Year in Review - Your Best Astro Related Purchase in 2020

[glend]

As this terrible Pandemic year draws to a close, it is time to review our Astronomy buys for 2020, and nominate that 'one thing' that has made this astronomy year more significant, enjoyable, rewarding, etc..

For me, it was the purchase of the Skywatcher ED150DX. That scope has capped my migration away from a collection of mirror based scopes, to the simplicity of a good multi role refractor.

So what acquisition in 2020 has impressed you?

[Startrek]

My ZWOASI2600MC Cooled OSC camera without a doubt
Tremendous camera !!!
Not enough clear nights since I purchased it back in July to really stretch its legs

[Nikolas]

Asiair Pro and EAF from ZWO



skywatcher 0.85 reducer for the ed72

My imaging rig is almost complete.
I'm currently debating and trying to work out whether to upgrade the 0.6 altair astro reducer for the saxon 0.7 reducer for larger refractors for my ts optics 130 refractor

[doug mc]

The 8 inch GSO OTA i bought from you Glen. If only the clouds went away.

[wavelandscott]

AP 92 mm Stowaway...a brilliant little scope. I look forward to years of enjoyment with it.

[xelasnave]

I purchased a few things but the roll off observatory has delivered much more than I expected.

My small observatory certainly did the job but it was cramped, the idea being that it would be just there to keep the two scopes out of the weather however in the new roll off I have space which is handy, I have a bed and two desks, one for processing computer and drawing tablet and one has my two microscopes ... I added a little deck which overlooks the dam and is is such a nice place to sit night or day...and it is much cooler than the van.

..My other purchase which I am very happy with is the new eq6 mount mainly because I decided on this mount to use goto, something I have had but never used on my two other mounts, I like finding things manually but goto let's me stay seated something now of importance...but the mount is very nice and I am very happy with the pier set up, particularly as I built this myself.

...but the only gear I have been using lately is the microscopes and the bed..it is very comfortable.

I have yet to include a work bench for mount pull downs and to have a place to set up scopes but it will have a small gas stove in a draw and a kettle, 10 litre water container and a place for a biscuit jar, dried fruit jar and nut jar and tea things....I am putting in a decent solar system so as to have ample power for computers mainly..two for astro and one for microscope photos.

The park is nearly there with so much grass that I need to buy a ride on mower in the next week or two....got a lot done in the last 12 months just chipping away.
Alex

[Marko of Oz]

Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i.

Bought it to mount my dslr on but already researching a small scope for it.

[xa-coupe]

Pretty well every bit of astro gear I have has been purchased this year. Being stuck at home for months on end has given me yet another expensive hobby.

[gregbradley]

Astrophysics 130EDF GT APO. AP's equivalent to an FSQ130.

Looking forward to pairing it with the latest CMOS cameras. New scopes and cameras take awhile to get operational as
you always seem to need a few adapters for this and that.

Greg.

[h0ughy]

Well, hard to put a finger on it but this comes pretty close

[chrisp9au]

My Skywatcher NEQ6 Pro without a doubt.
After years of penny pinching and DIYing, I finally have a 'proper' mount!

[Outcast]

Stellarvue M2C mount with Astro Devices Encoders atop a Berlebach Uni 18 tripod...

Simple, stable & accurate viewing pleasure no matter the scope fitted...

[bojan]

Only indirectly related - mini lathe.

[The_bluester]

Hard to pick. My Stellarvue SVX80T is a great scope but the ASI2600 really makes it sing, and the CEM70G mount is proving to be one of those Transparent bits of gear.

[Rainmaker]

I didn't buy much this year, I think the only purchase of note is the Skylight AR101/15 that I now use for white-light solar observing with the Cool-Ceramic Herschel Wedge..........