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col

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Everything posted by col

  1. Now I'm a little further over, so closer to Central I think?
  2. I don't fully understand, but the reflection of the collimation cap in the eyepeice, does that have to be central? As it shows off centre in the pictures of the instructions? Here's where I am at the moment.
  3. Iv just got a Stellarlyra 2 inch 2x Barlow and an 18mm kitakaru Eye piece too, hopefully here by Tuesday. Iv read good things about these, looking forward to using them. Edit to add Iv got the Esterion Variseat coming too, the most important accessory for me right now 😁
  4. Ok sounds good, I'll get to it and try and get it bang on, thanks Mr Spock.
  5. Thanks dweller 25, I'll stay off the paving now as luckily we do have a lawn also. Mr Spock, would you say the collimation is way out in that picture? I don't really know how close it needs to be, or if there's an allowance that might not make much difference to the view? But I'll keep trying, as once I get adjusting the secondary sometimes it just won't go where I want it 😂
  6. Thanks for that Spile, I have a cap and all seems well , but it is the first scope I've had to check collimation.
  7. Unfortunately the dust cover has no aperture reduction at all, it's just a very substantial plate that protects the inside of the tube very well.
  8. Thanks cajen2 sound good, I'm learning all the time from you guys.
  9. I thought I'd give my 8" a review as there doesn't seem to be much about this size. After my own ignorance causing a worrying first hour with this scope on delivery, but was easily sorted after help from you guys, I'm liking it. After collimation the views are very nice indeed, though I'm still not getting a good star test which I'm thinking must be my own fault again. As saturn and jupiter were good although jupiter was very bright. I'm putting the lack of details down to bad seeing , but I'll report back on that. The only real issue on building the base was where the bearing washer went when connecting the base dish with the main body, due to the lack of instructions. It runs smoothly so I'm happy with it. Where the scope mounting blocks slip into the top of the mount, the tighteners hold the scope at any angle nicely. The only thing I noticed was when I tightened more than usual so the phone mount and phone weight didn't make it creep down. As I lifted or lowered the scope, the blocks in the slots moved, slightly rocking in the slots, instead of the scope only. Which was a strange feeling until I figured out what was happening. This isn't a fault, it's just something that will happen if you tighten the tensioners too much. The focus tube is very nice, even after my first encounter with it had me thinking that it was the work of the devil, especially with its fine adjustment too, which really helps getting the best focus. What I did find was sometimes swapping eyepieces it would reach maximum range of the focus tube but was just out of focus. Again this is probably a new user thing, as when I turned the focuser the other way then back again, low and behold it focused. So any advice on what was happening, I'm all ears guys. I never tried the 30 mm two inch without the extender so that wasn't an issue. My first try with the 30 was disappointing, but the following night it seemed fine. Again probably a new user thing. The 9mm was good too in my eyes, but I'm only used to plossles so can't say if that's a good thing or not. But I was happy with what I could see in the most. The 45 degree spotting scope was so easy to line up with the scope. I put a chimney cap in the distance to the centre of the eyepiece then checked the spotter, one turn on one screw and one turn on the other and it was bang on. Other than the failed star test, it's always in the back of my mind if I'm getting the best from this. And wondering why I can't seem to get a good star test, I'm very happy with this. It's giving me better views than my 4 inch refractors, brighter and sharper. Iv been using a small table to put it on so it can clear the roof and trees a bit more, which my refractors and tripods do with ease, but still will need an adjustable chair as I'm still leaning over for the planets and moon at the moment,which doesn't do my back any favours. I can't think of anything else right now, but I'm very happy with the views and look forward to the proper dark skies soon to come. I hope there's something in my review that helps any thoughts you might have about getting one of these. I'm very happy with it, I just wish I knew why I can't get a good star test, 😊
  10. My son had his first look at Saturn and the Moon last night. To say he was impressed is an understatement, I couldn't get rid of him. He was between both scopes as much as I. One problem I found was with my 25 and barlow on the Tal 100r Mike only had the 10, 9, and 6.3 mm eyepeices to go through. All was well until he wanted to move away from the moon a bit, but not as much as the 30 mm two inch would do. So I'm thinking of getting the stellarlyra 2x Barlow in two inch, as if iv worked it out correctly that would give me 30, 20 and 15mm with the two inch 30mm eye piece. Also if I get the 18mm in 1.25 size of the Kitakaru RPL eyepiece that would fill the 10mm to 25mm void nicely. Though if iv got it wrong I'd be happy to be corrected, cheers.
  11. Very happy, the views were great with whatever eyepiece I used, barring the 6.3 in the 2x Barlow as seeing wasn't great. I'm looking forward to the next night with the moon. Hopefully tonight and tomorrow. I did try taking a pic with my nexyz but I think using the 2x barlo to make room so it would fit on made it too highly magnified and problematic for my first try. I'll probably stick to the Tal100r for mounting the phone on for pictures. For visual though, I can't believe how much more detail seems to be showing compared to my 4 inch refracters. Obviously the 8" mirror is proving itself very well pointed at the moon. Am I glad I got the Stellalyra 8" Dob? Oh yes, it's showing me more than I've seen in my 4 inch refractors. Iv always been into planets and the moon, but the Dob opens deep sky up for me too, as well as anything else really. All I need now is an observing chair and I'll be at the eyepiece half the night with just the moon, never mind all the other things I want to try and find with it. This is my set up and the window of opportunity between the street light you can just see on the left to the trees on the right with it being so low at the moment.
  12. I do indeed Mike, it came with my Tal 100r many moons ago 😁 And what a great view it was, until the clouds came in earlier than expected. After trying all combinations of eye peices, the Barlow with the moon filter and without it, I was genuinly amazed at the extra detail that seemed to show it self. I was particularly taken when looking at the rayed crater and flat areas. The detail seemed to pop out to me. Usually the flat areas look just flat. What a difference. I tried the SL9mm in the 2x Barlow, and considering the low level with wispy clouds it didn't look as sharp as the 20mm in the Barlow, but not bad at all considering the not great seeing. My favourite view was the SL9mm and the plossle 10mm I got with the Tal 100r, they were both very crisp. And to just enjoy the view again, the 25mm and the 2x Barlow was a lovely sight. The one I didn't try was the SL 30 two inch eye piece, my reasoning was it's going to similar to the 25mm, but I will give it a go tonight anyway just to compare. I'm thinking of getting an upgrade on the Barlow, as this was a cheap one years ago. And I don't really see the need for another eye peice, unless you can suggest one and why, as with what I have theres plenty for planets and lunar, and the two inch 30 and the 1.25 inch 25 will do me for deep sky I'm thinking. So the only real different I can make I think is with a good 2x barlo to maybe improve the sharpness a little? But, as always, I'm open to suggestions and advice on this.
  13. I'm a little excited now as theres a two or more hours window where I can see the moon from about nine tonight. It will be my Dob's first light for the Moon, or first Moonlight. I'm planning ahead as the sky is supposed to be clear at the times I can see it, so have a table in the position of the garden ready to place the Dob on. The Moon is very low so I need the extra height to clear the kitchen roof. I'm looking forward to tonight more than any other . I'll report back after , I might even have the odd picture if I'm lucky.
  14. Iv just recieved this off a mate but will need a little fettling to fit safely. As it's a five inch, and mine is four inch.
  15. Thanks Globular that's a good option to think about. And thanks LaurenceT, another good point to think about.
  16. Thanks TheycallmeRiver, that makes me think that one isn't for me then.
  17. Thanks Steve, I hadn't thought of that, I'll send an email.
  18. Thanks Mandy, I see what your saying. I'll do some more looking and have think. I do intend losing weight, but as we all know that sometimes doesn't happen.
  19. I was going to have a go at making an observation chair and was describing what it was too my wife when she said "why not buy one", to which I replied, "they can be dear, dear" Now I didn't expect this, but she said " if it's the last thing before Christmas then go ahead" So I'm looking at chairs at first light optics, but what struck me was the weight limits on them. I'm 21 stone and it looks like the limit on most is 20. The one that has a higher weight limit is the Asterion variseat. I like things made of wood and so like the look of the Berlabach chairs, but they are only up to 20 stone. Is this the strict and highest weight limit, or is it just a guide. As it looks like the Asterion is the only chair able to take my weight. Cheers guys.
  20. Ok guys, I decided to do a comparison with my Tal100r tonight, to see how it performs against the dob, here's my findings. Using the same combination of eye pieces and Barlow as I did with the dob I found the Tal lacking due to its light grabbing ability. The views were similar but slightly smaller and dull in comparison. That doesn't mean it's not useful, it just means the Tal is relagated to being my grab and go. But the dob has impressed me so that it will be probably the only scope I'll be using for the long clear nights ahead. The next thing I want is a good 12mm and good 2x Barlow. This would I feel improve things over my 25 in the Barlow for 12.5 power. But I'd happily be corrected if I'm mistaken in this thought. Those and what I have would basically be my ideal set of eye pieces. But any advice and tips are most welcome to help me make the final decision. Cheers guys
  21. Yeah DrMike I find it a great escape as I'm that focused , again no pun intended , that there is nothing else in my mind at all except what I'm looking at or trying to look at.
  22. It was a great night Mike Q, but even with my dob on a small table I was still bent over with everything being so low other than M31. I need to seriously think about an observation chair of somesort as my back was aching like hell.
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