Lense flare.

[Barry-W-Fenner]

Hi all.

Something I have been meaning to ask for a while now but keep forgetting. I have noticed that when viewing very bright stars such as Sirius, Rigel, Bellatrix I am getting a halo of light around the star and what I can only describe as lense flare bouncing off my eye piece into my eye. It's not major but certainly noticeable. Is this normal? I don't remember it being present when I 1st started observing. I have collimated my Dob a few times now and looking at Venus tonight the phase was very clear so I think everything is OK. 

Any thoughts welcome

 

Baz

 

[Peter Drew]

A number of conditions can cause this.  Moisture in the air, light dewing of the telescope optics, slight dewing of the eyepiece lens due to the warmth of your eye.    😀