Jump to content

Banner.jpg.b89429c566825f6ab32bcafbada449c9.jpg

UniDonk

New Members
  • Posts

    6
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Reputation

14 Good

Profile Information

  • Location
    SW England

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

  1. Please could I ask for some ideas of what might be wrong and how to fix it? I am unable to bring objects into focus using my 2x Barlow lens. I am using a heritage 130p dobsonian - it's my daughter's! I bought BST 8mm eyepiece and BST 2x Barlow lens. I wanted something better than the kit 10mm eyepiece and the Barlow lens was to help improve views of planets. Initially, the combination worked well. Of late, though, I am unable to focus images when using the Barlow lens. This is not limited to the 8mm/Barlow combination: I have tried using the kit 10mm and 25mm eyepieces. This yields the same results. I previously had to screw the focuser down almost as far as it would go in order to focus images when using the Barlow. Now, although the images come closer to sharp focus, it is almost as though the focuser won't screw down far enough! Images don't QUITE reach sharp focus. I have no issues focusing using the lenses alone. I thought it might be a collimation issue: I have neglected this important part of reflector husbandry! But I got a laser collimator (itself well collimated) on advice from FLO and have collimated the scope pretty well, I think. Both the primary and secondary mirrors were out of alignment and, while images of the sky are now much improved, the issue with focusing using the Barlow persists. The Barlow itself has been kept boxed in its protective wrapping. It has not been dropped or damaged in any way. So... what do you think is wrong? Any suggestions what to try next? Many thanks in advance 👍
  2. @Stu can I ask what app those star charts came from? They look quite user friendly Of course, nothing but cloud since I wrote the above so no chance to have another shot at comet hunting... 🙄
  3. Thanks both. My skies are pretty good - on the edge of dartmoor in Devon. I think Bortle 4? I wondered if the moon might have been causing a problem last night - it was very bright and rising, as you say, right near the area of interest. I'll try again later in the month (clouds willing..) What am I looking for? A fuzzy blob? A long whisp? I'm not sure how much I'll be able to see
  4. Novice here... 🙋‍♂️ I've been trying to find L3 ATLAS tonight. I've scoured Gemini with my 130p heritage dobsonian (+25mm eyepeice), but can't find the blighter…. I'm not expecting much, a fuzzy blob perhaps, but I assume I would know it when I saw it?
  5. Thanks for these suggestions! We've had a few more clear (ish) nights and have been watching features develop over several nights on a waxing moon. It's been fantastic! We've identified lunar seas and even some individual craters (we have invested in "50 things to see on the moon" to help us). We've also had a good look at the orion nebula which looks impressive. My daughter now asks every night when we're going to get her telescope out. It's been fun!
  6. I'm so glad to have stumbled across this post. It reassures me that I'm not doing anything wrong! My 7 year old daughter is fascinated by all things space so we bought her a 5" dobsonian for her birthday mid December. Since then, of course, there have only been 2 nights where we can see the sky... I have always liked a bit of stargazing, although mainly in my youth when it was an excuse to be outside my mother's house and smoke "special" roll-ups after dark! I've never had a telescope and have no experience with astronomy. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed to be honest. I'm enjoying the journey of discovery that we're starting out on together, but knowing next to nothing myself, I worry that I will spoil her enthusiasm for the subject. I realised that images through a sub-£200 dob ≠ hubble, but I worry that my daughter will be disappointed. Additionally, having no idea what I'm looking for/at, I'm at a loss of how to keep her entertained! We've seen Jupiter (just a large white disc currently, no other details) and the galilean moons and watched them move about between the 2 nights of observing so far! Also looked at andromeda galaxy which underwhelmed my daughter until she realised what it was and that the light was 2.5million years old! That blew her away. We've seen the pleiades and hyades and enjoyed the different coloured stars. I spent a fruitless few hours looking for the comet currently in Gemini too, but couldn't find it! Sorry for the long post, and the emotional outpouring... Some practical suggestions for how to introduce my daughter to astronomy while giving me some practical tips on how to improve my own skills in a stepwise manner would be much appreciated!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.