4 NGC galaxies in/around UMa (3 sketched)

For instance, I was involved in a discussion on whether one ought to render glare or not (I do, as I try to portray exactly what I see; others prefer a more purist approach without rendering any optical defects).

Thats one issue i have read about the Vixen scope i am going to buy. Apparently with astrophotography with the Vixen many people have an issue about the Refraction spikes created in their images of stars.

Some like it............others dont.

Personally i really like the refraction spikes on images of stars.

It gives them the sparkling effect.

Not sure i'd like it on planets though (which also seems to happen with the vixen)...........................but the spikes are only visible in photo's taken with the Vixen.

In observation they dont exist....................so thats good to know.

Any photo i take of anything anywhere i leave it as it is.

The most i would do is remove "red eye" from pics i take of people.

Thanks, Dave.

Do you get similar views through the 20" at a dark site, or does it go a noticable bit deeper?

My guess is 16" and 20" would give pretty similar views under the same skies, but since your Dob is portable I imagine under Cavan or West Cork skies it would deliver considerably more punch. I'd love to have more aperture, but I'm just not sure I'd be willing to set it up often enough to make it worthwhile. (The observatory is just too easy.)

-- Jeff.

More like the image is just easier to see as its brighter, it is noticeable as I was able to compare it to a 16" scope in Birr last year.
Portable is a relative term, its on the limits but is worth the effort to bring it to a dark sky site, the difference between a polluted sky and a pitch black sky is like a doubling of the aperture...

Great to see another sketcher doing the business in Ireland.

Lovely work

Deirdre Kelleghan
www.deirdrekelleghan.com/
Oscail do Shuile D'iontas na Cruinne
Open Your Eyes to the Wonder of the Universe

Thanks, Deirdre!

I was reminded of one of the potential reasons there are few of us last night: I went out twice with a list of 5 more candidates in UMa -- but in neither case did I even get the 100 yards to the observatory before it had clouded up again. Sigh.

-- Jeff.

APM just finished my 16" Mak-Cass which will replace the Meade OTA in the next few weeks.

Sweet!

Dave --

I put some pictures of the new OTA up on the Cats & Casses section of Cloudy Nights. The thread is titled "APM 16" Mak" or something to that effect.

Cheers,
-- Jeff.