Surreydocker

On 08/07/2020 at 09:05, Surreydocker said:

@chrisv I haven't had much chance to compare diagonals or eyepieces yet but I will try over the next week or so. I bought a budget 90 deg prism so I'm not expecting to see much difference.

Got a chance to compare a few things last night. The 90 & 45 deg prisms are optically similar but I also managed to focus without a diagonal and that appeared better so I think you will see an improvement with a quality diagonal. Of the 3 that I have, the 18mm BST is my preferred eyepiece - the field of view seems wider than the bundled 25mm. I agree with others that the 10mm is not great - I much prefer the 18mm BST with a 2x Barlow. The focusser on the ST 120 is very poor when you get into higher magnifications. There is a retrofit dual speed Crayford focusser available but it bumps the cost up somewhat.

Complete newbie here - saw Jupiter and its 5 moons last night for the first time and was rather pleased with myself.  Checking this morning, I discovered there should only be 4 !! So glad you posted the explanation - thanks !

14 hours ago, mdstuart said:

On the plus side the secondary has not fallen off the holder👍....yet

Speaking as a drummer, I have mixed feelings about this picture but if the the project is a success, the sacrifice will have been worth it ! 

@chrisv I haven't had much chance to compare diagonals or eyepieces yet but I will try over the next week or so. I bought a budget 90 deg prism so I'm not expecting to see much difference.

I seem to be on a very similar trajectory to you. Like you, I bought the SW ST 120/600 as a first step. My viewing platform is a cramped balcony which won't accommodate a reflector or dob. I bought a Opticstar EQ700 mount which is a very solid for the money but my balcony is not big enough for the legs to fully extend. I also bought a SW 90 deg prism as I knew I wouldn't be able to use the 45 deg prism in so little a space and I wanted the same orientation as my binos. I also bought a BST Starguider 18mm (s/h from this forum). I tried it all out last night for the first time and I must admit that I got into a bit of a tangle with the EQ mount but started to get the hang of it towards the end. I really like the screw up eyecup of the BST Starguider, the supplied eyepieces not so much as there's too much stray light where I live (although draping a towel over my head helps). I like the view through Starguider so I will probably get some more. This case arrived today https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tripod-Photography-Carry-Case-Bag-70x20cm-Sponge-Padded-With-Adjustable-Strap/283801625652?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649  and it fits the scope perfectly - bargain !

Since the sky is so light polluted in London, I am keen on the idea of seeing more than I otherwise would by using EAA ( and sitting in a nice warm room whilst doing so !) so I am thinking in terms of a motorised mount and a camera in the medium term, though like you, I am going to take my time.

10 hours ago, Phil Fargaze said:

Hello and welcome. I`ve been stargazing from my location near to London for over forty years. I found this book to be a good bedtime read when it is cloudy.

 

 

Phil, thanks very much for this, I have ordered a copy !

2 hours ago, Nerf_Caching said:

A more portable option could be the Skywatcher Heritage 130 or 150p, with the latter being a newly-released model. Both feature collapsible tubes and cost under 200.

47 minutes ago, Dr Strange said:

You are welcome. Another option would be the Skywatcher Heritage 130 or the Skywatcher 150p. Both smaller than the 200. And both a significant step up in terms of aperture to your Bino's.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-dobsonian-telescope.html

Thanks, both, for your recommendations

2 hours ago, Dr Strange said:

Forgot to mention, if you really want to up your game investing in a Skywatcher 200p Dobsonian which is a 200mm Dobsonian. A real jump up in aperture. It will really open up those views due to the aperture and is great for star hopping. It is £289 but well worth it! I would also suggest a Telrad for £39, a right angle corrected image (RACI) finderscope which makes it much easier on your neck to star hop, and the Sky and Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas which is a map of the stars that is a great guide to the galaxy and beyond. That setup will blow your mind and really expand your experience. Links to everything I mentioned is below.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/telrad-finder-astronomy.html

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p297_TS-Optics-8x50-Finder---with-Bracket---black-colour---90--angled.html

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/the-pocket-sky-atlas/

 

Thanks very much for the recommendation, my balcony may not have enough room for a dob but if not, my mother has a garden so maybe I could keep one there !

5 hours ago, barkingsteve said:

Hi Ian and welcome.

Don't let living in London hold you back. There are plenty of options from visual to EAA, narrow band imaging or just lucky imaging the moon and planets, all are viable thanks to technology these days 👍

Thanks Steve, EEA and narrowband imaging sound interesting- I might well end up down those alleys !

Thanks all, for the very warm welcome. I look forward to tapping into the wealth of knowledge on here !

6 minutes ago, Neil H said:

Yummy Jaffa cakes you better get loads of boxes Sorry forgot welcome I got stuck at Jaffa cakes

did you get a tripod as well it will make your arms ache after a long session

Thanks, yes, I have a few tripods. I used a monopod with a ball head last night and that seemed to work for me (I do get a stiff neck from viewing near zenith though !)

(You have the towel. All you now need is three pints of beer & you're equipped for imminent armageddon. Welcome to the forum.)

Thanks, the beer's in the fridge !

Hello everyone,

I've always found myself gazing up at the stars whenever I found myself under a dark sky but, living in central London, I've never seriously considered astronomy. However, with lockdown providing clearer air and plenty of spare time, I bought a pair of binocs and I've been amazed at how much I can see, even though I live in a flat, surrounded by other blocks of flats and lots of amenity and street lighting. Aided by a copy of Turn Left at Orion and Stellarium, I am really enjoying star hopping. Last night, I draped a towel over my head (no longer caring what the neighbours think) and went out on my balcony and found M13 for the first time - it gave me such a buzz ! So now I am on the journey and looking forward to a lot more discoveries.

Cheers, Ian