Stardaze

I ended up buying a concentre which was invaluable for setting up the secondary : https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p5507_TS-Optics-Concenter-1-25--Collimation-Eyepiece-for-Newtonian-Telescopes.html It doesn't look like you are far away. It doesn't sound right that you need longer screws though. If you follow Astro Baby's instructions with paper blocking out the primary and a different colour paper behind the focuser, you should be able to get the distance set right. The concentre comes into its own for perfecting the tilt of the secondary. I did get quite fed up at the time, but it came together in the end, go again with a fresh head.

Haven’t read all of this thread but I was quite shocked recently having noted the £100 increase (19%) on the 127 mak bundle that I had my eye on last summer. The OTA has also gone up similarly. You do have to wonder whether it’s nothing more than demand outstripping supply and not covering additional costs right now.

Clearest night so far and so I took a wander up the road with the bins and still not quite there frustratingly. The moon certainly didn’t help but I can get very close but it’s still a little low on the horizon where it typically gets washed out with pollution.

Clear outside has been a bit more miss, than hit for me this last week. The southern view has been better here than the north again tonight, so still struggling. It’s just too low on the horizon for me it seems. Quite a frustrating band of low cloud last night spoilt the view. So close, I could see M52 at one point.

I wasn't far away with my 10x50's last night, but so low in the sky, with small snippets in the cloud and a tree to contend with, it wasn't obvious. Typically the sky is more pollutes looking north too. If the clouds play ball, I'll take the bins for a walk. How long have others typically lasted?

That's a really good rendition, thank you. There may be an opportunity tonight after 10pm, so I might have to have a late walk and try to find a better vantage point. The rest of the week currently, doesn't look that favourable so the clock is ticking.

Struggling to be sure last night again as the cloud didn’t let up enough to be certain. Typically when I went to bed it looked clear but couldn’t burn the candle again last night and it was behind the tree by that time anyway. I need an early view from my back yard.

I think that’s what’s great about a good forum, can certainly spur you on when suffering with a dip in motivation. Certainly with this interest, it’s great to be able to tap into the wealth of experienced fellows here.

I could see the left hand side of Cepheus through the trees but sadly the tree ruined my view. Need to catch it earlier in the evening one night this week I hope. I did sit out for an hour to use my new binoculars though. Mu Cephei looked super even though it was so low on the horizon at that time. It’s a shame because transparency seemed quite good, Ursa Minor was nice and clear. I headed back in at 2am, which is the latest I’ve done since the end of the summer. Enjoyed the absolute stillness of the evening with nothing more than the screams of a fox.

Fingers crossed, I’m going to stick it out (have new binos to use too) but from here now the view might be ruined by a tree, see if I get lucky.

Clear outside now forecasting a good single hour at 1am. It’s not been reliable all week 🤔

Frustrating tonight. The satellite suggests it’s clear but it’s very heavy currently. They’re on standby..

Indeed. But as Jasper Carrot always said, every road here leads to Bromsgrove 😀

Thanks for the explanation Jeremy that's really helpful. Hopefully Sunday night for me too.

Yes of course... working at the same time = not paying enough attention. It's been a long week, I'll get my coat 😂

I like what you've done there and can't say I've had enough of a detailed look at the area myself, so note added. I note you're just down the road too 😀

Interesting take, what would be your reasoning? It would be purely for wide visual use to compliment my 10" dob.

And I've been thinking that it's the cold that's been making my eyes water 😂

Very nice. I’m longing for an 80ED but I’ll have to sit on it for a while.

Finally these arrived today, only taken about 5 weeks.

Indeed, great addition. I must add the UHC to mine at some point.

It’s got it’s very own wardrobe 🤣 My ‘little’ 10” is a bit in the way now that we’ve had some building works done. I haven’t really found a permanent home for it since. SWMBO isn’t too impressed with it as an ornament.

Can't believe you keep picking these bargains up, well done! They're supposedly a bit fiddly to fit from what I know

Oooh, let me know how you get on with this. I still haven't done mine.

Another mighty fine set! Super mix indeed.