globular

Ah, yes. Shame we can't adjust our eyesight to see more money appear in our wallets. 🙃

Your astigmatism while looking in an eyepiece might not be quite the same as that measured by an optometrist as part of a normal eye test. That said, these differences only usually get noticeable at more severe levels than your 0.5 - so a 0.5 dioptrx will probably be fine. The smaller the exit pupil the less astigmatism shows up. In the 3-8 zoom the exit pupil will be small and I don't think your astigmatism will be noticed.

I don't know if SS7 skychart is any different to SS6 - but if you post an example of one of your errors in SS6 I can look in my SS7 to see if it's any different.

Did your school have a music practice room? It's not hideous, it's lovely. Would I lie to you? (Sorry to anyone that 'gets it' .... 🚪)

I'm with John, it looks like an Askar 185 to me - orange and all. I don't think it's a SkyWatcher only room - there is a ZWO display at the back, so I don't see why there can't be an Askar one on the left. Interesting stuff, whoever makes it.

Why has SVBONY just popped into my head? 🤔

I record my observations into a digital voice recorder - so I can stay at the eyepiece for longer periods and not forget to record anything notable. I sketch with pencils onto paper - not very artistic but it records the positions and features that words alone do not capture. The next day: I write up the voice recorded notes into SkySafari observations. I store the digital sound recording(s) onto my cloud storage - and add a url to them in the relevant SkySafari observation notes (as text - it's not clickable - but it does link them together). I photograph my sketch(es) and store them on my cloud storage - again adding a url to them in the SkySafari observation. Being able to add files as attachments to SkySafari observations would be so much better - but this is as close as I can get.

Impressive looking things - would love to look through one one day 🤤 Judging by all the photos on this thread, they are so good they work in daylight 🤪😁

I think you're right. In fact there is a scale on it - backing up that theory.

The 140 looks nice on Askar's Mark III mount - in matching weird orange. Anyone know anything about them? @FLO are you planning on stocking them too?

I like it - thanks for posting It seems to be missing the 101st entry: 101. Clear skies from my back garden

Agree totally - but I think your LZOS 180 f/7 weighs about 22.7kg while the Askar 185 is a fair chunk lighter at 17.2kg.

I love the weird orange colour 😁

You've had £150 worth of fun already.

Is that a gap between the truss and the top - the cream colour looks like the door frame behind. I'd expect this, and all the other trusses, to be fully flush fitting. If not there could be some twisting.

I don't really have a need for one currently, with my long focal length C8 - but I'm actively looking for one because I will get another scope at some point and, like you, I'd be amazed if they stay this value for too much longer.

Want to go halves? Have them on a timeshare basis? 😉

Very tempting range. Look how compact the 140 is with everything retracted...

The Askar 140 is a 140mm f/7 ED triplet and is £2,098 from flo. Not sure how much this adjustable section added to arrive at this price - but it seems pretty good value overall. Subject to it actually working well, and the optics being good, etc etc.....

Just spotted this feature of the Askar 140 APO Refractor... Do any other scopes have anything like this? I wonder how rigid it is, especially at this price point?

This exactly. I’m all in for one.

Yes! I NEED a snorkel parka. Perfect!

Cloud here, so I didn't get to see it. Loving the images though - thanks folks - I will have to look out for something like this again. Brilliant heads up @dweller25

Can watch the GRS transit while they line up (Cloud and rain permitting)

It starts off very bright to my eyes in my 8". But I tend to get comfortable and force myself to keep at the eyepiece without looking away. I soon lose my dark adaptation and the details start to come through. Staring at a white sheet of paper before viewing can accelerate it too, especially if you've been very dark adapted for an extended period before switching to the planet. I think the key is patience and perseverance. It is rewarded.