Out of the dark (side) and into the light!

[Charic]

Hi, are you able to sit and look at stuff directly overhead i.e. scope pretty much vertical e.g. for me that would be say looking for M82 in U Major. And on point for the OP question around Dobs, is it just me or is it more difficult to position and move a Dob when its almost vertical?

If your still holding the CK, it is, as there's no fulcrum/leverage. I just grab the Dobsonian and spin it  when vertical, otherwise its hands on the CK and TH ( Chin Knob & Tension Handle)

[avtaram]

Hi John, I've not looked at anything at zenith with the Dob or ED120, its a position I find a little uncomfortable so I always view the object before it gets to Zenith or when it has passed it.

If I want to view anything at zenith I use binoculars while lying in a garden recliner.

Avtar

[m37]

That's some good thinking on the chair, cheers chaps. I'm 6'4" so I would probably mess about with stools, bits of wood etc until I found the perfect range of heights before choosing a chair. I have a friend who works in a music shop in fact, so might ask him if I can try out some guitarist stools or similar.

So far I have provisionally arrived at

250px Flextube NON GOTO!!!

FLO's Cheshire Collimating Eyepiece

Skywatcher ED 2x Barlow

A lightshroud to help with dew and to protect things a bit

ironing/musician's chair/stool

kendrick split heater for secondary

small battery pack

eyepieces to be determined later (probably a 6mm

Already got

precision self centering 2" to 1.25" converter thing for collimation

4 channel dew heater controller

eyepiece dew heater strip

dew heater strip for finder

camping mat for dew shield at the top end

Still not sure about

• computer fan behind the primary to cool down the mirror faster and then circulate air to help against dew?
• OR heater on back of primary?
• Are those Tracer battery packs any good for my fairly meagre power requirements? They look nice and portable.
• simple 3 hole focus mask made from cardboard/masking tape good enough to get me started?
• I had initially assumed that an illuminated reticule eyepiece would be used for lining up polaris at the start of a session. Is this more precision than is necessary for visual?
• Would a relatively cheap 2-speed micro focuser upgrade be worth it? £59 seems reasonable if it would make a noticeable difference?

I am nothing if not thorough!

Cheers

Chris