Grump Martian

I have recently aquired a Celestron C6 OTA. A fine telescope which I enjoy using.

Below is what I believe to be a link to some useful information for C6 users. There appears to be a wide variety of accessories available for this telescope.

Perhaps other C6 users would post tips and information. Also other links.

https://telescopicwatch.com/celestron-c6-xlt-review/

It has been proposed that the Space X Starship be taken on as NASA's Artemis Luna lander. It may prove to be a great spaceship transportation vessel. But looks too top heavy with small landing legs. Trying to land on heavily cratered Luna landscape without flat paving may well be too differcult.  Chances are high of it toppling over in my opinion. It's center of gravity looks to be very high.

More fuel was added to this notion with NASA's very tall Odysseus lander falling over.

Agencies are trying to land on much more rugged land than the Apollo landers. So why not design a lander that is both wide and a lower center of gravity.

Possibly with adjustable legs .The legs can then be adjusted at short notice to suite whatever ruggedness is encountered. 

I don't profess to be an aeronautical engineer. But I would'nt like to be an astronaut try to land with those short legs. 

An interesting link about the Odysseus lander failure.

https://futurism.com/the-byte/why-tall-moon-lander-fell-over

2 hours ago, DaveS said:

I heard it said that the team decamp to Aus for a Stargazing Live that we can't see because it's for ABC television.

If that's true,then get another team then.

Did I really say that.

There are other platforms for the big budget astro physics programmes such as Horizon, Brian Cox and individual science docs. I agree that the lower budget back garden shed programmes were best.

I know that posts about BBC's Sky at Night come regularly on SGL. So they should. There are not many programmes dedicated to our interest.

I always enjoyed the regular monthly updates about the nightsky and what to see and what's coming up. 

I now understand that the last series ended in November 2023. The next series is returning in the Spring. May I ask why the long gap. Is it for financial reasons? If so, why can't it go back to the low brow way of format. Not always the costly trips abroard. And then hopefully it can get back to the regular and traditional monthly programmes.

Does anyone know where I can order a rubber O ring for my Skywatcher 50 mm finderscope please.

Thankyou.

I bought myself a table top Dobsonian mount. The Celestron C6 attaches quite well. So I am looking forwards to some relaxed stargazing in the Spring and Summer. A glass of beer,no cup of tea will accompany the telescope on the garden table.

Bought a Celestron C6 last night. Collected it near Bournmouth on our way to Swanage.Low and behold a brief opening in the clouds allow me to set it up for a brief stargaze.

May I ask advice please. I once had a Nestar 6 SE orange tube C6. I removed the standard Celestron 1 1/4" visual back and fitted an S C T Baader Clicklock. This worked well. I am now buying a silver colouered C6 from a Nexstar Evoultion. I'm not sure that there is a Clicklock that will fit this visual back thread.

Can I ask other C6 users how you have upgraded the visual back on your C6 OTA please?

I have always enjoyed visual astronomy using manual alt/az mounts. I will continue to do so. I have over the years tried out equatorial goto mounts. But have never really got on with them. But I am occassionally frustrated by not being able to find objects. Uranus is proving to be differcult to locate. I have recently been looking to add a Celestron C6 to my collection of smallish and easy to handle refractors. So I have started to consider a Celestron Nexstar 6 SE combined with a Skysync module. I am thinking that a small goto setup where the date,time & location is automatically inputed would make setup much easier and more appealing. Also a handset controller ( easier for me) as opposed to tablet or mobile phone control of the telescope. How good are the Nexstar 6 SE's to transport and operate with the Skysync?

Another question crossed my mind, are the 6 & 8 Nexstar SE mounts the same. I always thought that they were. But I have recently seen that the Nexstar 6 SE has a payload of 5 kgs. The Nexstar 8 SE OTA exceeds 5 kgs.

Should I buy The Nexstar 6 SE for the need to locate differcult objects?

The thought crossed my mind. One day in the future deep space missions may just dissappear without trace. Never to be seen again. I do think that most of future missions will be robotic. Especially with AI advancing. Better engineering techniques aswell.

Planning on going to the stands on the Saturday.

I was bought a set of 7 x 50 Bushnell Explorer binoculars for my 30th birthday. That was in 1989. I'm sure that they were on the shelf of the shop for several years.They have been my goto astronomy binoculars. I have enjoyed their hand held simplicity along with really bright views. Alas mold has started to grow and coatings damaged. I have had and enjoyed 70 mm binoculars. I still have Opticron HR  8 x 40's and 10 x 50's. But still go to my default 7 x 50's.

I know that my aging eyes and exit pupil distance would say 10 x 50's would be the best choice.

May I ask for any

7 x 50 recommendations and experiences. I think that the Bushnells should now be retired and a modern set bought. Not sure which would be better, porro prism or roof prism though?

The 7 x 50's were a delight to us. Not shaking when hand held.

Thanks in advance.

56 minutes ago, Carbon Brush said:

I used to own a 10" flextube. A cheap round coffee table top and rubber castor wheels was my favourite transport.
I put socket type cups on the table top to accept the Skywatcher feet - that ensured the scope didn't slide about during transport.
The odd bit of bouncing over door thresholds didn't upset collimation.
If you think this might help I should be able to rummage out some pictures of the setup.

Thanks. If you can it would help me

I have put my 10 inch Dobsonian up for sale. I have recently had a hernia operation and it feels to heavy to lift and move. I would dearly like to keep it and use it. If there is some device to assist. Are there other 10 inch Dob users that share my situation? Please help.

For low power and widefield viewing I use a 22mm 82° and 32mm 68° eyepieces. Using them is very comfortable with no kidney bean effects. I have though often though about longer focal length Plossl eyepieces. Televue have a 55mm 50° Plossl . Stellalyra have a 50mm 48° Plossl. I have an unbranded 40mm Plossl which is differcult to use to be honest. I wonder how owners of the above Plossls get on with them. What are the views like?

3 hours ago, Mogster said:

The more recent Starship HLS images have more LEM style legs and pads on the base. The legs are supposed to be self levelling. I seem to remember that the Raptors aren’t going to be lit for lunar landing, Space X are going to use Dracos at the top of the stack in similar fashion to the Dragon capsule. So on lunar landing Starship will be hanging from the Dracos at the top rather than balancing on the Raptors at the base.

https://www.nasa.gov/reference/human-landing-systems/

It’s also worth considering that the Raptor engines are very heavy and at the bottom. Starship probably isn’t as top heavy as it appears at first glance. Maybe…

Interesting points you raise. On first looks it does appear to have a very high center of gravity. But this becomes lower with the points you raise.

I remember following the Apollo moon landings. When the luna module landed the flight controller would ask all the managers 'Stay,no stay' This was because the lander may have landed at such an acute angle that there may have been a danger of it toppling over.

Moving on to current plans to use the Space X Starship as the luna lander. Am I the only one who feels that starship is too long and unstable in size and shape to land safely? The are no preformed flat,smooth landing platforms. The moon is bumpy and full of rocks. Are they inviting trouble?

 The Blue Origin lander looks a far safer design.

Chris & Michaela :Under the Christmas Sky.

On earlier this evening. But can be seen on BBC's iPlayer.

I have just aquired the above ten inch Dobsonian. I am going to take it to the dark skies of Dorset. I am looking forward to seeing an improved view of the many objects that my ST 120 just hinted to. Hopefully I might get a hint of The Horse Head Nebula, who knows.

I am now a proud owner of this ten inch Dob. Can I apply to be a member of the Dob Squad. Of does apateure fever have to take me further down this road?lol

I have a Skywatcher 250 mm flexitube Dobsonian. I would like to improve the rotation movement on the base. Currently there are teflon pads. I am interested in what other owners have done to achieve this. Thanks.

Vacuum Coatings Scientific Mirrors in Walthamstow, London. Google them for their address.

Just a sample of the unprecedented apocalyptic type clouds seen in my road in Hertfordshire this week.

I have always been interested in planetarium ceiling or wall projectors. There seems to be quite a number available. Has anyone any experience with them? Are there any models that work well.

I use Skywatcher EQ5 tripods with a height extension tube. These tripods are quite resistent to knocks and wind. The tube is machined aluminium, so lighter that the steel version. I use a manual alt/az mount. The combined is quite heavy. I would if there is a lighter weight tripod. I use an 80 mm, 100 mm and 120 mm refractors. So if there is a lighter weight tripod would it by nature become less stable during windy conditions or focussing?