Gasman

Nice one Chris. Will you be releasing the plans ? Would be interested to see them having made my own mirrors many moons ago and relied on a razor blade on a stick for the focault test ?. Also would give me more ammo to get myself a 3d printer. Regards Steve

Nice one, I've been thinking about the Creality Cr-10s which seems to get good reviews but the price varies from £375 up to £600 depending on where you look. Don't know enough about them to start making one although I could be persuaded if the instructions were clear enough (ie ok for thickos). Cheers Steve

Excellent stuff Chris, what software and printer do you use please? just toying with getting into 3d printing? Steve

Thanks for the link John, very interesting. Wonder what happened to all David's gear when the company folded?. Steve

Not part of the ‘100’ group but a very happy ‘120’ user ?. Steve

Would really advise trying a Linux install on an older PC or one that won't harm if it goes t!!s up if you have never done one before. If you don't know what you are doing messing about with bios and/or boot configs can cock up a perfectly good computer, I speak from experience. ?. It does however give you experience on sorting pc problems ?. Steve

Is it possible to run two instances of Prism to achieve what you want? Steve

Think you might be right Sara but it seems a pretty good application and thought I`d give it a try!. cheers Steve

Right guys can`t access the manual or the forum at the moment as the server is down so thought I`d plod on and try and figure the workflow out for myself but I appear to have hit a snag. I`ve set the working directory ok and all my lights,darks,flats and bias files all seem to have done their thing but Im going through what I assume is a step by step process following the 1-6 buttons at top left but I can`t get past no3 `ANALYSE STARS` button as it says `no lights are available`. Now I think what the problem may be is that my images are not the normal astro shots that maybe this software was designed for, a typical spectrum I take is like this - so as you see not much of a star to analyse (ignore the hot pixels) so until I can access the APP forum could anyone advise if that is the case please?. thanks Steve

Guess I was just being impatient, got the email now thanks Steve

I keep trying to load AstroPixel processor but it asks for login/licence details I haven`t been given yet?. I assume the author has to sanction its use first as its a beta? cheers Steve

Don't underestimate a120mm scope? I have the 120mm Espirit scope and pleased as Punch with it and regularly achieve quite detailed spectra with this, admittedly it's an Apo but my little ED80 is a cracker too. Cheers Steve

Just to add to the thread if memory serves for all the Indi stuff you have to install Kstars-bleeding which is a different install to just Kstars but I`m sure someone will jump in with better info Steve

Hi guys Thought I'd suggest one Linux flavour that doesn't get much of a mention but one I've never had a problem with (he says touching wood!) and that is 'Netrunner' found here http://www.netrunner.com always worked brilliantly!. Steve

Definitely try Kstars and within it use Ekos/Indilib to control mount,ccd`s filter wheels etc etc. I haven`t used it for a while as I went back to Windows 10 but I`m thinking of trying it again. The last time I used it I had a couple of hardware niggles but that may have been resolved now and the Indilib forum is very busy and the mods are quick to respond. I have just bought a raspberry Pi3 and have Kstars/Ekos running on that but haven`t had time to try it in the obs yet! Steve

Sorry for hijacking thread! Yes you can just found one here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Camera-Lens-Adapter-T-Ring-for-Nikon-DSLR-SLR-1-25-inch-Telescope-Mount-DC616-/281724814902?hash=item41981b8636:g:lKgAAOSwjVVVio~Q Steve

As far as I can tell the only difference between BYE (Canon) and BYN (Nikon) is the lack of lens focus yet with BYN which is obviously not an issue when attaching to a scope but only when using lenses. The response form the mods on the BYE/BYN forum is impressive too so useful if issues arise. One thing I haven`t been able to find out yet is if there is an adaptor available to hold a Star Analyser (which looks just like a normal eyepiece filter, same size too) in between the camera and the scope!. I know they are available for the Canon. best Steve

I'm having the same dilemma too ! Canon or Nikon and until I bought some mags recently it was going to be Canon because of astro software but searching around I've come across the afore mentioned BYnikon and also another one I hadn't heard of before but looks very interesting its called controlmynikon!! So maybe the lack of software support is not an issue now? Steve

Hi Damian Only just noticed your excellent thread and just read it from start to now and reminded me of my own 6" and 9" efforts many moons ago, nowhwere near the epic you have embarked upon . No doubt you have sussed out by now how or where you are going to get it aluminised but years ago I became friendly with one of the lab technicians at our local University who just happened to have access to a rather nice vacuuming setup for blanks (up to 20" if memory serves) and after the promise of a nice single malt he aluminised my 9" for me which as it turned out had two foci on it (but thats another story), but just to say a call to the local Uni might be useful ! regards Steve

+1 from me for 365 astronomy Excellent comms for my new ZWO camera, ordered Wed night received it Fri morning. I was a bit concerned if it would work under Linux but it works like a dream and delighted how light sensitive it is! 365astronomy - highly recommended :smiley: Steve