Wish I had a garden

[AstroNebulee]

Hi

I wish I had a garden to place my scope in but as I live in a first floor flat, I'd have to transport everything down 2 flights of stairs and when I got down there, there's nowhere suitable to view from with streetlight pollution and being on the grass verge by my block of flats next to a road. So the only way I can view is from my bedroom window that doesn't open but a large pane measuring 1.1mx 1.1m, its a east to south view in bortle 3 skies according to Co so really happy with that, getting to view directly above is a no go but can see from just about horizon (well past a few trees that need pollarding) and up a fair bit. I once remember someone on here saying any astronomy is better than no astronomy and totally agree with them. I've only been seriously into this hobby since April 2020 and have a skywatcher explorer 150p and skymax 127 on eq3-2 mount just having the funds to get a good start up set up.(well I hope so) I've enjoyed immensely the views I've had of Jupiter, Saturn, with looking out another window I've seen M31 and starting to learn how to star hop now. I'm looking forward to the nights drawing in so there aren't so many late nights and orion coming into view along with Mars getting closer. The housing provider is beginning to replace the windows in our flats next year and I asked if I can have a tilt and turn one put in my bedroom where I view from (said its fire regulations as no means of escape if I can't get out my front door) so hopefully they'll put one in and I can view with an open window or shut with the viewing area as I have now I know heat currents will be a bane but like I said some astronomy is better than none. Maybe I'll move another property with a garden if possible. But I'll enjoy what i have for now. Sorry for the long write up and boring most of you haha. Forgot to add I don't drive so no chance of going anywhere to set up either. 

Edited August 15, 2020 by LeeHore7

[BlueStinger]

I too live in a first floor flat, but luckily my entrance is external so I get a small platform at the top of the steps to my front door to mount my tripod. Means I only get views West-North-East but I'm happy enough, especially as Orion will be nicely placed soon before moving off south and out of view again next year. Now that darkness has returned I will probably spend half the time at home and the other off at some darker site. Always nice to not have to go anywhere though so a garden would be a bonus but I didnt have this interest when I moved in so maybe my next place...

Good luck getting that new window and yes some astronomy is better than none!

[johninderby]

Those of us with gardens complain about trees, houses, etc. getting in the way but at least we do have somewhere to observe from. 

Hopefully ypu’ll get your opening window. 🙏🏼

Edited August 16, 2020 by johninderby

[AstroNebulee]

10 minutes ago, BlueStinger said:

I too live in a first floor flat, but luckily my entrance is external so I get a small platform at the top of the steps to my front door to mount my tripod. Means I only get views West-North-East but I'm happy enough, especially as Orion will be nicely placed soon before moving off south and out of view again next year. Now that darkness has returned I will probably spend half the time at home and the other off at some darker site. Always nice to not have to go anywhere though so a garden would be a bonus but I didnt have this interest when I moved in so maybe my next place...

Good luck getting that new window and yes some astronomy is better than none!

 

10 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Those of us with gardens complain about trees, houses, etc. getting in the way but at least we do have somewhere to observe from. 

Hopefully ypu’ll get you opening window. 🙏🏼

Hi @BlueStinger& @johninderby

I'm pretty much the same as you bluestinger, I didn't have this hobby when I moved but anyplace was a bonus bavk then, I'd love a little platform or balcony like you to get out and view from as I don't drive, I can't get about, so like you say we have to time things when they are in our view line then wait till the following year to see things in the sky, but makes it much more worthwhile when seeing them. I hope people don't think I'm getting at people who have gardens John in Derby, as you have said you have a garden to access even though you have obstructions in various places, enjoy every moment in your garden stargazing as I'm sure you do, yes let's hope I get the window I'd like, but will keep looking at other places to move but council opportunities here are like rocking horse poop in tiny rural villages. Clear skies to you nice people 😊

[johninderby]

Flat with a roof terrace perhaps? 🤔

[MartinHiggins]

Hi,

I'm in a similar situation in a cottage terrace with a tiny back yard and very little panorama. When I moved in some years ago I had a loft space built with two Fakro tilting windows, one facing south and one north. The south facing one is great for lunar observing and as I live centrally in a city it's the most rewarding thing to look at. I've been observing for 3 years or so but having middle tilting windows means that the pane is often as not impinging on the scope. There is a solution though: Fakro do an "escape window" which hinges on the side. either left or right and from your pics the left hinging one would be the type to go for in your view. I'm going for right hinging as my chimney stack is on the right of the window space. See if you can get your housing provider to install a left side hinged window.

Cheers

[maw lod qan]

I read your posts and realize how lucky I am to live in the country with lots of space.

I hope you can get things sorted so you can still enjoy viewing or imaging the night sky.👍

[AstroNebulee]

58 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Flat with a roof terrace perhaps? 🤔

I'd love that John, as I'm in the top floor of my block I have access to the loft, shame I can't get them to put 4 velux windows in there 😉

[DaveL59]

was going to suggest similar Martin. My place has the windows that tilt inward for ventilation but can also open hinged on one side, and open inward. Would avoid the glass/frame obscuring part of the view as well as being easier to clean the outside 😉 

[AstroNebulee]

45 minutes ago, MartinHiggins said:

Hi,

I'm in a similar situation in a cottage terrace with a tiny back yard and very little panorama. When I moved in some years ago I had a loft space built with two Fakro tilting windows, one facing south and one north. The south facing one is great for lunar observing and as I live centrally in a city it's the most rewarding thing to look at. I've been observing for 3 years or so but having middle tilting windows means that the pane is often as not impinging on the scope. There is a solution though: Fakro do an "escape window" which hinges on the side. either left or right and from your pics the left hinging one would be the type to go for in your view. I'm going for right hinging as my chimney stack is on the right of the window space. See if you can get your housing provider to install a left side hinged window.

Cheers

Hi @MartinHiggins

I just commented to John about access to my loft abd getting them to put 4 velux windows in there, then saw your comment haha. Your solution you have is perfect and your right about having a left side hinged window, that what I was thinking by having a tilt and turn window put in when they upgrade the windows abd left hinged aswell, thank you kind people 

[AstroNebulee]

3 minutes ago, DaveL59 said:

was going to suggest similar Martin. My place has the windows that tilt inward for ventilation but can also open hinged on one side, and open inward. Would avoid the glass/frame obscuring part of the view as well as being easier to clean the outside 😉 

Yes exactly @DaveL59, the tilt and turn variety you are saying, that would be perfect and easy to clean as I can only get to do the top half hanging my arm out the window, thank you, clear skies 

[johninderby]

Or even better.  A Velux roof window / balcony. OK the upper window would get in the way of looking straight up but still. 🤔

https://laughingsquid.com/skylight-that-turns-into-balcony/

 

Edited August 15, 2020 by johninderby

[AstroNebulee]

45 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Or even better.  A Velux roof window / balcony. OK the upper window would get in the way of looking straight up but still. 🤔

https://laughingsquid.com/skylight-that-turns-into-balcony/

 

Wow, who knew such a thing ever existed, that is fantastic, what views you would have with that, I see what you mean by the top window, what do you think if I emailed this to my housing provider 😉, love it 

[johninderby]

After they stopped laughing they would say very nice but err NO !!!

Sort of thing you would have if you owned the flat. 👍🏻

Edited August 15, 2020 by johninderby

[bish]

I used to live in a flat. It did have a small balcony that I could just fit my 150p on. I had a street light about the same level and a letter box view of the sky so I had to wait for things to come into view. I had the scope out every clear night until the early hours.

I now have a garden shielded from any street lights and fairly secluded by trees. The only thing is my flat was 2 miles up the road on a hill. My new place is in a dip and the sky is always murky, where as the flat was above most of the murk. Swings and roundabouts, but I did spend more time on the balcony.

Bish

[AstroNebulee]

Hi Bish

I guess we are all looking for the perfect position for our scopes and besides going to a dark site miles from anywhere, very few of us gave what we'd like to view from, but we all have the joy of looking at the night sky to some degree. So I'm thankful for the view I have albeit small and can see beautiful stars, planets, dso's and constellations as they revolve around the night sky throughout the year and so much to look forward to in the coming months. Clear skies bish and hope you get some good viewing in. 

[mikeDnight]

4 hours ago, LeeHore7 said:

Hi

I wish I had a garden to place my scope in but as I live in a first floor flat, I'd have to transport everything down 2 flights of stairs and when I got down there, there's nowhere suitable to view from with streetlight pollution and being on the grass verge by my block of flats next to a road. So the only way I can view is from my bedroom window that doesn't open but a large pane measuring 1.1mx 1.1m, its a east to south view in bortle 3 skies according to Co so really happy with that, getting to view directly above is a no go but can see from just about horizon (well past a few trees that need pollarding) and up a fair bit. I once remember someone on here saying any astronomy is better than no astronomy and totally agree with them. I've only been seriously into this hobby since April 2020 and have a skywatcher explorer 150p and skymax 127 on eq3-2 mount just having the funds to get a good start up set up.(well I hope so) I've enjoyed immensely the views I've had of Jupiter, Saturn, with looking out another window I've seen M31 and starting to learn how to star hop now. I'm looking forward to the nights drawing in so there aren't so many late nights and orion coming into view along with Mars getting closer. The housing provider is beginning to replace the windows in our flats next year and I asked if I can have a tilt and turn one put in my bedroom where I view from (said its fire regulations as no means of escape if I can't get out my front door) so hopefully they'll put one in and I can view with an open window or shut with the viewing area as I have now I know heat currents will be a bane but like I said some astronomy is better than none. Maybe I'll move another property with a garden if possible. But I'll enjoy what i have for now. Sorry for the long write up and boring most of you haha. Forgot to add I don't drive so no chance of going anywhere to set up either. 

Bortle 3 is pretty impressive!  Many years ago i lived in a house situated close to a motorway, so there were towering sodium lights to my south. So my observing from home consisted of lunar and planetary from the front street, which meant I had to tolerate curious passers by. While any deep sky was done from a back yard facing east west. Still, despite the obstacles, I maintained my enthusiasm throughout. 

I also built a rooftop observatory in my loft so as to get above the lights, which worked well. But I also fit a full internal opening window to my front bedroom, which lead to some comfortable viewing . So a full internal opener would be a great option for you if your landlord would agree to it. It wasn't expensive and was easy to fit.

Edited August 15, 2020 by mikeDnight

[AstroNebulee]

11 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

Bortle 3 is pretty impressive!  Many years ago i lived in a house situated close to a motorway, so there were towering sodium lights to my south. So my observing from home consisted of lunar and planetary from the front street, which meant I had to tolerate curious passers by. While any deep sky was done from a back yard facing east west. Still, despite the obstacles, I maintained my enthusiasm throughout. 

I also built a rooftop observatory in my loft so as to get above the lights, which worked well. But I also fit a full internal opening window to my front bedroom, which lead to some comfortable viewing . So a full internal opener would be a great option for you if your landlord would agree to it. It wasn't expensive and was easy to fit.

That's the thing isn't it keeping the enthusiasm going throughout all the obstacles in our quest for viewing the night sky, you were enjoying something much more meaningful whilst the passers by were at a loss not seeing something so amazing, the bug has definitely bitten deep in me. Your rooftop observatory sounds brilliant and impressive, the perfect solution to get over the lights in your way. Your fully internal opening window is something I'm hoping they'll fit as I do need a means of escape in case of a fire, so win win, let's hope they see it that way. Clear skies friend 

[Pixies]

I am assuming you have good physical ability from what you say above, so how about, if funds allow...

A portable system, like:

• Sky-Watcher SkyMax-102
• AZ Pronto mount
• Portable photographic tripod with 3/8" bolt for above mount
• Large Backpack
• Bike

You have some of the best skies in the UK nearby, I imagine. Even a the views with good pair of bins would be rewarding.

[AstroNebulee]

6 minutes ago, Pixies said:

I am assuming you have good physical ability from what you say above, so how about, if funds allow...

A portable system, like:

• Sky-Watcher SkyMax-102
• AZ Pronto mount
• Portable photographic tripod with 3/8" bolt for above mount
• Large Backpack
• Bike

You have some of the best skies in the UK nearby, I imagine. Even a the views with good pair of bins would be rewarding.

Hi pixies 

Thank you for your help, if funds would allow I'd love something like that setup, I have the Skymax127, so a little heavier than the 102, will keep my eyes peeled for a az pronto mount if one is on sale, I have the large backpack and bicycle, there are some lovely dark places to view  from not to far from me if as you say I could get a more portable set up as my eq3-2 is far to heavy and big to transport on my bicycle, thank you 👍

[Pixies]

2 minutes ago, LeeHore7 said:

Hi pixies 

Thank you for your help, if funds would allow I'd love something like that setup, I have the Skymax127, so a little heavier than the 102, will keep my eyes peeled for a az pronto mount if one is on sale, I have the large backpack and bicycle, there are some lovely dark places to view  from not to far from me if as you say I could get a more portable set up as my eq3-2 is far to heavy and big to transport on my bicycle, thank you 👍

There are bound to be lots of other combinations that would be suitably portable. I'm sure others will be able to come up with better options. But I thought a small Mak would be good, as its collimation is very stable.

[AstroNebulee]

15 minutes ago, Pixies said:

There are bound to be lots of other combinations that would be suitably portable. I'm sure others will be able to come up with better options. But I thought a small Mak would be good, as its collimation is very stable.

Thank you pixies, I've looked at the az pronto mount and looks reasonably priced, my skymax 127 would be to heavy I suspect, so will look at the other options aswell, yes a small Mak would be good and the maks hold collimation very well indeed 

[Pixies]

@johninderby has a rather neat and portable-looking setup with a mak on a photo tripod. I'm sure he'll be back on this thread later. 

He does appear to have owned every telescope that had ever been sold. 😉

Edited August 16, 2020 by Pixies

[johninderby]

My new setup with the Bresser 100 mak is getting a lot more use than the 127 I used to have. Just seems to “fit” my needs better for a little grab’n’go setup.

[Nyctimene]

Blessed with Bortle 3 skies, and a south-east view, you will have not to shy away from observing through your window.

German amateur (semi - professional) Klaus Wenzel, in Wenigumstadt (near Frankfurt) is observing with his 12" Dobsonian very successfully DSO's, Quasars and variable stars, through his roof-window, have a look:

Stephan