johninderby

With the auto focuser unless you add some way to disconnect the motor you always have to use the motor. The knob is simple and neat and works very well. I found that with a dual speed knob it’s easier to get focus spot on whereas with the auto focuser you may have to nudge it back and forth a bit. On a scope mounted on a light weight mount the auto focuser can help stop vibration while focusing but on a bigger scope or dob like the dual speed konb better.

Yes it replaces one of the existing knobs.

Perhaps the Lacerta dual speed knob upgrade ? https://www.365astronomy.com/lacerta-dual-speed-1-10-microfocus-upgrade-kit-for-skywatcher-crayford-focusers

Having owned the full set of Xcel- LXs I can say they were nice eyepieces for the money although lately they have shot up in price a lot and not such a good buy anymore. Can be found cheap second hand though. The Nirvanas are sharper though and find the views very good in a f/6 scope. Great eyepieces for the money.👍🏻

Get rid of the diagonal. They aren’t for use with a newtonian telescope. The eyepiece fits directly into the focuser like this. Is there a model name or model number on the base. Will help identify which manual you want.

The BST Starguiders are well regarded as very good budget eyepieces. Best to start with just 9ne and slowly add a few more as you go on. Never make the mistake of buying a load of eyepieces all at once but see how you get on with the first one. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/starguider Collimating is something ypu will need to do with ypur 200p. Can be a bit daunting at first but once you get the hang of it no big deal. Lots of youtube vids on the subject.

Stars will just be pinpoints of light and will never be “magnified” in yoir scope. They will look small when properly focused. What you should be seeing is a lot more stars through your scope than the finder. Things such as the moon and planets however will look bigger as you increase magnification but there is such a thing as too much magnification. The stock 10mm eyepiece isn’t very good but the 25mm is at least usable and not that bad. First upgrade most do is getting better eyepieces.

Luminos Pro shows a fair bit of surface detail and you can select the time.

You mean the 127 mak mounted on the Telrad? 😁

Or the Tecnosky 115 https://www.tecnosky.eu/index.php/rifrattore-apo-tripletto-tecnosky-115-800-v3.html Like the fact that Tecnosky does fully test the scope and adjust if needed.

One way to solve the problem of batteries with the Rigel. Even if left on batteries would last nearly four months 👍🏻 https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/rigel-quik-finder-battery-pack.html

Picked this book from Amazon recently while it was on offer and it really covers the whole field of smartphone AP in depth but still an easy read. Well written. Published Nov 2021 so up to date. 👍🏻 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smartphone-Astrophotography-Introduction-Photographing-Heavens-ebook/dp/B09KT7KX9X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N8M2LTIDJAKS&keywords=smartphone+astrophotography&qid=1643819952&s=books&sprefix=smartphone+astrophotography%2Cstripbooks%2C74&sr=1-1

A word of warning. On the 127 mak there is a rubber O ring between the tube and the screw on rear cell. Nearly always breaks when you remove the rear cell so you may need a new one. Just remove the front cell and cover the primary with tissue paper then drill the new mounting holes. I hold a sticky tack cloth inside the tube where I’m drilling the hole so it catches most of the bits.

The corrector plate holder simply unscrews as I remember.

+1 for Fujinon. Not cheap but still good value.👍🏻 If you win the lottery these are probably the ultimate astro binoculars. https://www.parkcameras.com/shop/zeiss-20x60-image-stabilised-binocular_9777600k

Yes the Rowan saddles are superbly engineered. A real work of art. 😁 Use them of course on my Rowan mount. 👍🏻

Also calls it a diagonal barrel. 🤔 Maybe find a damaged 4SE being sold for parts.

Some heavy guage ali T section perhaps? Would be easy to do a little cutting at each end and leave a tab that could be bent up for bolting in place. Used this place many times and great service. They cut to lengths required. https://forwardmetals.co.uk/product/aluminium-t-section/

An ED scope would be a good choice but of course more expensive. The Altair 80 ED is a decent scope and not a bad price for an ED scope https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/altair-ascent-80.html#SID=1706

Got rid of my SW pillar just for that reason. Think the problem could be cured by fitting diagonal braces between the ends of the legs and the tube.

Actually a diagonal barrel from a star diagonal might fit the broken part but hard part would be finding one with the right thread. 🤔 Here’s a photo showing a diagonal fitted using a 1.25” to T2 adaptor.

Not sure where you will find that part ( Diagonal barrel ) You could always just get a star diagonal and fit it to the rear port and bypass the upper eyepiece fitting. You would need a 1.25” to T2 adaptor. Here is the manual https://www.nexstarsite.com/Manuals.htm The Nexstar site has loads of info on everything Nexstar related.

Just call it a cold weather test chamber for tax purposes. 😁

A walk in freezer perhaps? 😁

Same as Vixen.