Gottzi

Cheers knobby, quiet because there's not many if you or are you all just shy😂

That's a good idea, I have a broken section on one of my eq1 legs and currently use a small jubilee clip to stop the bottom of the leg sliding up into the top part, but this looks like a good fix and quicker to adjust tripod height.

Sometimes the OTA gets caught on the slow motion controls, is this the cause of your problem?

Good advice everyone, thanks 👍

Just had a couple of hours outside, started with M45, beautiful as always, then spent ages looking for M31 really struggled with it being almost overhead, couldn't get the right angle to be able to see the circles in my Rival Quickfinder. Found it eventually and watched it for a good 30 minutes trying to see as much as possible. Then went to M42 which is always impressive.

So as advised starting again with brighter objects and thoroughly enjoying it.

Greetings from Essex. 😊

Evening all, according to apps I have bortle 5 sky and moderate light pollution from where I view in my garden in North Colchester, Essex.

Realistically what should I be able to see with my set up?

What's the minimum  magnitude I should expect to see.

Trying to maximise my limited viewing opportunities.

Thanks in advance.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://carolrpt.com/ChartsOnly.PDF&ved=2ahUKEwjN5IWMp4PmAhWOXsAKHdaaAzoQFjAEegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw2wjclKtONukSORtkNrVyhx&cshid=1574614241873 is a link to a PDF of star maps.

Hi Neil welcome to SGL.

Skymaps.com is a good place to start and definitely Stellarium for a tablet or PC helps.

On 03/09/2019 at 14:14, LukeSkywatcher said:

When observing, I'm never in a rush to find things. I must admit to not using a finder scope, RDF or even the Go-To function. I just like to casually stumble around the universe and see what I come across. Productive or not, it's how I like to observe.

I was wondering if others do that, sometimes I prefer stumbling on things whilst wandering through the constellations. In fact 90% of my viewing is done like that.

Hi welcome to SGL, that's a difficult career path, good luck to you 🤞🏻

Welcome to SGL, lots of helpful lads and lasses on here 👍🏻

I don't doubt it Marvin, Is it global warming that is causing the extra cloud cover, after all more warmth means more water vapour.

No Marvin I 100% agree, even compared to a couple of years ago there appears to be more cloudy nights. I have never kept a record but I'm sure this is the case. Now I wish I had records to look back on. What about our more experienced colleagues, want do you think?

Totally agree, no point in worrying about light pollution if you can't see the sky in the first place.

31 minutes ago, Ruud said:

It is Autumn of course, and there's climate change as well.

Familiar with the meteoblue astronomical forecast?

It might help a bit for planning around the clouds: 
https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/outdoorsports/seeing/colchester_united-kingdom_2652618

Thanks, never used this. Currently using the Clear outside app, but not convinced it's that accurate.

I know I've been away from the hobby for a while but I seriously cannot remember there being so much cloud before. Is the general consensus that the nights with cloud are more than they used to be. Really starting to get me down just wanna get out there but once I'm out give it 15 minutes and there's nothing to see.

Rigel Quickfinder and Telrad come with double sided sticky pads so easily fitted to any OTA.

Welcome back, I've only just come back to the hobby after a few years out. Can't believe how much I've forgotten.

If you go to the 3 dots on the bottom right there is. Comprehensive help section that explains all.

Just found and downloaded the free version of this app on Android. Lots of nice features.

Has anyone else found this app useful?

4 hours ago, tmsantiago said:

Thank you, Gottzi. The skies are so clear in many inner cities. I'm living in a 276 thousands people and in my neighborhood I have bortle classe 5. I prefer hit the road and drive 50 km for having a class 3 bortle in another city.

I also have Bortle 5 skies, but In a town of  about 192,000. 

Clear skies

Welcome tmsantiago, what are the skies like in Brazil? Do you have issues with light pollution?

Thanks everyone for your input. Think the fat man in a red suit might be bringing me a 9x50 RACI  🤞🏻 Then I'll be able to choose between the 2.

Looks like I might be getting an couple of clear nights tomorrow and Monday according to my Clear Outside App🤞🏻

Yeah I'm viewing from the back garden at Bortle 5, when the clouds actually clear.