skyhog

Yes, have to agree with all of that. I think the bottom line is that you are immersed in something you love doing. I have been doing it for over 50 years and hope to do it for as long as I can. How many things in life can you make that statement about? And now think that it's all without monetary reward, again when can you apply that statement to anything other than the sheer pleasure of finding the right hobby. 

When I was a lot younger m42 definitely displayed a green hue. And it certainly wasn't a hint or open to interpretation. Even with the 12 sct these days I don't see colour at all, even though the sight is still a stand out favourite of mine. There's a lot to be said for starting this hobby early with those young eyes... 😉

Cracking image for the altitude. Well done. 

That brings back memories. And a nice idea with the frame. I recall having most of the sets that they brought out. Wonder where they went🤔

13 hours ago, Alien 13 said:

Unfortunately very few scope mounts are anchored to the ground ie with bolts etc, even concrete mounted piers often miss out by having threaded adjustment rods that effectively decouple the mount from the scope.

Alan 

Without getting into an debate centred on semantics, how do you decouple a scope from the mount? Genuine question.. 

"Anchored to the ground".... What else is going to be anchored to🤔

4 hours ago, stuy said:

Seeing here in South Wales was very poor jet stream doing its worst I’m afraid but on the plus side looks very favourable for tonight! I can’t moan I’ve had some of the best seeing in years here lately, thank god I built the observatory a godsend the thought of lugging up 35 kg scopes every time is a killer !!!

Yes, I agree. Certainly less appealing as you get older. 

My brother in law would find this thread amusing as he spent nearly 40 years as a second hand car dealer. He didn't limit himself to cars either, he would buy and sell anything. When the Internet came along he was never away from a computer. He always said that there were enough folk out there who either didn't know the value of goods or wanted quick sales. There is a caveat to this though. Making a living from doing this over the long term demands a certain character which he definitely had. If you want a good reputation then you have to earn that and sometimes it can be costly. He would buy a car at an auction that you or I could just as easily do. But a customer he resold that vehicle to would at least have some redress if it turned out to be a lemon. I'm not sure if the guy being discussed here provides refunds, but as I've said, to preserve reputation. Quite likely. 

Forgive my ignorance here, but an astro 'dealer' would be FLO or telescope house, and other companies I would regard in this fashion. Any one else would simply be an opportunistic reseller which I could spot a mile off. Or am I missing something here? 

Just now, skyhog said:

Rather depressing that map John. I'm assuming the blue areas are the designated dark sites? 

Ignore that... I've had a drink... National parks... 🥴

12 minutes ago, John said:

Our most southerly National Park:

In the county of Devonshire (where I was born as it happens).

950 square km of granite uplands with deep wooded valleys.

 

 

Rather depressing that map John. I'm assuming the blue areas are the designated dark sites? 

That's a great write up John. And great to hear a fellow enthusiast getting these opportunities. I think it's a shame so many folk don't get to appreciate the night sky in its full splendour because the kind of night you are describing is chalk and cheese to what many might think is reasonable dark sky. Thanks for posting. 

Very nice image indeed.

Very nice indeed. 

superb image that. 

28 minutes ago, callisto said:

The Space Station I think 😁

Yes, might be right.... Bortle 1...hens teeth is that.... 😬

May I ask where you are going... 🤔

2 hours ago, Marvin Jenkins said:

I managed to get out last night in hot conditions but clear skies. It has been a long time since I have had a decent look at Jupiter.

Very bright disk with three moons showing to one side, two close together and one much farther out.

According to my phone app ‘Io’ was in transit which explained the missing moon. With the bad distortion due to the heat it took some time to get a couple steady moments but a couple of times I could clearly see the moons shadow on the planets surface.

I am well chuffed with that result and very happy the gas giants are back to a better position for observing.

Marvin

 

That more or less sums up my observation last night. I went out around 9.30 and saw the little disk of Io on the planet along with the GRS. Ganymede and europa were an impressive 'double star'. Seeing was initially very poor but improved over the next few hours as Io eventually cleared the disk along with the GRS. Saturn was nice, very low but the seeing improved and the cassini well defined.... Tonight looks promising too. 

As always Neil, very nice. 

Very nice Peter and impressive considering the altitude. Its not  even high enough to fully allow me to clear the obsy wall, clipped out of focus donut... 🙄

Very nice image, and given the altitude at the moment makes it even better. Well done. 

I've just checked and the 74 apparition will be very closely repeated in 2032. Not too long to wait... 😁

Start to show your age when it's possible to remember several ring plane crossings. I remember them fully open high in taurus in the winter of 74. What I'd give for a repeat of that... 😁

I've had a pair of WO binoviewers in the obsy for years. Not sure when I actually bought them, why I bought them or why I haven't really used them. Anyway, to cut  a long story short I thought I would get them out while I was observing the moon through the 12 GPS a few months ago. I was utterly blown away. I really don't know why I haven't thought of using them again. The views of copernicus and the surrounding area were fantastic. I know many struggle with the stereoscopic view but I found it perfect. I spent a few hours at the eyepiece totally transfixed. Moving forward and I have been observing jupiter over the last few weeks, again the views have been amazing. The GRS was particularly nice the other night. I even ended looking at M57 and that was a fine sight too, alberio a beautiful target. So a big thumbs up in my book and well worth trying out if you haven't done so before. 

Yes, certainly identify with these replies.

A few weeks ago my wife and I were sat watching TV when she got a text from a work colleague of hers asking if I was going to be looking for the rare ringed planet tonight? She had read a headline and didn't even know it referred to saturn which was at opposition. I asked my wife to reply asking if she was talking about saturn. She said she didn't know what it was called but it was only visible tonight. She's a GP too...