Articles by Rob

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Most of these articles originally appeared as posts in the Stargazers Lounge forum.
Rob

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  • What is EAA?

    - 6 years ago
    I don’t claim to be an expert in EAA but here is my attempt at an explanation based on my experience of using EAA since 2012. Comments are always welcome! :o) EAA stands for E lectronically A ssisted A stronomy. Some other names (which might give you a clue to what it is) include: Video Astronomy or VA (the original name for this area of astronomy) Electronically Assisted Observing Camera Assisted Observing Near real time imaging Live imaging........you get the idea! Basi…

  • A good session after a 58 day drought

    - 18 Apr 2018
    Last night was unexpectedly clear, so I popped out for a quick view before bed, my first in 58 days!! I carried out the Heritage 130P + GiroWR + photo tripod and was up and running in a couple of minutes. The warm, calm and transparent conditions were perfect so I ended up staying out until 1am! The sky was quite bright though and I think there was vapour in the atmosphere as I could clearly see beams from a passing aircraft’s landing lights (I think the pilot must have left them on by accident!…

  • Some doubles and a Tal surprise

    - 28 Jan 2018
    It was a clear night last night with a bright first quarter moon and some clouds scudding across the sky, so I decided to go out and do some double star observing. I setup the C8 and Tal 100 RS on either side of the Skytee2, not really intending to use the Tal, but was in for a surprise later in the session! Armed with SkySafari and a hot thermos mug of tea, I ventured forth. Putting a 5 mm BST in the Tal giving 200x and a 10 mm Hyperion in the C8 also giving 200x, I pointed to the Trapezium…

  • Observing with the Skywatcher Heritage 130P

    - 11 Jan 2018
    A few months ago I acquired the wonderful Skywatcher Heritage 130P. I wanted a lightweight scope with a decent aperture which I could mount on my mini-giro mount to make a nice grab and go setup. I had heard nothing but good reviews and I have not been disappointed. Below is my initial review plus some observing reports which I posted on www.stargazerslounge.com Review of Skywatcher Heritage 130P flexitube (posted July 26th 2017) I have just acquired a Heritage 130P Flexitube for q…

  • Jupiter at its best

    - 09 Apr 2017
    I was lucky enough to have some really good seeing to observe Jupiter last night. I knew the GRS was making an appearance around 10pm so I set up the C8 and Tal100RS side by side on the Skytee II a couple of hours early to allow good cooling time. Come 10pm I had my first peek at the giant through the C8 and was amazed at the detail. The GRS was easily visible on the eastern limb and lots of detail coming and going. I decided to get my book to make notes and do a little sketching so i wouldn't f…

  • Galaxies in and around Leo

    - 29 Jan 2017
    Following a good first session at my new observing site, last night I had a second outing with the C8 to explore some bright galaxies in and around Leo. Conditions were transparent but Leo was lowish in an area of sky with some skyglow, so not perfect. First was M105 and its close neighbour NGC3384, both easy to see in the same FOV at x60, I'm surprised the latter didn't make it on to Messier's list as it was pretty bright. According to SkySafari another mag 12 galaxy NGC3373 was nearby and…

  • Superb session with my C8

    - 12 Jan 2017
    For the first time in fifteen years I finally have a dark, private garden in which to observe! Last night was wonderfully clear and transparent, so armed with my C8 mounted on a Skytee 2 and Sky Safari on iPhone, I ventured forth..... Using a F6.3 reducer and 21mm Hyperion giving 60x I started with M42. The detail was superb and it really was like viewing in HD compared to my usual 72mm refractor (which by the way is a fabulous as a grab and go instrument). The 'wings' of the nebula were clea…

  • A quick grab and go session

    - 12 Jun 2016
    I went to the local park last night last for a brief session with my grab and go set up (Megrez 72mm on a Horizon photo tripod). I took along two eyepieces; a 5mm BST giving mag of x86 and a Seben zoom giving a range from x54 to x18. Conditions were slightly hazy with fairly good seeing but a brightish sky due to the time of year.

  • The Boley Drive Observatory

    - 21 Sep 2015
    Boley Drive Obsy2
    When I was a teenager back in the early 1980's most of my friends had pictures of Samantha Fox on their bedroom walls, but I was a little different and decided to put pictures of famous observatories on mine! I guess you could call me a typical nerd. Fortunately I had extremely supportive parents who encouraged my strange hobby and I was encouraged to join the local club; Clacton and District Astronomical Association (CDAA for short). The club was, and still is, very active and had an obervato…

  • A good backpack for 'grab and go' astronomy

    - 21 Sep 2015
    IMG 2103
    Having put together a great scope and tripod combination for grab and go astronomy, I needed a good backpack for the scope and accessories. After measuring the various components, in particular the length and width of the 72mm refractor, I settled on the Lowepro Flipside 400; as backpack specifically designed for photographic equipment. A quick trip to Jessops photographic confirmed that everything appeared to fit so I took the plunge and bought it. I have now been using it for…

  • Good session but too cold for iPad

    - 16 Dec 2014
    Ventured out for a sub-zero session with my Megrez 72 and newly modded Horizon tripod on Saturday evening. It was a beautiful crisp, black winter's night dominated by Orion to the south - what a truly stunning constellation this is, 7 stars all brighter than mag 2, which define a distinct human shape, the belt (which is an amazing asterism that is in its own right), deep orange Betelgeuse, M42 and numerous doubles. Inspired by Betelgeuse I cast around for some other orange stars - Aldebaran…

  • Modifying the Horizon 8115 Tripod

    - 07 Dec 2014 - 1 comment
    Closeup of tripod modification
    I recently reviewed the Horizon 8115 tripod and concluded that it was a great mount for compact lightweight scopes but, like most camera tripods, was difficult to use closer to the zenith requiring tightening and loosening of the altitude tenison bolt in order to find and fix on an object. Inspired by an article on the Home Built Astronomy Projects website I have now turned this tripod into a very capable grab and go altaz mount with a relatively simple mod. This basically involved bolt…

  • Review of Horizon 8115 Tripod

    - 01 Dec 2014
    I bought the Horizon tripod as a light weight ‘grab and go’ mount to go with my Megrez72. Typical retail is about £80. I have a Skytee 2 heavy duty alt-az which is brilliant for visual – it can carry two very heavy scopes, is simple to set up and take down, BUT it is heavy and not something I want to carry for more than a few hundred yards. So being without a garden at present and having to walk to my local park for the best views, I was looking for something really lightweight and able to carry…

  • Another great session with the Megrez 72

    - 29 Nov 2014
    Following the success of a great session a few weeks ago with my little Megrez72 refractor, I have been itching to get out again. After a long run of appalling weather I could finally see stars last night. So, despite low mist, a moon at first quarter and suffering from a stinking cold, I ventured out to the local park on foot with the scope in a rucksack and tripod in hand. The park is a great location for observing. The rubberised flooring around the climbing frames gives a firm footing for…

  • Great observing session with a great little scope

    - 28 Aug 2014
    Had a great session with my 72mm Megrez last night. I bought this scope for wide field imaging and never really considered it for visual (my C8 is the usual choice for visual), but based on last night’s experience I will be doing a lot more grab and go observing in the future with this little great scope. Being short of time last night I carried the scope plus mount (a SkyTee2 altaz) to an observing site round the back of my house, which is basically a dentist’s car park in the middle of a sm…