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RobertI

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Everything posted by RobertI

  1. RobertI
    Hi Chris, my SkyProdigy actually has the problem in the opposite (clockwise) direction to yours, although it doesn’t necessarily mean the motor is turning in a different direction. Does you problem happen at the same point on the azimuth axis, or does it exhibit the same issue wherever it is? Does it actually almost grind to a halt or just slow down? My mount didn’t exhibit the same oscillating and seemed to be struggling much more than yours, but again, doesn’t mean it’s a different problem. Can’t think of what else you could do to troubleshoot short of taking it apart which I guess you don’t want to be doing when it’s still under warranty. ?
  2. RobertI
    Very nice - be sure to post a review when you have used them for observing. ? I can't seem to find much info about how they work?
  3. RobertI
    Damn.
  4. RobertI
    Very useful map, I think the lines should be called ‘Isochrones’! ?
  5. RobertI
    I can see the appeal of buying a quality piece of kit like a Tak, the ownership experience must be wonderful, and it would be nice just to say you've owned one. £665 is a lot for 60mm of aperture though, though not bad for a Tak I guess?I remember looking through an 80mm Tak (approx - don't know the exact model) at the ring nebula at Kelling Heath once and being sorely disappointed, but that was just after I had viewed the Veil nebula through 20" dob! They probably cost about the same!
  6. RobertI
    Well done for finally getting out there Chris and really sorry it didn't go as planned. It's infuriating when technology doesn't do what it's supposed to, especially when observing opportunities are so scarce. Was it WAY off (like half the sky away) or 'just' a degree or so? EDIT- you've answered this while I was typing. I've had so many wasted EAA session over the last few years but finally have a setup which I know well and pretty much works each time, as long as I follow the same process. I'd love to upgrade the mount, scope, camera, etc , but even if I did have the funds, I'd be loathe to touch it, so sitcking with a less than perfect setup! At least you salvaged the evening with some outreach, perhaps you have a budding apprentice there? I popped out for a quick look before bed but conditions were so nice I ended up staying out until 1pm! This was largely thanks to the Heritage 130P+GiroWR+tripod which was so easy to setup (up and runnig in literally 60 seconds) and performed beautifully. If I had been faced with lugging out the C8, Skytee and 2" tripod, I may well have just gone to bed instead! I'll post a report later on. Hope you get the goto sorted.
  7. RobertI
    Thanks Chris, fortunately I have some patio that I can view from, so all is not lost, but it's a squelchy pain!
  8. RobertI
    Not surprised you haven't managed anything yet Chris, the weather has indeed been awful around here. My increasingly miserable record of observing sessions so far this year has been: January - 5 sessions February - 2 sessions March - 0 sessions April - 0 sessions (so far) And the garden looks like a lake.
  9. RobertI
    This is the second of these 'smart scopes' soon to be on the market and both French I believe. I share the doubts expressed here and it certainly is not for me. I am assuming they have done their market research and I would be very interested to understand what their target market is and who a typical buyer would be. I tend to think that these types of product are stepping stones and the new observing technology which finally 'sticks' will look quite different.
  10. RobertI
    Down to 5% now, will go to bed when it finally shuts down!
  11. RobertI
    What a very clever idea Chris! I had no idea the little Heritage was F4, that's a surprise. And it's closed tube and has a R&P type focuser rather than the helical focuser of the 130P. I guess with the small chip of the ASI, no coma corrector is required? Has a nice FOV too for springtime galaxy imaging (see below). Look forward to seeing thne results.
  12. RobertI
    Only just seen this Martin, looks very exciting, looking forward to giving it a go.
  13. RobertI
    What a lovely little scope, another well thought out product from Skywatcher. I like the lockable adjustment screws on the rings. It will be interesting to see how good the helical focuser is.
  14. RobertI
    Worth snapping up I would say!
  15. RobertI
    I have a Skywatcher Heritage 130P and I think it is a great scope for the money. I have posted a review and some observations with the scope you may want to look at. My only issues with the scope are that you may have problems if there you are observing somewhere with lights around you - if you are in a dark site then no problems. A light shroud will help (easy to make) but there can also be ingress of light from the front of the tube into the focuser draw tube, mainly because the focuser is so near the end of the tube - it's possible you could get the same problem with many newtonians though. Because of the nice optics and practical aperture of the Hertiage 130P I have been seriously considering the 130PDS which gets round the light ingress issues (closed tube and the focusser is further down the tube). It's a different proposition though as you will need a modest mount for it so probably above budget, As far as the 130PS pronto goes, it looks like a very nice package and I'd probably favour it over the Heritage if you have £200 budget. Note it does not have the 130PDS tube as described on the FLO website.
  16. RobertI
    I have used a dictaphone on many occasions to record my observations at the scope. I have found this a very good way of capturing a lot of information including comments I probably wouldn’t write down at the eyepiece. This helps to bring the observing reports alive when I share them on SGL. Apart from my SGL reports I don’t really record my obs (perhaps I should), but I have created an Observing list in Sky Safari and I include all the objects I have observed for future reference.
  17. RobertI
    Inspiring and informative report John, congratulations! Obviously excellent transparency is key to viewing the HH. It is amazing how how conditions can vary night to night - afew nights ago I had two clear nights in a row and could barely see anything through the murk, last night was amazingly transparent and dark (usually heralded by a electric blue sky in the west after sunset) and everything just jumped out at me. I'd love to see the HH visually but not sure I have the equipment or skies to do it visually.
  18. RobertI
    20171215_Rosette-Hyperstar-QHY8L-10x120s-B.jpg
    Lovely shots, nice to see Hyperstar in action.
  19. RobertI
    Nice scope Chris. Must bring back memories of your old Zenithstar 66 and Megrez 72? ?
  20. RobertI
    I can totally understand what they are trying to do with the product and really hope it is a success, I admire them for giving it a go. My feeling is that it will not appeal to existing amatuer astronomers as they would rather enhance their existing kit, and I am not sure people new to astronomy would want to pay that much - it will require the muscle of mass production to make this a product with a market imo. Personally I tend to be put off by 'all in one products' because if one part goes wrong the whole thing becomes useless. An interesting one to watch.....
  21. RobertI
    Fascinating read.
  22. RobertI
    Lovely looking setup. What sort of issues are you experiencing?
  23. RobertI
    Having see one at a show, I'd be surprised if it was as stable as an eq5, even with a better tripod. It's stated capacity is considerably less too. I still like the look of it though and would consider one in addition to my CG5, but not instead of.
  24. RobertI
    Very nice, quality, simple, elegant setup. Look forward to reading some observing reporting with that lot.
  25. RobertI
    Wow, what an understanding wife you have, she knows you well! I have to say my wife is also very understanding, she knows how important astronomy is to me and is very 'tolerant' , never questions my purchases, and is supportive but then again when I'm outside she gets the TV to herself!
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