TBRHussaR

Hi guys

Last year I had the pleasure of a trip to the south of france - where I was amazed by an incredible dark sky site, with friendly locals... Im going again this year - hopefully armed with a big dob (thank you Garry) ... here is a link to the event.... I will review and leave pics after....

https://www.nuits-causse-noir.fr/

Alex

Hi guys - can you use the celestron .63 focal reducer for visual work? I plan to use it on a 925. Does it have any negative effects? such as aperture loss?

Does a Barlow decrease the contrast of the image? Is it better to just own more eyepieces?

I was just in Domaine de Pradines, absolutely stunning skies. Welcome!

Thanks guys!! I’ll get a 15x50 

The exact location is “Domaine de Pradines“

mandy I’m so glad your scope was OK!!

Guys, I just tried to clean my mirror, but there is a “film “ of some kind that I can’t get off….any tips /advice?

Hey guys,

just came back from France, I attended a star party Nuits Causse Noir. It was great fun!

the guns: 15 inch dob (obsession)
travel - I used the euro tunnel, it was very easy, my telescope safe in boot.

it’s a 12 hour drive to the camp site, I stayed half way over night in Orleans .

the site: beautiful landscape , about 100 telescopes, and very friendly locals!

the skies were bortle 2. 3 nights of absolute amazing skies! My favourite targets:
M51 - incredible structure that I’ve never seen before. 
cats paw nebula- just fun to look at

veil nebula- just astounding- and even more amazing in night vision, and with binos ! The 3D effect was breathtaking

some amazing telescopes we’re being shared, the biggest being a 24” dob…

i highly recommend the trip, and ill

be going next year!!

Hi Guys, I was wondering - do these Binos break down at some point, and what is the life expectancy of them? Ive seen some used ones on eBay but theyre not cheap !!!

Many thanks

A

very expensive stuff....

However - my obsession 15UC cost 12000 after all said and done.

now if I'm getting the attached images below with my Celestron 8" , and I can use it even at home with light pollution, and its super easy to set up / move / transport, all for less than the cost of the obsession, I start to wonder...

On 06/06/2022 at 12:56, niallk said:

Holy moly the Ovni NV Binoviewer is expensive!

I've had one particularly spectacular view of M51 with my 15" from my local Bortle 4ish skies - transparency makes a huge difference along with good seeing: wonderful knotty detail in the spiral arms ...literally breathtaking.

Sounds like you are getting fantastic results with you 8".  Interesting to hear it doesn't make so much of a difference in your 15"!  I wonder why??

Don’t get me wrong - the view in the 15” is amazing, but what surprised me is that the 8 “ is so so close. It’s made me rethink owning the larger dob and will likely sell it now. The 8 inch is so convenient!!

8 hours ago, vineyard said:

I'd echo the step change that NV makes - I use it in Bortle 8/9 skies with a 7" Mak, 5" Mak and 3" frac.  It's a complete game-changer for visual.  I haven't had a chance to run it on any galaxies yet (mostly globs & some nebulae) so your report on M51 w an 8" is v encouraging.  Can I ask what f/ratios you were effectively running your NV at (ie, the native f-ratio of your scope & if you were doing this afocally, which EP you were using?)?

Thanks

Afocal - so no eyepiece used...

Yes I follow that guy. What has surprised me is how much my 8inch view is improved. I may even sell my obsession. 

I have the ovni-b (bino) NV. Yes dark skies help, but honestly not by much. 

Yeah , I’m amazed too. The 15 inch is definitely collimated correctly. I’ve checked a dozen times. Others in the USA say the same thing. Night vision is the great equaliser!

Hey guys… just a quick report / comparison.

I have been using an ovni bino night vision device for about 8 months now. It has really blown me away. I have always loved galaxies, especially finding structure in them. Of course, the hassle of moving larger dobs always holds me back. Night vision has changed everything- it makes my 8 inch scope more powerful than my 15 inch obsession. Here is my report on a few objects with comparison. I observe in my bortle 3 skies in Basingstoke, and sometimes at exmoor.

m51 - 8 inch with night vision - amazing structure seen!! Better than obsession 15. Interestingly - the night vision on the 15 inch does not enhance the image much.

M42 - gorgeous- I can see the structure of the nebula, not just the shape. Again - not much better view from obsession scope.

night vision has changed how I observe. I have attached pictures through the eyepiece - using iPhone . What can’t be seen is how the stars twinkle and seem “alive “ in the night vision device. I don’t think I need a massive dob anymore.

Clear skies everyone!

I was thinking some thing was wrong 😑 

Hope fully there will be some more clear nights with better transparency!

Thanks - you made me feel better!!!!

Hey guys, I’m still new to the UK, although I’ve been in astronomy for a while. I made use of the clear weather, and yesterday drove to exmoor. I was near knaplock. I have a obsession 15UC. I was a little disappointed that the skies seemed to my eyes to be a bortle 5 or 6. 

My fav object, M51 showed only faint structure. 
has anyone else been to exmoor? Is this a normal experience?

I was born again when I moved to large aperture! When I saw the spiral arms on the whirlpool, I was hooked!!

I started with the WO, but the denk binos are in my opinion the best. The power switch gives you 3 mag choices. I highly recommend the 3D eyepieces! 

Hey Dixie, I just imported an ovni night vision bino , it was insanely expensive. I paid about 25% of the cost in the end.

Obsession telescopes has a video on YouTube about how to clean mirrors. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post a link, but if you google it , it’s there. 
I also get dew when moving my stuff in. I also just let it dry overnight. I think a cap helps prevent dust settle on the wet surface .

An 8 Inch dob is the best starting scope. Hands down. Easy to move/setup, and has enough aperture that gives interesting views. Actually a lot of guys who start with an 8 inch dob end up keeping it even after they buy bigger scopes (when the fever hits haha)