Starwatcher2001

The Evolution has Alt and Az clutches that can be disengaged, but once you do that it forgets where it is for both tracking and goto. It then requires an alignment process again. I wouldn't star hop like that, but I do star hop using the motors. The advantage being that the tracking ensures things "stay put" whilst you consult the charts for the next hop.

Welcome aboard SGL. Good to have you with us.

Welcome aboard SGL. Good to have you with us.

For anyone unfamiliar, this seems to be a good introduction to Noctilucent clouds: http://www.nightskyhunter.com/Noctilucent Clouds.html

Welcome aboard SGL Ali. Good to have you with us. I'm not familiar with that kit, but I'm sure there'll be a way to power it from an external source*. Do you know the spec of the adapter you used (probably written on it)? It sounds like it hasn't got enough power. *Might involve a bit of soldering.

Welcome aboard SGL Lucas. Good to have you with us.

Welcome aboard SGL. Good to have you with us.

Stunning, especially using a dob. Really well done.

If electronics were banned, it would be my old Sky Atlas 2000. I use Skysafari on a tablet now as it requires a lot less table space.

Welcome aboard SGL. Good to have you with us.

If I'm reading for fun, I just read. But if I'm reading to learn things I make notes as I go along and then later review them. Otherwise after a short while I'll forget the vast majority of what I've read. My notes tend to stay in the books.

Hi Felix, I'd go with (a). You don't want to run long lengths of DC cable or you'll get a voltage drop. Mark

It's spring, if you give them two some privacy perhaps you'll hear the cheeps of little finder Taks?

Welcome aboard SGL Reds, good to have you with us.

Ooooh, that case is going to itch until you get them all 🙂

Welcome aboard SGL Keith, good to have you with us. Bins are a perfectly good way of exploring the heavens and work well with a stand, or even just bracing them against something solid. I use the washing post! Even if you get a telescope, bins will always be good for quick looks or to get your bearings etc. The light skies are a drawback at the moment, but it's a good time to get familiar with the sky, where things are and how it changes from season to season and even hour to hour. A year in and the returning constellations and objects are like old friends. If you enjoy it now, you're gonna love it when good lengths of darkness come back in autumn. Enjoy your journey and keep sharing it with us.

Hope it scratches that itch after all this time Alan.

Welcome aboard SGL Dan. Good to have you with us. You've got some beautiful images there. I especially like the wider fields that put the galaxies in their context. Nice work!

Very nice report josefk and enjoyable to read. Thanks. Regarding the taking of notes and dark adaption - I use a dictaphone and then write up my observations later in the warmth, when I can also check some of the facts and stats about what I've seen.

I think Peter is referring to this thread, Graeme: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/394370-f63-reducer-on-c8-back-focus/

Welcome aboard SGL and astronomy. Good to have you with us.

Welcome aboard SGL Karol. Good to have you with us. That globular looks beautiful.

Yes, well spotted. I took that photo in 2018 when my wife and I went to see the telescope. It's quite awe inspiring close up. Unfortunately it was having work done on it and was therefore permanently pointing upwards. I must make the effort to go back for another look. Looking foward to seeing you on the board.

Welcome aboard SGL Mircea, from another doubles fan. Good to have you with us.

Hi and welcome aboard SGL. At the risk of stating the obvious, don't aim your scope anywhere near the sun without the proper filters. eg https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/astrozap-baader-solar-filter.html If you're just holding your phone to the eyepiece (with a filter in place), a 30mm eyepiece should give you sufficient field to see and capture the whole of the Sun. If you're using a camera instead of an eyepiece you will need to know the sensor size as GFamily said. If you let us know what camera you're using, we can help further.