and they may add it to their list if they like it (e.g. they include a curated list from Don Pensack). For the latter, I suspect it is more tightly controlled, and they seem only to use those with some provenance.

Sky Safari has component C at 15.8"from B. I think the one you are referring to is the Ab element of the A component, which it gives at +13.0, being 3.2" from Aa. As you say, that would be a good challenge for a smaller scope.

I've not seen anything definitive, but I always assumed this was because the artefacts were specific to the left or right eyeball, and the chances of having an obstruction in both, at the same place at the same time, was low.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/baader-planetarium/baader-classic-ortho-bco-eyepiece.html They don't seem to have gone up as much as some others have, in the last couple of years.

I've always seen you as very much mainstream, Andrew, at least in the sort of threads that I frequent! Good luck with your new directions, but please keep checking in 😊

My BCO 10mm is probably sharper than any other I own, and has excellent contrast and good control of stray light. It has a narrow FOV by modem standards, but I do all observing with a tracking mount. I also have the 6mm, but find the eye relief quite tight on that one. People who have the discontinued BGOs also rate them highly. My 10mm is a keeper, and I always have it in the bag. It is still very good value for the price.

I saved dozens of the the little ones from COVID tests. I'd assumed that they would need a long bake in the oven, which I decided would be not worth the fuel. I'll definitely give this a go.

Ah, I'm not sure if we already have any members over there, but we may find out shortly. First Light Optics (who support this site) do ship to Iceland: but you may have a more convenient option locally. Hope you're not too near that volcano

Hello, and welcome to the forum. Are you based in the U.K.? These lenses are a good step up from those supplied with a scope: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html

Congratulations on first light. Yes, the Wild Duck is beautiful. Many of the "smudges", like M31, will remain so in a small amateur scope, when used visually, but some will show a little structure if you can get to a dark enough site. As you get more experience, you will be surprised at what you can detect. The 10mm eyepieces included with scopes are often not great. It sounds like yours doesn't have much eye relief. If you have been reading the forum for a while, you may already know that these are often recommended as a first upgrade. Does Starsense keep a record of the targets you viewed in a session? If you're not planning ahead, and you are seeing more in an evening than you can remember, it would be good to have a record that you can review and research afterwards.

Yes, you can.

My laptop and phone have been fine, but my tablet said "community not found" or somesuch, until I restarted the browser. So possibly cache misbehaviour.

So, obviously I had to try the same exercise, but for a typical post in Another Forum. I think it still needs some work. Greetings, fellow stargazers! I hope this message finds you all under clear skies and with your telescopes ready for some celestial adventures. As we delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe, let's take a moment to share our recent observations, awe-inspiring photographs, and exciting discoveries. Last night, I had the privilege of witnessing a breathtaking sight—a rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. The two gas giants appeared as a captivating pair in my telescope's eyepiece, their colorful bands and distinctive moons visible in stunning detail. It reminded me of the historic Great Conjunction of 2020, but this event was equally enchanting in its own right. Have any of you observed other celestial events or phenomena recently? Perhaps a meteor shower or a comet passing through our neighborhood? It's always fascinating to hear about your experiences and learn from your insights. On a more personal note, I've been experimenting with astrophotography and managed to capture an image of the Orion Nebula. The intricate tendrils of gas and dust, illuminated by the newborn stars within, truly left me in awe. I'm eager to hear your tips and recommendations for astrophotography techniques or any software that enhances the quality of images. Moreover, I'm excited to discuss the latest space missions and discoveries. The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch later this year, promising to unveil the secrets of the early universe with its unprecedented capabilities. Let's share our anticipation and predictions for the groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs that await us. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the moderators and contributors who make this forum a vibrant hub of astronomical knowledge and camaraderie. Your dedication and expertise inspire us all to continuously explore and learn about the wonders above. Remember, everyone is welcome here—regardless of your experience level. Whether you're a seasoned observer or just starting your journey into the cosmos, feel free to ask questions, seek advice, or share your enthusiasm. Together, we can unlock the wonders of the universe and foster a sense of community that transcends the vastness of space. Wishing you all clear skies and unforgettable astronomical encounters. Keep looking up! [Your Name]

It's spin 2 (if it exists at all) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graviton

I had no option but to put myself into deep hibernation in my cryotank, resuscitated when the Raspberry Pi controller received a successful response to a ping on stargazerslounge.com

graviton

That is an amazing collection.