Astro_Dad

Perfect night for astronomy here in the Yorkshire Dales. Kids asleep so an opportunity to take the SS Dob out. No StarSense required, just a very simple manual hunt for well known easy targets. The moon, Jupiter, M42, M45 etc. freezing but worth it. Love the tech in all of these new imaging and AI equipped ‘scopes but for me nothing beats a “real” view through my own eyes - albeit these days a little more infrequent than I’d like. Absolutely freezing of course and warming back up inside now!

Good write up Paul, looks to be a fine instrument - will have to visit soon to have a look first hand! 🙂

Having sadly missed the aurora tonight, clearly visible from local gardens and of course Lime Tree it seems , I was nevertheless inspired to view Jupiter on what is a very clear Bonfire night here. Lovely views of the disc and Galilean moons through my 8” with 150x power using the Baader Zoom. It’s been a while but good to be back out. 👍

Excellent news! Will look forward to setting up later.

Great write up Paul, and some fine sights!

True but an exit pupil of 5.3 is probably going to be fine for many in reality, and in any case those who are prepared to invest in a 12” Dob are probably also those who will immediately upgrade the stock eyepiece (even a quality plossl) or likely have one or two already. It’s amazing how accurate SS is though isn’t it - even in a narrow field EP as you say.

They do appear to be all on the website now - https://www.celestron.com/products/starsense-explorer-130mm-smartphone-app-enabled-tabletop-dobsonian-telescope Celestron branded as well, rather the Popular Science brand they sometimes use. I also think they would be ideal for beginners but also for more experienced observers who need a good travel ‘scope or quick grab and go. I can imagine the 114mm or 130mm tabletop versions for example to be ideal to take away with my kids. Tricky on the 150mm though. That’s going to be quite big still as obviously doesn’t collapse down like the SW Heritage models.

I'm obviously tempted and was genuinely excited when I saw these on FLO's website today - I've long been a fan of the SW Heritage 150p (both standard and Virtuoso GTi versions), but the frustrations and foibles of GOTO in general along with the extra hassle and need for a home made shroud and PTFE tape to fix the basic focuser on the Heritage has always led me to imagine a SS version of a tabletop "Dob". I even looked into a DIY mod to retro fit my Heritage with a SS dock at one point, but the Celestron version is finally here. I think the 5" version would make an excellent grab and go set up to complement my 8" model. Mmmm, interesting. I'd expect an 8" SCT version on a newly designed mount to be in the pipeline soon.

Have the same Paul - handy for keeping the phone charged on longer SS Dob sessions!

Postie brought this a few days ago but having been away I’ve only just opened. Thanks @sorrimen for sending so quickly though. A nice Baader zoom (MK III) to complement my new eyepieces.

Only a brief session late afternoon and into the night yesterday with the new SS Dob - having my brother over reminded me how amazing a first view through a telescope was - we spent a long time on the moon from late daylight into the night- he was awestruck by the clarity of the craters and general features along the terminator, and later asked “What star is that?” pointing to Venus. Again was similarly inspired when saw through the ‘scope it was a crescent shaped planet - not a star. I imagine running outreach sessions would be a lot of fun !

Lovely to be back out observing tonight after a nearly six months break with my second first light with a Celestron SS 10” Dob. As reported on a different thread circumstances have essentially resulted in a several month hiatus from the practical aspects of astronomy but good to be back to a purely observational, immersive approach, no AP or similar “distractions “ Tonight was a reorientation of sorts to check all OK. StarSense alignment completed using the stock 25mm Plossl but quickly switched to the ES 24/68 and Morpheus 12.5/76 for excellent views of some well worn targets - the lunar terminator, Venus, M13 and M81 the main highlights. Partly to check the SS push to was working properly after initial alignment and partly to simply get my eye back in. Fantastic to view a globular again in moderately clear skies !

It’s been an “interesting” 2023. After a forced several month hiatus from the practical aspects of this great hobby (due to personal reasons - divorce, unexpected redundancy and sale of family home) I’ve now decided to return to the fold and hopefully will be back on SGL after what seems like ages. I’ve moved to a new place in the Yorkshire Dales with elevated commanding views in all directions so keen to get my eye back in. I learned a lot from my last phase in the hobby which was underscored by frequent testing, trying and selling on of a wide range of scopes (and eyepieces), dabbling with AP and generally getting addicted to technicalities and kit rather than actually enjoying the night sky. All change now. I sold most of my previous kit save for a good pair of 10x50 bins, but have just taken delivery (Courtesy of RVO) of what was surely the best scope I ever owned, and missed ever since selling - the Celestron StarSense 10” Dobsonian. I posted an early review of this instrument here last Summer and started the StarSense owners thread which I’ll be dipping back into. My first telescope was the 130mm DX version from the same range in early 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, and it was that that got me hooked on the practical side after lifelong interest in the theory and science of astronomy. Now looking forward to getting back into purely observational, relaxing and immersive astronomy without the distractions of AP and eyepiece obsession (he says with a knowing smile), and so I’m delighted to be the owner of this excellent ‘scope once again. I've deliberately curated a very limited range of eyepieces this time (I realistically know this may change over time!) that I will actually use, rather than having umpteen different options in my case that I rarely if ever took outside. So, over the past couple of days postie has brought a 24 mm ES 68 Deg for low mag wide field (thanks to @paulastro for the sale and sage advice as always), and a 12.5 mm Baader Morpheus also from the brilliant team at RVO. I also have my 2x and 3x barlows that I held onto to help broaden the range of magnifications possible. Zoom eyepiece on the horizon for kids and others to use... Good to be back here 🙂

Having enjoyed entering (and recently writing) Astronomy quizzes for my local Astro society (York), I am delighted now to have come joint 4th place in the British Astronomical Association's Christmas quiz 2022 - a very challenging and fun "exam"! The postie brought the prize today - collection of novels by Astronomer Tom Boles - personally signed 🙂

I’ve just tried in my SS app and C/2022 shows up on my list no problem. Not that that solves the problem here, but thought I’d check.