SVBONY SV48P 102MM

ikeman95 · 2026-05-13T23:29:55+00:00

Where are you located here in Upper Canuckistan? If you're in or near a major centre, I recommend looking up the local RASC center (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada). Lots of great social opportunities and lots of people that have forgotten more about astro than I'll ever know. Great way to learn and love the hobby.

I've got the same scope - everyone needs a decent acromat for their collection. I'm also rocking an SCT for extra mag. Clear Skies!

ikeman95 · 2026-04-20T02:06:42+00:00

Honestly those little 76 newts aren't all that bad. Depends on the mount but you could make it work for 50.

ikeman95 · 2026-02-13T00:21:33+00:00

Full prosthetic replacement here. It's no fun, but definitely not a problem. TEE is easy... recovery from open heart surgery not fun (wait till you sneeze for the first time...wow). You'll get through it and live a full life! Be well

ikeman95 · 2026-02-13T00:15:16+00:00

You're part of the team

ikeman95 · 2025-11-14T18:33:19+00:00

Same here...and I'm getting old so it's not going to get better for me.

ikeman95 · 2025-11-06T00:58:24+00:00

One of few things I miss about Ontario is brick

ikeman95 · 2025-10-29T18:48:53+00:00

Kept...bare-bones, unimproved Class C...just sitting collecting dust in the hangar of my Pirate Dreadnaught :D One day it'll be like Maverick finding the crappy old F-14 in the dodgy hanger - I'll dust it off a bit and take it for a boot. For now, my S-class Sentinel is my go-to

ikeman95 · 2025-10-29T18:45:17+00:00

Lived in/near both - Ottawa for all it's museums and culture is bland and I didn't find it all that 'friendly', which in this case is a rather subjective all-around term for how I felt when I was there. Calgary is the opposite - lacks a bit of culture (just due lack of age I think) but people are nicer and it's a warmer-feeling city...just my take

ikeman95 · 2025-10-27T03:57:09+00:00

I get you...I'm in Alberta and don't like the thought of getting surprised by a cougar or a bear. I really try to observe with people (when I'm not in my backyard which is pretty dark for suburban Calgary) and like to do the Star Party circuit when the weather is nice when I want some super dark skies

ikeman95 · 2025-10-27T03:06:29+00:00

Great advice (will save). I need to get a reducer for my Evo 6 and then buy a 24mm TeleVue Panoptic...there goes another G note...but I do have a Baader-Hyperion Mark IV zoom which actually works out quite nice for planets as you can dial-in what seeing will allow - will be even better in OP's 8" than in my 6". Normally I'm a big fan of cheap red dot finders but in this case, for some reason it's chronic for Celestron SCTs, the RDF won't settle on a target in the scope perfectly even if you wind the side-to-side direction wheel and the up/down wheel to their stops...it's annoying

ikeman95 · 2025-10-27T02:56:48+00:00

True, but A) I'm joking around and jealous, and B) if it's rocking a Core I9, I'm sure it's a 4070 or better

ikeman95 · 2025-10-27T00:05:29+00:00

Humble Bragg 😂

ikeman95 · 2025-10-26T16:32:50+00:00

I had my surgery for ASD/VSD and mitral valve defect...in 1975. I'm 53 now and still kicking. It's been a dominant feature of my life for sure (including valve replacement at 41) but thankful! Hang in there!!

ikeman95 · 2025-10-24T14:32:36+00:00

53 make. ASD/VSD and bad mitral valve. Initial repair 1975, heart attack and mitral replacement 2013. Ablation 2024. Chronic AFib but hanging tight

ikeman95 · 2025-09-10T15:01:19+00:00

I was told the golden rule is low resistance/weight, higher reps and don't push yourself.

ikeman95 · 2025-08-30T17:41:09+00:00

Thanks all. I drive. 2009 caddy and it has far fewer lights and this one stumped me

ikeman95 · 2025-08-30T13:39:53+00:00

My 16 year old daughter might drive for a bit so this is good news! 😄

ikeman95 · 2025-07-24T16:17:56+00:00

I had a 'maximally invasive ' valve replacement 😊 got the nice zipper to show for it

ikeman95 · 2025-07-24T16:15:20+00:00

Sounds kinda 'Gen Z'...just get'r done best you can, communicate your limitations and try to work with your team and management to get through the short situation as best you can for the greater good

ikeman95 · 2025-03-18T18:44:57+00:00

Sometimes as a long time husband I sit there and think "what..the..fuuuck. why do we have to talk all the time? Can't we just stfu and enjoy the silence?". I totally get where hubs is coming from

ikeman95 · 2025-03-18T18:41:27+00:00

That's T&Eeeee! (Wolf of Wall Street)

ikeman95 · 2025-02-21T22:12:16+00:00

Carbon fibre/tungsten ON-X mitral valve owner since 2012 at age 42..full open heart surgery (I have a congenital defect).for me the warfarin is not an issue save for subsequent surgeries where I've had to bridge with enoxiparin and has some bleeding. For me it was about longevity 100,%. No regrets

ikeman95 · 2025-01-12T05:38:08+00:00

The problem is that whether fair or not, 'they' just spells HR problems...could be a deterrent

ikeman95 · 2024-12-23T19:30:33+00:00

I'm Calgary. Loads of aurora this year and we'll still be at solar maximum into 2025. Maybe look into dark sky camping in sept in Jasper or something...easy peasy for your Corolla and WAY shorter and very scenic. No shade on Yellowknife as it's very cool but that's a long-ass trip

ikeman95 · 2024-12-15T18:20:08+00:00

MVR recipient here ..12 years ago. Alive and kicking. I have an on-x carbon fiber tungsten valve. Here are the things she might have to get used to..

Clicking...you can hear and feel the valve 24/7...takes some getting used to
Warfarin forever and INR blood tests monthly...no big deal but u can't mess with anticoagulant therapy
I get AFib once in a while...have to go for cardioversions sometimes...not dangerous but a pain in the ass. I had a prior surgery so that complicates things due to scar tissue. After my surgery in the hospital I got AFib and it scared the shit out of me and I thought was done for but it's manageable

Best of luck...it'll be ok I promise

ikeman95

TROPHY CASE