What's your name? Introduce yourself to IFAS!

Hi Cathal.
Welcome to the IFAS boards.
I have to say I went down a similar road when I began although
with the ETX125.

At Shannonside we go observing usually on good clear weekends
so if you are around Limerick an want to meet up just keep an eye on
the SAC message boards for when we are going...
shannonsideastronomyclub.com/phpBB2/index.php

Welcome along Cathal, mey these boards help entertain and elighten you in Astronomy once again when the nights are cloudy!

cathalferris wrote:

...given the primary mirror is cloudy and tarnished, but I may get it recoated if that doesn't cost a fortune.

I have a 200mm F8 reflector. Currently, the optics are in storage, having been put there about 4 years ago when I recoated them last. They are part of a reflector I built in 1995, and from when I bought the optics new from Orion Optics, 4 years ago was the only time I had to get them recoated.

Your key things to remember about having a reflector are:

*Never wipe the mirror except when needed, and do so with a camel hair brush.
*Always allow a fogged mirror to dry off naturally, and preferrably not pointing straight up - have the tube tilted.
*If you ever need to wash a mirror because of e.g. bird crap or bad dew/water marks, soak it in a basin of lukewarm distilled water with a small amount of washing up liquid to make up the suds for about 10 minutes, gently brush with the camel hair brush (do not swirl or use circular motion), then wash off with room-temperature distilled water, tilt the back of the mirror against an object e.g. a book, on a towel, and use a hair dryer on a warm, not hot, setting to dry it.

Dew will always get on your optics at some stage, but if cared for and stored properly, you could get up to 20 or 30 years on a scope getting monthly use before having to get it recoated.

Hope this helps,

Seanie.

Hi Cathal and welcome,
There is a guy selling a 10" LX200 on the boards,
have a look at
www.irishastronomy.org/forum?func=view&a...7&id=78001#81506
Once the scope is ok, you'll save a packet going second hand.
There are IFAS clubs in both Limerick and Galway, either way you're covered.

Hi guys and gals.
Just joined up. Did not know this site even existed until last night.
Have only gotten back into astronomy in the last year.
So hope to post regularly on this site.
Based in Dublin, so light pollution is ever present, but such is life...

Welcome aboard!
Hope you find the site useful.
People here will be more than happy to answer any astronomy queries you may have.
Do you have any binoculars or telescope?
Regards,
Michael.

Thanks Michael for the welcome.
I have a cpc800 which I am going to sell. Have just go a CGEM and Skywatcher ED80mm.
Moving more into imaging then viewing, hence the selling of the cpc800.
Pair of 7 X 50 binos. Plus the usual bits and pieces...