Pixies

Thanks Neil. I was half-prepared to try a bino observation a few clear mornings ago, but he full moon put me off and I stayed in bed. Now you've confirmed it's visible, I'll be keeping my eyes on the weather forecasts again. Comparison with M13 is a good one. Should be pretty easy to find.

M37 is my favourite of the 3 main Auriga clusters. But next time you are in the area, check out NGC1664 - the kite cluster. Very different but really interesting.

@Simon Stewart Judging from the telescopicwatch website, you have a chance of getting either parabolic or spherical! https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-astromaster-130eq-telescope-review/ having used both (albeit, briefly and not my own), the Celestron mount is slightly more stable than the Skywatcher. Are you fixed on getting an EQ mount? If not, for a similar price, you can get the highly recommended Skywatcher heritage 150p flextube.

So you can also practice your short hole game during the summer evenings!

@F15Rules - as Mick says, go for the Plus version at least. It's where it becomes a proper astronomy tool. The basic version (used to be free) is better for just star-gazing and helping newbies identify things. Whereas, plus gives you the observation-list features (which is where this app excels) so you can plan an evening's observing using your own or imported lists, make you observation log entries and have them linked to objects (so you can bring up an object and then see all your previous observations of it). It can link with a goto mount and control it. You can enter all your gear details: scopes and EPs, and then have it show FOV details on the screen. The pro version has loads more faint stuff. I find that with an 8" reflector, even in Bortle 6, I can see more stars than is shown in the plus version. So if you spend a lot of time star-hopping for faint stuff with largish aperture, go for pro, IMHO. As for version 6 vs 7. I actually preferred the older UI, although the star rendering is better in 7.

I used to do this, until someone pointed out the option in SkySafari to flip the view. Apologies if you know and just prefer the 'manual' method.

I had something similar recently. A firmware upgrade fixed it

Here's Ed Ting's review of the Celestron Powerseeker 127:

Something for the mould I found on the ST80 objective: A UV-C filter lamp.

I agree. Go for the 12mm rather than the 15.

I have the same problem with Cheshires. Longer ones are easier, as the crosshairs are further away. I usually end up getting a teenage child to make final confirmations!

A friend has just bought a similar scope. Hopefully the mirror will be clean, as it's new, but I'm ready with a few spare old EPs!

what's the forecast for tonight? Covid making me feel just generally knackered. Spending the time watching footie.

I had something similar and reinstalling the firmware fixed it. Which version are you running? You've some problems with it. Perhaps it's worth trying to get FLO to send a replacement.

Nooooooooooo! **&&^🤬***^%$ That's me out, I'm afraid. I'll contact Lesley and let her know. I'll pay the outstanding too.

Just setting up now. What's the seeing like tonight? I haven't had a good session with Mars at all this year!

Clear in Edinburgh tonight. What about Peebles?

Be careful - some Hyperions aren't great with fast scopes (allegedly). Not sure about the 5mm.

The Vixen SLVs are lovely EPs, however they are only 50° FOV. I have a set I use in my Vixen refractor but that is on a driven EQ mount. For Jupiter and Mars, I usually start with around 150x - which will be with an 8mm EP in you scope. They can take higher magnification if the seeing is good. But at that magnification with 50° FOV, it'll be a lot of work nudging a dob. In my dob, I prefer around 65-70° at least at that power.

Heads up! There's a fully-driven Vixen AP mount and tripod on UK Astro Buy & Sell for a very reasonable cost!

I don't believe it1 I'm actually Monday - Friday, so I'll be away by Pie Night! I'll take my 2 away with me, then...

How about an Alu Manfrotto 055? I've used it with ST80 weight and AZGti with no problems, only using 1 stage on the leg extensions. they are built like a tank and you get get a good used one for £50.

Double-double (epsilon lyrae) can be split at lower magnification, but you need reasonable seeing. Last night's atmosphere was wild, the jetstream was right overhead - no wonder you couldn't split it!

Sounds like backlash, where the gears are taking up the slack before starting to drive the scope? When centering, are you finishing on up and right arrows?

I find it really useful when trying to split tight doubles or say, when looking at the Trapezium in M42 and trying to hunt down stars E and F. Being able to quickly change magnification without faffing about with multiple eyepieces is great. That also makes it useful for planetary viewing and trying to gauge the best mag for the seeing conditions. And in spring, when hunting down all the tiny faint galaxies in Leo and Virgo, it helps enormously by providing an range of different contrast. But all this is applicable to zooms in general, not just the Baader.