AstroNebulee

Hi, the addition of windows in the loft would be a great addition for you and give you some great views

Hi and welcome here from North Cornwall, you will find lots of friendly helpful people here, they've all helped me immensely, clear skies 👍

That sounds a great solution for yourself and definitely ways and means of restricted viewing options indoors

Hi Stephan I like the sliding roof window Claus has and he certainly has a restricted view like mine and his even more so, thats a massive telescope, I'm quite happy with my 150p anything else would be to big for my room, clear skies

That looks a really great grab and go set up John, something to think on, I like my skymax 127 but could go for a 102 as pixies suggests

Thank you pixies, I've looked at the az pronto mount and looks reasonably priced, my skymax 127 would be to heavy I suspect, so will look at the other options aswell, yes a small Mak would be good and the maks hold collimation very well indeed

Hi pixies Thank you for your help, if funds would allow I'd love something like that setup, I have the Skymax127, so a little heavier than the 102, will keep my eyes peeled for a az pronto mount if one is on sale, I have the large backpack and bicycle, there are some lovely dark places to view from not to far from me if as you say I could get a more portable set up as my eq3-2 is far to heavy and big to transport on my bicycle, thank you 👍

Hi Whilst watching the VJ tribute programme on bbc1 last night, I'm pretty sure I saw a Perseids meteor fly past check out time 19.30-19.33 on iplayer . I could be wrong though

Hi Someone with more experience would offer better advice than I as only been into this hobby since April, the maximum useful magnification isn't always as high as its stated in my opinion so will be lower, a x3 barlow on your 25mm will give you a just over 6mm ep equivalent, but this may prove to much and struggle to get good focus as the higher magnification the less room for focus there is, but could be wrong, if I were you I'd play around with the scope before buying more eps, but replacing the stock 25mm for a better quality one and a good quality 2x barlow would be good I think, First light optics are a good website and good choice and see where you go ftom there, but I could ge wrong with my advice but that's what I'd do and we all have different opinions. Clear skies

Hi jm You got a bargain there for £20 they are going for a lot more on the Internet and skywatcher are a great make, yes the barlow goes between the scope and eyepiece and will double the magnification so your 25mm ep will become a 12.5mm ep,clear skies when they arrive and it won't long until your bitten by the bug 😊

That's the thing isn't it keeping the enthusiasm going throughout all the obstacles in our quest for viewing the night sky, you were enjoying something much more meaningful whilst the passers by were at a loss not seeing something so amazing, the bug has definitely bitten deep in me. Your rooftop observatory sounds brilliant and impressive, the perfect solution to get over the lights in your way. Your fully internal opening window is something I'm hoping they'll fit as I do need a means of escape in case of a fire, so win win, let's hope they see it that way. Clear skies friend

Hi Bish I guess we are all looking for the perfect position for our scopes and besides going to a dark site miles from anywhere, very few of us gave what we'd like to view from, but we all have the joy of looking at the night sky to some degree. So I'm thankful for the view I have albeit small and can see beautiful stars, planets, dso's and constellations as they revolve around the night sky throughout the year and so much to look forward to in the coming months. Clear skies bish and hope you get some good viewing in.

Wow, who knew such a thing ever existed, that is fantastic, what views you would have with that, I see what you mean by the top window, what do you think if I emailed this to my housing provider 😉, love it

Yes exactly @DaveL59, the tilt and turn variety you are saying, that would be perfect and easy to clean as I can only get to do the top half hanging my arm out the window, thank you, clear skies

Hi @MartinHiggins I just commented to John about access to my loft abd getting them to put 4 velux windows in there, then saw your comment haha. Your solution you have is perfect and your right about having a left side hinged window, that what I was thinking by having a tilt and turn window put in when they upgrade the windows abd left hinged aswell, thank you kind people

I'd love that John, as I'm in the top floor of my block I have access to the loft, shame I can't get them to put 4 velux windows in there 😉

Hi @BlueStinger& @johninderby I'm pretty much the same as you bluestinger, I didn't have this hobby when I moved but anyplace was a bonus bavk then, I'd love a little platform or balcony like you to get out and view from as I don't drive, I can't get about, so like you say we have to time things when they are in our view line then wait till the following year to see things in the sky, but makes it much more worthwhile when seeing them. I hope people don't think I'm getting at people who have gardens John in Derby, as you have said you have a garden to access even though you have obstructions in various places, enjoy every moment in your garden stargazing as I'm sure you do, yes let's hope I get the window I'd like, but will keep looking at other places to move but council opportunities here are like rocking horse poop in tiny rural villages. Clear skies to you nice people 😊

Oops didn't know there was a topic started about showing your ep and accessories case, so I posted it in what the postman brought you topic, I'll repost here if admin allow it, hopefully the original will be deleted then.... My eBay purchase of a second hand aluminium camera case, after a clean up it now houses my ep and accessories in one place, rather than using an old laptop case. I'm happy all accessories in one place and easily transportable if necessary (and a bit of space left for extra eyepieces) I have a copy of turn left at orion and the Cambridge star atlas but won't fit in here, so they'll go in my laptop case now and the Phillips star atlas is a quick reference book.

Hi I wish I had a garden to place my scope in but as I live in a first floor flat, I'd have to transport everything down 2 flights of stairs and when I got down there, there's nowhere suitable to view from with streetlight pollution and being on the grass verge by my block of flats next to a road. So the only way I can view is from my bedroom window that doesn't open but a large pane measuring 1.1mx 1.1m, its a east to south view in bortle 3 skies according to Co so really happy with that, getting to view directly above is a no go but can see from just about horizon (well past a few trees that need pollarding) and up a fair bit. I once remember someone on here saying any astronomy is better than no astronomy and totally agree with them. I've only been seriously into this hobby since April 2020 and have a skywatcher explorer 150p and skymax 127 on eq3-2 mount just having the funds to get a good start up set up.(well I hope so) I've enjoyed immensely the views I've had of Jupiter, Saturn, with looking out another window I've seen M31 and starting to learn how to star hop now. I'm looking forward to the nights drawing in so there aren't so many late nights and orion coming into view along with Mars getting closer. The housing provider is beginning to replace the windows in our flats next year and I asked if I can have a tilt and turn one put in my bedroom where I view from (said its fire regulations as no means of escape if I can't get out my front door) so hopefully they'll put one in and I can view with an open window or shut with the viewing area as I have now I know heat currents will be a bane but like I said some astronomy is better than none. Maybe I'll move another property with a garden if possible. But I'll enjoy what i have for now. Sorry for the long write up and boring most of you haha. Forgot to add I don't drive so no chance of going anywhere to set up either.

Hi @Pixies I have the astro essentials long one from flo and have found it good for collimating my skywatcher explorer 150p

Forgive me Jiggy I meant not very accurate latitude scale, it definitely is a small target to aim at for tracking, not as easy as it looks this tracking lark is it, but as long as I can track a target sufficiently for now I'll be happy, I'm a total newbie and only seriously into astronomy since April this year, so forgive my naivety in some respects, but this hobby is fantastic a well worthwhile when you get some fantastic views and results, clear skies

Hi Jiggy Basically yes they say to align to true north and set your latitude to your location, I will fine tune this now I know it's a polar alignment issue, so as you say the latitude scale is completely wrong, I will get a polar scope for my mount and seen one on FLO for £32, thanks so much for all your help, clear skies

Thank you, I'll polar align it again when possible

I've no polar scope fitted to it but polar aligned it as per instructions, think I may have to get a polar scope for my mount and also polar align again when the next clear night is, which looking at Co is some time away

Hi Michael Thank you for your reply and suggestions, it's the Dec that drifts slightly, I'll try offsetting the balance on the mount to see if this cures it as the ra tracks fine. Kind regards Lee