Ags

I finally got around to trying out my Askar FMA135 with my Revelation 2x Barlow in front of a mirror diagonal and a SLV 25mm eyepiece - and it reaches focus at long distance with travel remaining for infinity focus. Woot woot! This simplifies my travel setup, as I can ditch the 50mm RACI finder in favor of the 30mm Askar unit, so the setup would comprise: Long Perng 90 APO (not the Achro version) + 0.8 reducer/flattener Askar FMA 135 NPL 30mm SLV 25mm SLV 12mm Svbony 3-8 Revelation 2x AZGTI + CF tripod + Talentcell battery AZT6 (I know, two mount heads is overkill, but I only like tracking for photos) ASI 485 MC My lovely light laptop Discovering Double Stars II Red light torch As I can get to infinity with a mirror diagonal, I am hopeful to get to infinity with a prism diagonal and the barlow behind the diagonal for a wider field. With a 30 mm plossl maybe I can even get to infinity with the Rev barlow lens group screwed directly into the plossl. Many experiments to try on the next clear night!

A true mathematician would say that the universe describes maths 😀 There can be an infinite number of universes with infinitely different physical laws, but there is only one maths!

It looks amazing, it must be a pleasure to use!

What about transcendental functions and irrational numbers? These are relatively simple and commonplace things that maths appears unable to express?

Outer halo showing, and a nice galaxy at 2 o'clock! Good job!

I have also decided on the telescope worthy of the build. I will be going for a GSO 250mm dob on an eq platform. Should be good for visual and for lunar and planetary imaging. I also fancy a stab at lucky imaging of some DSOs with the setup, along the lines of the efforts done by Emil Kraaikamp and others.

I may have started the thread but the community owns it. My intention on starting the thread was to share my enthusiasm for a neat new device approximately in my price range. I wanted to hear a diversity of views including from the naysayers.

Lots of mosquitoes.

The whole picture makes me think of a song... One pill makes you larger One pill makes you smaller The pill that mother gives you Doesn't do anything at all...

Being outside is the whole point of astronomy for me. I can sit inside with a cup of coffee watching some monitors whenever I want 😀

We have been iterating through various garden redesigns, and we have reached a final design for the garden including astro friendly elements. North is at top, the apartment is to the left, and the astroshed is top right behind a greenhouse. Next to the astroshed is a vigorous hazelnut that we are keeping. It blocks Polaris but polar aligning is not a big priority for me. The circle below the hazelnut is a 3m diameter circle denoting working area around the tripod. To the left of the tripod is a curved line of espaliers. The working area around the scope is the bare minimum , but I think light ingress is blocked from all directions. The espaliers block the south-west, but that aspect is blocker in any case by a large tower block.

The neighbours along that end of the garden are short-term airbnb tenants and the owners uncontactable, but the treetops will be well below their window line so I think all will be good. Besides, who could possibly object to an elegant line of espaliers? I don't imagine my shed floor will be level with the paving - I was planning on getting a wheelchair ramp or similar.

Nice to see the progress of the project. I am planning a similar build, but in my case I need the barrier about 3m high (I have upstairs neighbors who don't believe in curtains) so looking at a line of evergreen espalier trees. I don't imagine it will prove fully effective screening, but I guess somebody would object to a 3m high fence outside their kitchen window! Also looking at a small shed like you for storage although I would like to have a small fold-out table for my laptop when doing imaging. Also thinking about the the SkyWatcher wheelie-pier you have... how do you find maneuvering it in and out of the shed?

Same here. I can - barely - make out the Hercules 'keystone' asterism on a good night. Four nights out of five it is undetectable. It was easier a decade ago I think.

It looks quite small in the picture 😀

It was like playing with a box of razor blades but I escaped relatively unharmed!

Well, the postal worker delivered this a few days ago, but I unboxed and assembled it yesterday. It was a bigger job than I expected. It's not for astro equipment, but it is for storing tables and chairs that clutter one of my astronomy spots. Also, it is proof I am fully shed-capable and ready for the bigger, better astroshed.

Still working on the book, but life has been a bit upside down the past few months. I decided to add an extra chart per region showing all the NGCs down to mag 13, mostly for me as I have a semirealistic prospect of a semipermanent dark site that could be equipped with a semilarge dob... This is an early version of the new 'deep' chart, showing how I also call out the more crowded sections onto the following page. Still a lot of work to do, like fixing label positions, extracting meaningful descriptions from the NGC shorthand descriptions and so on. The green margin and the green diagram id at top right are for debugging, they are not really part of the final chart.

I feel more connected to the sky and involved in the experience if I am star hopping. Also, I tend to spend little time looking at an object before moving on to the next, so I might as well make the object location part a bit more interesting. And I found the sound of motors whirring as the scope slews to a goto target very stressful, I have visions of neighbours in their pyjamas shouting from windows!

That's its reply to my ask of "write a typical sgl post"

I amused myself by getting Chat GPT to write SGL posts for me to read, like this one: Setup Advice for Newbie Write a typical stargazerslounge post. ChatGPT Title: New Stargazer Seeking Advice on Observing Setup Hello fellow stargazers! I'm thrilled to join this amazing community of astronomy enthusiasts! As a beginner, I'm eager to embark on this celestial journey and explore the wonders of the night sky. However, I need some guidance in setting up my observing equipment and would greatly appreciate your advice and recommendations. Firstly, let me share the details of my current setup: Telescope: I recently purchased a Celestron NexStar 8SE, and I'm excited about its capabilities. The aperture seems promising for deep-sky observations, and the computerized GoTo mount should assist me in finding objects efficiently. Eyepieces: The telescope came with a 25mm eyepiece, which provides a good general view. However, I'm looking to expand my collection and invest in a few additional eyepieces. What focal lengths would you recommend for different types of observations, such as planetary, lunar, and deep-sky? Filters: I've heard about filters that can enhance specific features or reduce light pollution. Which filters should I consider for my setup, and what benefits do they offer? Accessories: Are there any essential accessories that I should acquire to enhance my observing experience? Tripods, finderscopes, star charts, and astrophotography gear are all of interest to me, but I'm unsure where to begin. Light Pollution: Unfortunately, I live in an area with moderate light pollution. Are there any strategies or tips you could share to help me mitigate its effects? Any recommendations for light pollution filters or techniques for better visibility under light-polluted skies? Collimation: Collimating my telescope seems like an essential maintenance task, but it appears quite daunting to a novice like me. Could you provide some step-by-step instructions or share any resources that could guide me through the process? Observing Tips: As I embark on this new journey, I would love to hear your insights and tips for successful observing sessions. What are some beginner-friendly targets I should prioritize? Any recommended observing techniques or best practices that I should keep in mind? I'm incredibly grateful for any advice, tips, or personal experiences you can share. I'm thrilled to begin my stargazing adventures and eagerly look forward to your guidance. Thank you in advance for your support! Clear skies, [Your Username]

Personally I find goto intensely annoying. It usually doesn't work, and when it does it's boring!

Very sad face. Only option is to buy now and INSIST on poor FLO delivering on the advertised specs 👹

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescopes-in-stock/stellamira-125mm-ed-doublet-f78-refractor-telescope.html 46cm retracted length seems to bend the laws of physics, but that makes it viable for airline travel. The dew shield only retracts 3cm which is a bit strange - dew straps anyone? 3.3 kgs minus tube rings etc is brilliant, maybe get some plastic rings from TS to keep the weight down... 3 degrees field of view with a 56mm plossl. Jupiter / Mars / Doubles / Moon / Sun should look wonderful in this thing. Time to start a GoFundMe

Hooray! I was starting to get worried.