Beardy30

hi all,

I have set up my AZI GTI  with the my Startravel 102 to have a go at some EAA tonight- i intend to use my mobile to move the scope/mount but i believe ASCOM is they way , does anyone know where i go to get this and if its free and is it easy to use?

All set up and ready to move outside later ! Has anyone any experience of using ASCOm with sharpcap to move the mount rather than using a phone or tablet ? 

super excited to have first potential clear skies of 2024 tonight so looking forward to testing my new rig - both the Bresser 127 and the startravel 102 on theAZii-GTI - will report back ! 

On 15/06/2020 at 19:20, Skipper Billy said:

I would be interested in knowing about EAA.

It's something I know nothing about but I hear it talked about.

Something along the lines of this is what it is / idiots guide to EAA to equipment req (low end and high end) and this is what it can do (wow photos/video)

 

100% agree EAA - basic starter set ups and differences in it approach to AP and visual 

😂😂 make that a Bresser ! 

I’ve gone for a hard flight case for the 102 , just need something for the breaded 127 Mak now that doesn’t break the bank

5 hours ago, catburglar said:

@Vinnyvent84 If I were you I’d stick with your C6 for a while until you know whether you’re hooked or not…and if you do get hooked which direction you want to go…there are numerous ‘sub hobbies’ within this hobby - visual observing of planets and double stars vs deep sky, imaging of planets or deep sky and observation of variable stars to name a few. They will each have different optimum equipment configurations, so I think it makes sense to learn the ropes, find out what interests you and take it from there.

The 6SE with starsense is a great combination-I had the same a couple of years back. I changed it t for a bigger scope which shows fainter things and has a bit more sharpness on the best of nights, but most nights the views are not massively different. The limiting factor right now will almost certainly be your own ability to critically observe things that your telescope shows you and to be able to tease out details that with experience will come to be obvious. In my view whatever scope you have you’ll spend a lot of time looking for things ‘at the limit’- close double stars, finest planetary details or faintest galaxy or nebula. There are thousands of things in the sky to see and challenge you- so get ready for the challenge, clear skies will come (sometime).

Brilliant advice ❤️

5 hours ago, Bivanus said:

Just sayn:  Sky-Watcher Evostar-90/660 AZ Pronto | First Light Optics

Good choice 

6 hours ago, Elliot Teasdale said:

Hi guys I'm new into astrology but have always been interested I'm not sure what telescope to get for my budget I do want one with a big focal range I've been told to get the skywatcher heritage 150p is this an ideal starter I'm getting mixed reviews about this from other forums and just want abit of an idea hopefully I posted this in the right area I'm new to the forum 

Hi mate - depends what you want to see/do 

1 hour ago, Jules Tohpipi said:

Sorry for the delay but have taken the photos now. 
 

FYI, this case has four foam layers supplied. The top layer is the egg-crate foam attached to the underside of the lid. Next there’s two separate layers of thick foam (the pick and pluck variety) and finally a thin bottom layer. For the OTA and AZ-GTi I plucked only the upper layer of thick foam, but plucked both layers to house the Sky-Watcher extension pillar vertically (located top left). One of the photos shows my Bahtinov mask slid down the back (top centre left). 
 

As you can see more would fit in there. But I keep a shared (between two scopes) RACI, diagonal and eyepieces in a separate box. But I’ve got two AZ-GTis that I keep one-a-piece with my refractor and Mak. 
 

This is brilliant just what I’m looking for for my startravel 102 - thank u 😊 

What do you use for your startravel 102? As i have that as well as the 127 Mak

This looks like a good option https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/parra-no-1101-archimedes-hard-case?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-Zaxk4TCgwMV25GDBx0NYgwIEAQYASABEgLy3vD_BwE

Looks like it would fit the Mak 127 

I have the Bresser also so I hope so 

what’s your thoughts on the Bresser be good to link in with a fellow user as there’s not many of us have them over the smaller SW version 

Yes lock by the clamps - and there’s no daft questions 👍🏼

Does anyone have any hard case or box storage they have come across for the Mak 127? 

On 31/12/2023 at 14:27, gregbwfc said:

Thought I'd done this already, years ago when I first happened upon this fine forum, but apparently not.

So, Hello all 👍.

Regained my enthusiasm for the hobby recently, hoping to have a go at astrophotography. 

Living in the Bolton/Wigan area, light pollution is best described as feral 😄.

Hoping some other local folks have some darker sites they can recommend. 

Cheers 👍 

Not sure about Bolton but for dark skies Brocholes and Becon fell are great spots 

On 27/12/2023 at 00:01, Vinnyvent84 said:

Good Evening Everyone!

I live in Brooklyn NY (Bortle 8 Zone) and just purchased a Celestron Nexstar 6SE to use with my wife and 4 year old son for Christmas. Of Course, I set the whole thing up, ready to go and nothing but intermittent rain with 85% or more cloud cover since Christmas Eve and probably another 3-4 days 🙄. Needless to say I have been itching to use it but also have now had the time to doubt myself. Should I have spent some more purchased the 8SE? It honestly wasn’t out of the money for the most part, I read the mount is really not capable for the scope with attachments and subject to vibration more then the 6SE, longer time to acclimate to weather, and not nearly as portable ( I will be taking it in and out of yard after each use) and many times I’ve read the difference for visual is extremely minor. But now I’m afraid I should have just got the 8SE, is it just me torturing myself while I wait to use scope?

 

I tried to buy quality eyepieces and equipment to hopefully increase the detail of what I can see. I bought the StarSense auto align and the following eyepieces / Accessories:

1. Baader 1.25 Prism Diagonal 

2. Baader Mark IV 8-24mm Zoom

3. Explore Scientific 2x Focal Extender

4. Celestron X-Cel 7mm (only got it because the store threw it in for free)

5. Televue Plossl 32mm

6. Baader Moon and Skyglow Filter

7. Celestron WiFi Module

8. Celestron Solar Filter

9. Celestron Aluminum Dew Shield

I really am hoping to do mostly Planetary, Lunar and Star viewing the family. It was very important to me for my son to get some good views of Saturn and Jupiter with its belts. Did I totally drop the ball and nothing I have will fit that bill? 
 

I even was debating switching out the ES Focal Extender 2x for the Televue PowerMate 2.5x or the Carl Zeiss 2x Abbe Barlow if people here thought it would make a difference? 
 

I wanted to get a high quality 7mm eyepiece like the Televue Delite but I don’t even know if that’s overpowered for my scope and location and would just provide me blurry images of the planets and moon?

Guess my impatience and frustration with the weather is getting the best of me. Any feedback, help or advice on my concerns and thoughts on my equipment (and possible purchases) would be GREATLY appreciated while I impatiently wait for clearer skies. Thank you!

I’ve had the 8se and I’ve also have a 5” 127 Mak - give me the Mak any day the 6se is a sweet choice and I think you’ve made a good solid investment- this weather though 🙈I have 2 weeks off and it’s done nothing but pour it down and with storms, tornadoes and cloud it’s been miserable 

9 hours ago, Jules Tohpipi said:

I have a case with plucked-foam for my StarTravel 102 (link below). There’s room for the OTA, AZ-GTi, the Sky-Watcher extension pillar and more. Later I can take some photos of it with the kit in place if you’re interested in ordering. 
 

https://www.cases-and-enclosures.co.uk/hard-cases-protective-storage/flight-cases/large-protective-flight-case-l585-x-w365-x-h250mm-with-cubed-foam

Yes please - that would be class! 
 

44 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

I don’t know that scope but I have several Neewer bags (from Amazon) for some of my refractors

 But I’d still go with Oklop  if they have the right size.

they dont - its too big

Just while we debate padded bags - does anyone have a storage option for the the Startravel 102 other than this option Oklop Padded Bag for 102/1000 Refractors | First Light Optics

Hi Coral,

All superb advice. I would also highly recommend FLO or Rother valley optics - both specialist retailers with excellent reputations that will be top notch for customer service and delivery.  FLOs website is also update in real time for stock.

What to buy - more info needed!

What is your hubby onto? 

Visual only or do you think he will want to expand on this in time to something like:

EAA? (visual with a camera and a laptop connected) or Astrophotography?

All have different needs and therefore will influence the choice you make -  in terms of the telescope, the mount and any equipment you will need.

if you can give more detail that would help.

James

4 hours ago, gregbwfc said:

Thought I'd done this already, years ago when I first happened upon this fine forum, but apparently not.

So, Hello all 👍.

Regained my enthusiasm for the hobby recently, hoping to have a go at astrophotography. 

Living in the Bolton/Wigan area, light pollution is best described as feral 😄.

Hoping some other local folks have some darker sites they can recommend. 

Cheers 👍 

Hello 👋 from Preston 

cheers

Hi , when connecting my zwo camera to the T2 adapter - to add a filter do I attach it to the end of the T2 adapter before placing into the diagonal? 

Cheers