dweller25

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Hello @StaryGary and welcome to SGL. You can buy a right angle adaptor to fit some pole finders if that helps ? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-right-angled-eyepiece-for-polar-scopes.html Not in stock though ☹️

You may find it easier to discuss this with your supplier rather than Skywatcher. Best of luck 👍

Assuming your scope has a focal length of 1500mm ?? I would suggest an 8mm eyepiece giving around x190 plus a variable polarising filter to reduce the glare.

I would 😈

Step 1 in the below web site may help determine if the focuser is orthogonal, if not you can use the tilt plate to correct it…… https://www.hnsky.org/RC_collimation.htm

Hello @fullmoon, You have been given lots of good advice above. I find to get best planetary views you need….. Good seeing - that is down to luck. A fully cooled telescope. A well collimated telescope. A magnification of around x180 - so a 5mm in your scope. Hope that helps

It may be worth considering buying the skywatcher 200P Dobsonian - which is a very capable scope - to dip your toes in the water….. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html It is a great visual scope, inexpensive and adaptable for imaging in the future if you choose to go that way, as I did……

Are you trying to align the finder…. https://youtu.be/vbcCWNWUCPI And here is how to align an EQ2… https://youtu.be/1aailjnVZt8 A Barlow goes into the scope eyepiece holder and then the eyepiece fits into the Barlow. The Barlow multiplies the focal length of your telescope, so a x2 Barlow would increase the focal length of an 800mm telescope to 1600mm. This would mean a 10mm eyepiece which would normally give x80 (800/10) will now give x160 (1600/10) Hope that helps.

“Wilkinsons” - tool bag/box 👍

Hello and welcome to SGL. It may help to describe what you need help with 👍

What @PeterStudz said is spot on 👍

Ah, I did a google search on NGC 2162 to find out more but it came up with a Globular cluster ! Great image 👍

I’m guessing this is a montage but it looks good 👍

I have found that you get what you pay for, so perhaps the FPL51 is cheaper for a reason. There has been a lot of feedback on SGL about the FPL53 version - all of it very positive. The choice is yours of course 👍 🙂 But remember a much cheaper 8” Dob will beat even a 4” Fluorite Takahashi in all areas 😱

If you want a faster scope for example F/5 instead of F/10 you have to change the optics or use a reducer.

Does it work like that ?

Well done, You caught the phase and the white polar cap Mars is very small now and past its best so this is about right 👍

Good advice from @Mike Q

Venus is still climbing, so should get better. I find it best to observe during twilight.

You are approx 2 degrees west

In my experience……. A 4” ED refractor will cool quickly to give great planetary views and will not be too heavy. Next best would be a Celestron C6*- takes a while to cool but they are very light and compact. Also a 6” Maksutov* would be a good option but it will take longer to cool and will be a little heavier. *Wrapping the C6 or Mak with two layers of reflectix from B&Q will allow you to use your scope straight out of the house.

Y, oh, Y, oh Y is Grump bothered about a missing Y ?

You should only need to adjust RA. Make sure you are switched to N on your control box Accurately balance the scope in both directions. Use a compass to point the mount North Things to do to get DEC accurate… Ensure your latitude is set correctly on your mount Ensure your mount is level Ideally you should “Polar Align” If your mount is goto check you have inputted latitude, longitude, date and time in the correct format.

Brilliant, just make sure it’s got no holes in it 🤣🤣