Waynes new toy and a barlow!

Tonight isnt going as planned, with a predicted 75%+ cloud cover, we have decided to put it on hold til next week, next Thursday appears to be at a lovely 1%! So, we're going to go with that. But, with all that aside, my nets been down for a little while and during this time we have been busy. I for one got my new Barlow, the Skywatcher Deluxe, lovely piece for the price, only £30 and rated quite highly in Sky at Night reviews. Its a double coated lens, if anyone wants to know. Threaded end for camera T-Rings to connect straight on and better yet, there is like a rubber ring just inside where you insert the lens, so it kinda "glides in" rather than "Plonk!".

With summer nights, we have been starting later as it isnt getting really dark until 2230 onwards, however I am setting up my scope when its light, which secretly, deep down, I really enjoy, as I dont often get to see it during the day set up.

A Day shot, its nice sometimes!

Of course, the main talking point was Waynes new toy, hes managed to get himself a Skywatcher 10" Dobsonian scope, so we now have two scopes set up each night we go out. He did go for the manual model, so aiming proved a little tricky sometimes and tracking objects can be a bit a cumbersome, but when things are brought into view it does a nice job showing you what your trying to look at!

Waynes new toy, Thats Wayne hiding his now night vision tuned eyes from the camera flash.

Wayne borrowed my red dot finder, leaving me with a rather large 9x50 finder scope. For the record, I love my red dot finder!

Of course with all this equipment laying around, we have another go at getting some piccys, not as good as the moon shots, but still, an attempt of sorts. The next two shots are attempts at taking shots, the first one is a rather poor saturn, not being able to hold to camera still for long periods of time we clearly didnt allow the shutter to stay open long enough. The 2nd shot was admittedly easier to take as it didnt need much time to take. Its an attempt on taking a shot on Vega, a bright star to the east in Lyra.

A couple things of note, my friend Matt, or Jumile whos sites been linked a few times in other posts has moved domains, well tell a lie, it has its own domain! So I shall relink, http://hurtlingthroughspace.com/ if you do want to pop along and have a look at his site. Secondly, I have to say, Blogspots online editor sucks. But that aside, I shall try my best and remain steadfast! More to come, as that say!