Society for Popular Astronomy

Thanks Mike, on the basis of your comments it seems worth looking into. I’ve ordered one of these 6x30s today from an interesting bird watching set up in Norfolk called Clayspy, £22.98 with postage. Yes, I’m a bit skeptical of the claimed 10.5 degree fov, but anything approaching that will be intere...

Anyone bought or tried the Celestron 6x30 outlander monocular, 10.5 degree claimed fov, 20mm eye relief, approx £20 ? Bob

Perhaps it should be the lunatic fridge at the moment Brian.

Well now, Brian, I await developments with an open mind. Maybe it will make a change from lunatic fringe TV. Thanks for posting this snippet, Bob

That sounds like a great idea John. I’d kick in £50; if you can cannibalise a decent microwave oven and adapt it with your engineering skills we could upgrade the Lovell. Actually it does sounds like a good idea. I wonder what it would cost, but importantly would the old girl stand the extra weight?...

The only heat problems that I have had with apertures between 80 and 100mm have been the plastics comprising field stops melting in eyepiece barrels. It hasn't happened yet with the 60mm aperture and my 15mm plossl (which has quite a wide field stop). Bob

Stella, what did you use to spot this with? Is it a US spy satellite? Happy New Year. Bob

USA313? A highlight or a spylight? Bob

First, Brian makes a good point, but 60mm is small enough to avoid heating probs with the mass of glass in a "cheap" 1.25 15mm plossl (Celestron Omni). I am in Leeds. I project sideways via a 90 degree mirror diagonal onto a card screen shielded in a cardboard hand-held box so I can vary t...

Hello Skybrowser, with 60mm at F15, 15mm plossl eyepiece with a diagonal by projection I counted 5 spots in 2 groups: group 1, single large spot closest to limb; group 2, 4 spots in two clusters of 2 spots each. Conditions: slightly unsteady seeing with reasonably good transparency. Bob PS whereabou...

Iconic Ian, shows what YOU can do with a 6 inch reflector! bob

Jeff, love the Moon image, it's so atmospheric (literally!). Am v interested how you get on with the refractor - so much more convenient than the dob, no doubt. I really look forward to more of your observations with the refractor. Best wishes Bob

Merry Christmas Cliff, Jeff, and all. Nice spread of sun spots today. Bob n Les

Mike I am nominating you for the 2020 Percy Verance award. Bob

No goddam s*x please, we’re British.