Vallantho

I’m no expert but I’m guessing that sort of focal ratio might be a bit impractical for astrophotography 😂😂

It was a 2mm hole, 360mm focal length. So if my maths is right somewhere near f115

So in my infinite wisdom I made a cap with a hole in it to put on the front of my scope. My thinking behind this was I’d be able to use the little dot of light sort of like an artificial star so I could get my focus tube nice and concentric. But all I succeeded in doing was making a very expensive pinhole camera 😂😂

Found a few more for you

So here’s the router. It’s a bit Janky and not very accurate, but it works. I can use it to help build a better one, which has been in the planning stage for a while. Will probably go with proper linear rails and ball screws. The design is based on this project from thingyverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3813481

Sure thing I’ll take some photos tomorrow when it’s light. I got a bit of a collection of microcontrollers, esps, arduinos, pi picos, that sort of thing. Not much of a programmer but I’ve used them in a few synthesiser modules and LED projects. Bit of a fan of the old WS2812 LED strips. What I’ve found with all these hobbies I get myself into is how well they blend together and the knowledge and skills you pick up along the way complement each other.

A 3D printer is probably the single most useful thing I ever bought. Need a new Bahtinov mask? Just print one. Need a thing to mount my raspberry pi? Just print one. And having access to fusion 360 free for personal use is just the icing on an already delicious cake. I’ve tried other software but I’ve not found anything as intuitive as fusion 360. The biggest project I used my printer for was building a cnc router. Also an incredibly useful device. But I don’t use it anywhere near as much as my little Ender 3. Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of building a Voron. Looks like such a fun project to work on. Bit of a financial commitment though especially when there are commercially available printers that are just as capable for less than the cost of building your own. But damn it would be a fun project, with all the hassles and problems to overcome that a project like that entails.

My surname is the word for valleys on mars. Does that count?

Thinking of doing something like this myself. What material did you use? I’m wondering how well PLA will hold up over the year ranging from wet and soggy to dry and hot?

Currently working my through a bottle of Glen Moray. Smokey and smooth. Single malt, £20 in Morrisons at the moment. Can't complain about those prices! I got two kinds of whisky. The kind you drink and the kind you look at. I also inherited a large collection from my dad. Some I’ve drunk, some I’m saving. One in particular will be opened on a special day. A bottle of Lagavulin 1984 distillers edition.

New filter, new possibilities

I see the it’s listed on FLO now. £619 https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-cameras/zwo-asi-585mc-pro-usb-30-cooled-colour-camera.html

That’s interesting. I think my next camera will probably be a Touptek for budgetary reasons. Been looking on aliexpress but having a local supplier will remove the hassle of customs fees. Good find 👍👍

Touptek do a cooled IMX585. I’ve seen it listed on aliexpress for £449. Not sure what customs or import fees there would be, but to me that’s still a very attractive price. I know people might worry about the customer support aspect but if you were happy to buy something else second hand then you’re pretty much taking on the same level of risk.

Only daydreams about clear skies 😂😂 Although recently I did dream a dragon was shot out of the sky and landed on my garage. I tried phoning the council to come and dispose of it by they said they only did household waste. Make of that what you will?