Pixies

Have a look at this video made by @lukebl: There's a very dark area preceding the GRS within the southern equatorial band. Could that be what you saw? You can also see a couple of dark barges on the northern one, too.

Putting in the lower focal length orthos always feels like the astronomy equivalent of rolling ones' sleeves up!

Thanks. I'll check them out next clear night.

It's been 6 months now, and although pretty variable, it's not really showing any obvious long-term decline in brightness (to my uneducated eyes). Most observing nights, albeit pretty few-and-far-between this year, I'll give it a quick check in the 10x50 binos. If it is easily visible in my bright-ish skies, I know it is in one of its brighter phases.

The BSTs are a little wider than the NPLs (which are Plossls). BSTs are 60degs and NPLs are 50degs. Both are similar quality. The NPLS are lighter and at 8mm has pretty tight eye relief, as well as a much smaller lens:

Here you go: VID_20210922_214736432_2.mp4

"... committed to making the exploration of the universe accessible to everyone," Vaonis founder Cyris Dupuy said Hmmm 🤔

Watch this from around 4 minutes in:

Same here. Surprise clear night, but seeing is terrible. Transparency is very poor too. Faint high clouds and the nearly full moon makes it impossible to see all but the brightest stars with the naked-eye. I can barely make out Cassiopeia. I've come back in for an early night!

Yep - I can confirm it does. See the pic in my post above. The barlow doesn't appear to be any different (Mk III vs Mk IV) The article (about the Mk III zoom) says "But if one were to use the zoom in the 2" mode, it becomes necessary to use the field lens snout (position 2) as the mounting point to enable attachment of the 2" sleeve/adapter" But it appears this is not necessary with the Mk IV, as the 2" adapter just screws in directly with nothing else required.

hang On! I think I se what's happened. Are you removing the 1.25" barrel and fitting the Barlow using the internal thread of the A adapter directly to the part inside? That appears to rotate within the barrel as you rotate the zoom. With 1.25" barrel: with barrel removed, showing internal part that rotates with zoom: here with the barlow (A adapter) attached to said part, using the internal thread of the adapter: The adapter has an external and internal thread on its 'collar': The external thread attaches to the 1.25" barrel. Does that make more sense? very odd, if you ask me.

Hi @Spile There's something very different about the system you describe, like the others, I don't see anything like you describe with the Mk 4. Not saying you are wrong btw, but could it be you have something different? Even looking at the Baader website:

You can probably go for a wide-field achro refractor, too. 2 for the price of a big one!

How old are the kids? Bear in mind, a lot of the DSOs are quite subtle and might not be so impressive to younger kids.

Yep. That's how I use it. It looks a bit "leggy", but as long as the focuser is sturdy, it's fine.

It'll be like Lord of the Flies!

Is the focuser draw-tube protruding that far into the tube when you are focused on a star? if it is, I'd say that your blurriness is a contrast issue caused by the size and shape of the secondary plus the draw-tube, too. Can you aim it at the sky (away form the sun) and, with it focused, take out the eyepiece and take a quick picture down the focuser?

Probably dust sticking to the oil from your lashes. I'm interested in the answer too. I probably only clean them a couple of times a year! I do occasionally check them against some white paper and they never get that dirty. I don't wear mascara, though!

My kids are 14 and 16. Is the a mobile signal?

I've wondered about that location for a family break before. Some parts are Bortle 1, aren't they?

As John said, with the zoom, the FOV decreases towards the 24mm end. If you are star-hopping through the eyepiece, you need a low powered EP. I have the Baader zoom, plus the matching barlow. You can find them second-hand occasionally (as I did). I have a few low-powered EPs but the one I use the most is the Vixen NPL 30mm - nice simple and light. You can get wider views - down to a 32mm plossl - which is the widest field for a 1.25" EP. You also have the option of 2" EPs. The zoom is useful for working out what fixed IP you might want to use, but half the time I just stick with it. It's also great for planetary observing, when you end up flitting between different (higher) powers, to get the best view in variable seeing conditions.

Well, not mine, actually - but they appear to belong to these friends of Mr Bowie: Vixen Custom 80M, I think!

My first telescope was very similar to this: I spent more time spying on the neighbours (innocently I might add) than astronomical observing with it!

re-issued in '74. I remember forcing my parents to drink moe tea, so I could get more cards and trading them at school. Not something I could have done aged 4!

For me it was this in 1974 (I was 7) And the total lunar eclipse in 1975 - allowed to stay up late to watch it reach totality.