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Hi Paddy, already got your charts incorporated into my Astro Folder. Printed them at A3 size, holepunched one short edge and folded them. they are what led me to the SMC along with the November challenge. Currently I'm using them inverted to match the orientation I see before midnight and they are proving quite handy.
Tracked off from 346,330, 371 last night to find 419 and then attempted to find the next group unsuccessfully although I saw some stars where I thought it should be. (Can't remember the designation sorry). I've just designed and printed up a bunch of sketch/observing record pages similar to the pdf ones somewhere on here and I will start recording more info as I learn. Seems to be an important habit in this game.
The 10" is fully operational now, 2" crayford, 6,9,12,20 and 25mm EPs and working well. Just need a 15 or 17 maybe to fill in the mag gap. I will upgrade them as finances allow, the 20mm is my only wideview but the 25 plossl works well too. I dragged it out last night ( we've had an awesome run of clear nights lately ) to look at the sickle moon along the terminator, astounding detail with the 12mm and fabulous in the 20 and 25. I haven't tried the 4.5" scope on SMC but will drag that out as well now I've modded the spider to improve optics.
I also have a good dark site about 30 mins away and the 10" is designed to pack and go easily so must give that a go soon as well.
Suggestions? I'm still learning my way around up there. Maybe some more star/object info to assist in star hopping but I see you have that in hand already. As a newbie I find naming something makes it easier to remember location and patterns. The combination of a key page and then enlarged portions works well for me. My A3 fold out folder system works well, big enough to see and easy to flip back and forwards.
I await your LMC charts with bated breath.
Thanks for all your incredible efforts on the charts. they not only give information, they give inspiration. I now have a mission to find all the objects. Could take a while.
Keep me posted about updates please.
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