steppenwolf

1. Can't really help with this one but the stepper motor and gearbox will be quite light, I suspect? 2. You don't need temperature compensation - I have the feature but don't use it as I simply refocus every 60 minutes which 'compensates' for temperature changes! 3. I use the 10:1 shaft on both my auto-focusers because I like the extra resolution - the only issue I have is that over time there is some slippage that you cannot get with the coarse adjustment shaft on my Feathertouch focusers as they are R & P 4. You do need to leave this bolt unscrewed and the motor should hold the load just fine because you can arrange for SG Pro to finish the fine focus adjustment on inwards travel You will LOVE auto-focus!

Something that you could consider is making all your focus adjustments using the Luminance filter (or an IR reject filter) and then apply offsets for each of the narrowband filters that you use. This method works pretty well for me and the method is apparently supported in SGPro although I don't use that software. I would further adjust the OAG camera so that it is in focus for the 'middle focus position filter' in your set so that it is less out of focus for those filters either side of the 'middle focus' one. I always uncouple guiding during a focus routine.

It's great to know that at least one person was able to make use of the article and I really like your 'negative' dial - very easy to read! Who'd have thought that old vinyl would have such a second use? ?

This was on a homebrew Dobsonian mount not a commercial one but the requirements are:- 1. A printed card on the rotating part of the base that sits securely but can be rotated to set it 2. A pointer on the fixed part of the base OR ....... The alternative method that I used because I had a homebrew square base, not a circular one ....... 1. A printed card mounted on the top of the bearing bolt suspended above the rotating part of the base that sits securely but can be rotated to set it 2. A pointer on the rotating part of the base Here is a link to the article that I wrote for the Sky at Night magazine to explain the project.

Yes, I have done this - I added a setting circle to the azimuth axis base with a suitable pointer and a 'Wixey' to the altitude axis. Azimuth Card Added

It would be my pleasure, Helen

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What we really need is a proper standard that we can judge these telescopes by as although I absolutely agree with you that ' we don't know these things till we try them ' it is a little late for that once you have laid your money down! It is difficult to understand how a corrected image circle of 44mm (which SW also quote) won't cover a sensor with a diagonal of 43.26mm on the Tak. Either the measurement is wrong or the 'standard' by which a corrected field is judged is not what you and I would like it to be! There is a second issue here to which I don't seem to be able to find an answer. To the best of my knowledge, a 'corrected' image circle of 44mm refers to the 'flatness' of the field in terms of correction for field curvature. This does not necessarily mean that there is no light fall off from the design of the optics, leading to a vignetted image - even a vignetted image has light into its corners hence flat calibration restores the balance. Is there a standard reference for an image circle that perhaps has a particular percentage of light fall-off? We astrophotographers either worry too much or have too much time on our hands ?

That's interesting, as I think of the corrected image circle in terms of the sensor diagonal, not the long edge - in this case 43.26mm which according to Sky-Watcher's blurb is achieved with the Esprit 150. Personally, I'd have either telescope in shot ... oh hang on ........ I did ?

Thank you for posting this workflow - excellent information!

Thank you, I'll keep that one in mind.

It's a real pain, Gav but thankfully, it only affects my laptop, not my main astronomy PC. I am on the lookout for an alternative but TV is so good normally.

TeamViewer is currently going through an 'awkward stage' with free version users! Currently, I am unable to use my laptop PC to connect to my observatory as it has been flagged as 'Commercial User'.!!! I have filled in the necessary form to have the restriction removed and they have responded quickly confirming that I do fit their 'private use' policy requirements and have reset my account to 'free' this morning at 08:20. However, it has made no difference as I am still getting the commercial use warning and lockout .... ? I fear that this could be a long drawn out saga if other people's experiences with this particular issue are anything to go by. I guess it is just possible that they did reset my account but that their detection algorithm immediately tripped again the first time I tried it? Yes that is correct if in the 'home' scenario you have set up connections to be exclusively LAN but if you haven't changed the default setting then even at home you are connecting via their servers and therefore WAN - at least, that is my understanding!!

Yes they are unless you have specifically set up to run via LAN only. To set this up, try this:- Under Options - General - Network Settings - Incoming LAN connections – from memory, you set this to accept and then for purely peer to peer use you select the third option which is accept exclusively. My guess is that Team Viewer believe that their software will almost always be used over a WAN and so that is why it’s incoming LAN connections are deactivated by default. If you accept the "half way option" i.e. WAN and LAN, it always defers to WAN I think, even if the LAN option is a more reliable connection.

If you remote booted the observatory PC, it could be that it didn't receive the Wake On Lan magic packet so isn't actually running? If this was the case and you attempted the boot from the Internet, it could be that you didn't have an active 'master' PC running on the same Lan as the observatory PC.

I feel your disappointment, John - after such high expectations this must come as quite a blow. What is so sad is that Sky-Watcher CAN produce excellent telescopes but frankly, they only have themselves to blame if this one flops in the short term, there really is no excuse for such poor QC! Your honesty in revealing the full 'warts' version of the review is to be admired, John. Get out there and enjoy that 120, mate!

That is an impressive turn around! Fingers crossed for some clear skies over the weekend and as your biceps now have 'muscle memory', you should be able to mount it in a flash.

Wakey, wakey, John, your audience awaits! ?

Excellent news, John - the biggest surprise for me so far is just how big your existing 120ED is in photograph 11! Clearly the 150ED is a lot bigger so it is a big beastie but not overwhelmingly so. The pair look great on your Ercole mount and the Berlebach tripod. It's probably just the imager in me but I'd be mounting it in the CNC rings and 'Losmandy' bar but, of course, for your review you should indeed be using the 'standard' mountings first for comparison. I hope you get plenty of clear skies and good seeing in the near future, John!

Here's the link to my video if you decide to clean your mirror.

I purchased the Esprit 150 from FLO about 18 months ago and arranged for it to be bench tested by Es Reid. Es was extremely impressed with the optics and general build as am I!

I really love the colour palette in this image but I am concerned about the Flame which has lost something in translation. However, any re-work should retain this palette as it has really given this object a little special something.

Is there any way that you could run a Cat 5 network cable to your dome from your home PC? This would remove one set of comms. challenges from the equation. Although I no longer use it, I used to have a Lesvedome system for dome rotation and dome shutter control and it worked very well but I used an old Windows XP PC in the dome and controlled this remotely using TeamViewer down the network cable. I also used a second VM110 to control a whole set of observatory components and, in fact, I continue to use this part of the Lesvedome system even now as it saved me having to design and program a complete new control system for my ancillaries.

I think there is something in this observation, a definite connection between the two. For me it is helicopters - and you thought fixed wing was expensive?

Fantastic report, John, I'm so pleased for you that you have succeeded in finding and enjoying this most elusive of objects. Your report has captured the moment well, I can feel your excitement at each step. I have never got even close to observing this one so I am very envious. I have to confess that I am guilty of making the task harder for you last night as my camera stole some of those vital photons from you and if I could give them back, I'd gladly do so