AllanK

Just now, AllanK said:

I misread initially and thought you had written 2:45am. I subsequently thought that either the binoculars were “hot” or “Jesus, these guys take their nighttime activities extremely seriously….how am I going to get some decent, cut price kit if the exchanges all happen in car parks around 3am?”

😂😂😂

Is it the “Dark Sky Web”?

4 hours ago, Bruce Leeroy said:

I met a fella in a car park on Monday 2:45pm  and bought some Japanese Swallow 15x80 binos (£20 bargain) literally as soon as i got out the car it started to spit rain.....drove home in biblical rain.

I misread initially and thought you had written 2:45am. I subsequently thought that either the binoculars were “hot” or “Jesus, these guys take their nighttime activities extremely seriously….how am I going to get some decent, cut price kit if the exchanges all happen in car parks around 3am?”

😂😂😂

11 hours ago, John said:

I was on holiday in darkest mid-Wales a week or so ago but having looked at the forecast, I didn't take a scope. Turned out I was right - nice sunny days but cloudy nights !

Perhaps you will get some clear patches later in the week ?

Fingers crossed…we’re relocating to The Mallaig area later in the week for a few days which is also a dark sky area. I’ll just suffer with the good seafood, beer and whisky until then…it’s a tough I know, but I plan on soldiering through somehow.

Brought my scope on holiday thinking “it’ll be great to get away from all this light pollution and see things!”.  Meanwhile in Torridon The weather clearly has other ideas. 
 

Don’t get me wrong it’s beautiful, but a tad frustrating.

Bought di-electric star diagonal for a fair price and it seems to be decent (to my extremely newbie mind anyway).

I feel that I’ve bought in haste and now get to repent at leisure.

I was late getting the astronomy itch scratched and only got my Celestron C5 and starter mount in the spring…just in time for the nights to get lighter and also to realise just how not dark my garden is!

Anyway, enough about that…we’re hopefully going to get away for a week in early July to near Applecross in Scotland. There should be none to low light pollution, but obviously still lots of natural light until late. I’ve got my TLAO good to go, but what should I be looking to see (clouds permitting) to keep me enthused until the darker nights return?

https://youtu.be/LFrdqQZ8FFc

For some reason this post reminds me of this scene.

The Newer model to pre-order is £2000 cheaper? Bargain!

Ihttps://vaonis.com/stellina

I wonder if they’ve taken inspiration from the above? I knew I ad seen a similar idea with better execution somewhere before. Not much difference price wise 🤢🤢🤢

4 hours ago, Louis D said:

It's a glorified security camera?  Resolution is ultimately determined by aperture, and with that tiny objective lens, it's not got a lot of ultimate resolving power.

In all honesty 4 months ago I would have seriously considered something like this and be drawn in by the gadgetiness of it all. Having spent time doing some research on forums like this, I have a better idea of what to look for and expect. So SGL collectively take a bow, you have collectively helped me and many others dodge bullets such as this.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dwarf-telescope-a-portable-digital-telescope

Thoughts? No intention of buying...unless somebody says it sounds absolutely amazing! 😂😂😂

16 minutes ago, saac said:

There is a nice handy little car park at the foot of Tinto Hill which would be good for parking up and nice ground to set up on.  The skies should certainly be better than around Motherwell and not too far to drive.   The hill itself may obscure some of the sky though; I think it's one of those things that may need a recce.  If you really want dark - head down on the back roads towards Moffat or Wanlockhead in the leadhills - lots of nooks and crannies to explore there , some tracks up the hills if you are adventurous . Definitely one for a daytime recce  - be careful in winter (highest village in Scotland so weather can be grim while otherwise tropical in Motherwell) . Do you remember the night time sky around Lanarkshire when the Craig was still operating?  I used to be a regular driver on the M74 and coming home northbound I could swear I could pick up the orange glow of the coke ovens opening as far as Lockerbie  

Tinto Hill car park  https://w3w.co/mission.tomb.maddening

Wanlockhead (lead hills)    https://w3w.co/flagpole.presides.lightens

 

Jim 

Those are a couple of good suggestions. I know Tinto area well from cycling (a shame the tearoom won’t be open of an evening for a coffee and a scone) and, in happier times my commute took me to both Sanquhar and Thornhill so the Leadhills and Wanlockhead make sense and they’re not far off the motorway. Need to check out these and Loudon Hill and will definitely do a daylight recce after yesterday’s hijinks.

2 hours ago, iapa said:

What is the scope and mount?

Generally, I assume there will me movement once it gets to 11-20mph

It was stronger than that I think. It’s a Celestron C5 on a Starwave Mini-AZ Mount.

13 hours ago, Pixies said:

Harperrig reservoir is about 25 miles from you. Not been there myself, but it's supposed to be a regular site for astronomers.

Just took a daytime reconnaissance run...which is just as well as I may have offended the farmer down the road who was fixing the potholes in his road that I was driving over...😣😣. Anyway, after lots of apologies he very kindly directed me to tight part of the reservoir which was busy (due to it being a nice day) which looks like a good spot for future reference. I’ve also been advised to check out Loudon Hill which I will also do.

9 hours ago, Stargazer33 said:

Always be safe when you go out to a remote site; especially if you're on your own. If you feel at all uneasy, then pack up and go home. It's just not worth it! 

My wife came with me and sat in the car reading her kindle as it was a concern for us both - especially as this was the first time outwith my or a friend’s garden. I’m just not sure of the message this was putting out 😂😂😂.

Took the plunge and left the back garden for pastures new this evening - I’m in a Bortle 7 area and all my neighbours have external lights 💡💡💡.

Drove to the nearest darker sky site at Whitelees Windfarm...it’s a good spot which is elevated and far enough away from a lot of light pollution...although tonight the moon was putting out most of the light which limited any DSOs...plus the wind was causing the scope to move around even at lower magnification. Would this be normal?

Plus there were more people coming in and driving past my car and I slowly...I’m not casting any aspersions, but I’m guessing if they were doing the same as me they might have said hello. Not sure I’ll go back. 😂😂😂
 

so does anybody know of any good sites for observing in Central Scotland?

Welcome fellow newbie.

All I can advise is to think about the following...what do you want to see? lunar, planetary and deep sky objects may require different levels of equipment. As well as the scope, you also need to think about the tripod and mount. A basic scope on an unstable mount and wobbly tripod will put you off. The same scope on a better mount will be better than an expensive scope on a cheap mount.

Try reading “Turn Left at Orion” for some pointers on what you can see with which equipment. I’m definitely no expert but that would be a good place to start.

Thanks all. Hopefully be able to give it a go soon and will keep you posted on how things turn out.

I know there are no such things as stupid questions, but there are always exceptions to rules!
I’m trying to pair a Nikon V1 that as already at home to my Celestron C5. This would only be for some basic imaging of the moon etc as I think you need more substantial mount etc than I currently have (a solid altaz) for anything more substantial. I’ve bought a basic adapter that fits the camera body and allows it to be attached to a 1.25”.

The connection side is fine, but I’m more interested in what I will actually gain (if anything) by attaching the camera to the C5 without any eyepieces (other than the 2 x Barlow I have)? I did say this was probably going to be a stupid question.

I went a good bit over my original budget to get my Celestron C5 as my first scope. Main advantage being the compact size and ability to store away easily indoors when not being used as well as the portability of a good grab and go. The other (and possibly biggest) advantage being it was one of the few scopes available to buy immediately. I’ve since discovered that astronomy is all about the “and then what” when it comes to equipment- and I thought bicycles were bad with the N+1 rule!

I’m certainly not an expert, but I’ve recently bought this....https://www.amazon.co.uk/Svbony-Dielectric-Aluminium-Telescope-Accessories/dp/B08QZ873PC

It seems to be good (seems well made and gives good clear images) but not sure how it compares to the 2 you’ve identified already.

It’s a bit of a minefield for the new person. I’m finding the low power eyepieces much easier to use and if the wider FOV give a similar experience in terms of eye relief, then I may look at some of those suggested with a wider FOV for higher power. I was thinking filters to try some DSO but should probably get out more for lunar and planetary - I’m in a Bortle 7 area and light pollution is a definite issue. The set up I’ve got is portable so I should really head out to some lower LP areas and have a proper go before deciding what I need next.

1 hour ago, Alan64 said:

My apologies for responding so late.  You have an assortment of Plossl eyepieces there.  Those are the minimum nowadays for good viewing.  However, you may wish to consider eyepieces with wider fields-of-view.  Plossls permit an AFOV of 50° to 52°.  Not bad, not at all, but with the f/10 focal-ratio of the telescope, you can get eyepieces from 60° to 70°, for not too much more expense compared to a Plossl, and still enjoy quality views.  Telescopes with longer and longer-still focal-lengths do not require corrective, more costly, eyepieces, and for satisfactory observations.

If you haven't gotten one already, you may also consider a dew-shield for the telescope, and to keep moisture(dew), bugs, dirt, dust, and pollen off of the corrector-plate at the front of the telescope, the "lens".

 

Thanks for the advice. I did get a dew shield following previous advice, but will look at some of the wider FOV eyepieces. Most of those I’ve bought have been on a budget (most I’ve spent so far was £32 for the GSO), but I’m conscious of striking a balance between cost and enjoyment whilst starting out as I don’t want to put myself off.

I’ve been looking at filters - UHC or Oiii but perhaps better spending money on eyepieces?

Here’s my beginner lens case as well. Any thoughts on stuff I’m missing would be gratefully received by me and greatly despaired by my wife!

2 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Obviously i was looking at the wrong blurb ... thanks for that . This looks like a lovely " clean " ie No Fuss mount . It's just what i am after . 

 

I haven’t had a chance to use yet, but it does feel substantial with a smooth, stable movement.