skyhog

I'd have to agree with the last poster. I was observing them both during the recent conjunction when they were setting in the evening twilight. That was with low power and they were very difficult to find in a bright sky. I have a permanent setup but think getting it on the chip would be the hardest part. No harm trying though....

Ah right, thanks for clarifying that👍

If its scope control, as previously mentioned, some adaquate free software out there stellarium is good. I like cartes du ciel personally.

Well done. I watched that pass last night and saw it pass close to moon. I must admit I've never checked up on ISS transit predictions. If I'd seen it transit I would have regretted not rolling the obsy roof back...

Great report John. Yes observing that quasar is definitely a must for everyone with a scope capable of observing it. I first looked at it with a 8 inch sct in pretty dark skies and I can still remember the feeling while I contemplated what I was actually looking at. As you mention there are a few other quasars out there, the one in the constellation lynx always springs to mind, that's getting on for 'birth of the universe' time scales as I recall. May have to look that up..

Nice image. One of my favourite open clusters.

That's a cracking shot. When you see these wide field images of orion you are always made aware of the extent of the nebulosity. Not something you would think about when I first started out.

That's two hobbies perfectly suited as that scope is a beast of a thing. A bit of a step up from the 12 and that's one awkward bit of kit.

Hi percivel, I take it the 14 is obsy mounted?

Never tire of all things apollo. Although I remember the era as it happened I was a little too young to appreciate it. Nothing around at the time to see it in that kind of glory if you weren't lucky enough to see it in the flesh. It's probably why I hope I live to see another manned lunar mission in my lifetime. At this point in history the ability to witness it as it occurs should be breathtaking.

A quick search pulled up this.... https://www.astroshop.eu/handcontroller/meade-autostar-ii-handbox/p,49978

I got a new handset a few years ago so there may still be places to buy them if you look around. I did repair the existing handset originally a few times but it soon started playing up. The handbox is actually pretty simplistic on the later LX200GPS Scopes. The earlier LX200s were different in that regard. If you take them apart you are looking more TV remote than anything else. The handset therefore initiates commands to the base. The other thing I'd suggest is to look at the cable, they break down frequently at the board connection.

Thats a nice image. Its interesting just how similar Mars and Aldebaran actually appear at the moment in the sky, that really does show that.

Just had a look with the PST.. Yes, some nice activity on the limb👍

Yes, they were just full moons when I was a child.... It's the 'worm" next month.... Apparently... 🙄.... Nice shot by the way.... 👍

Eridanus 40...😉

Sorry to hear this. I have often wondered if I've turned the scope off when I roll the roof back and leave everything for a while. I find it hard to believe in this day and age that an expensive piece of mechanical equipment would damage itself beyond repair at worst, or cause an expensive repair at best. I don't think you should be too hard on yourself here, there are many ways a mount could be stopped from moving apart from striking an observatory roof. I've had a slewing scope come to a complete stop because a camera cable wrapped itself around the mount for example. Surely manufacturers would expect a mount to foul in a number of easily imagined scenarios. Anyway, I hope you get it sorted and look forward to hearing the outcome.

Very nice that. I got the PST out yesterday and saw that prom. First look at the sun in a while...

Are there any non astro shed builders in the area? You may be able to get something made to your own spec for a lot less... Just a thought.

Never had that, got an obsy mounted 12 lx200gps. I have a little 300w Heater on a thermostat in there. Set at a few degrees.

Nice images. I wasn't able to catch that transit but do remember the 2016 May transit very well. Lovely hot clear day with a beer in my hand. 😎

Yes, just had a look at that. Very nice indeed.... 👍

And there lies the difference between Internet shopping and browsing a real shop... Some great pics there to be sure.... 👍

Yes, a very good bump. Reminded me to have a look at this again after many years. I must have forgotten the significance of this triple, so I slewed the scope over to it last night and had a good look. Amazing to think how small that white dwarf actually is and what distance we are observing it. It probably took me a while to learn about this star as it doesn't get a mention in what was for me 'the bible' of observing back in the early 70s, Patrick Moore's 'The complete Amateur astronomer'. Odd really as he does talk about white dwarfs and mentions this triple in the constellation guide at the back of the book, but fails to mention it. It was the first to be observed, and its relatively easy with modest scopes. And one of the largest super earths known was found to be orbiting eridani A back in 2018, a great target, and a well timed bump.

I found several, I'll take another look... 👍