johninderby

Nice spot. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Just bought the kindle edition and am looking through it now. 🙂

Also picked up this book on offer as well. Normally £20.00. Not an observers reference but an interesting read.. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moon-Royal-Observatory-Greenwich/dp/0008282463/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&keywords=moon&qid=1585736531&s=books&sr=1-16

Now put in a PayPal claim with the seller. Wonder if the item will now mysteriously appear. 🤔😁

Just checked and it shows server not found so will have to wait until the server is back up and running.

UPS still insists my package is on it’s way despite not being able to tell me where it is and no tracking updates and being nearly a week late. 

Arrrrrrrrgh 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Did someone mention RAS eyepieces. 😁

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian-RAS-Eyepieces-c1875-Brass/303173408204?hash=item46968b15cc:g:VXgAAOSwOFdc8TBT

Some useful info in this thread.

Eye watering prices on the 4” and 4.3” diagonals. 🙀

https://www.siebertoptics.com/SiebertOptics-eyepieces-observatory.html#2.7

NAS.    -     New ancient stock. 😁

14 minutes ago, Dave1 said:

John can the AZ100 accept Skywatcher counter weights? 

The counterweight shaft is 25mm dia. so counterweights for the AZ-EQ6 should fit.

Interesting thread on CN on the subject of SCT focal length during focusing.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/466794-sct-focal-ratio-variance/

But an add on crayford sticks out a lot more. 

Or you could replace the stock focuser with a FeatherTouch microfocuser. Works really well but rather expensive. ££££££ 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/starlight-instruments-feather-touch-sct-microfocusers/microfocuser-for-celestron-c11-sct-edge-hd.html

When you add a crayford to an SCT you focus using the regular knob and then use the crayford. The crayford only has a very limited travel so just for final focusing.

The wedge is a bit better but not a huge improvement. Just enough better to notice the difference.

I was going to buy a new wedge but just not enough going on to justify the cost at the moment.

Just got a telephone call from Astroboot to tell me the weights I’d ordered are being shipped out tomorrow. 👍🏻

Neither. It’s my home built 4” f/13 based on a Carton objective. 

Virtually no vibration at all on the AZ100. Just rock solid. The max weight they give is super conservative. Probably 400x on the moon.

With the AZ100 they have the normal axis clutches but also an extra locking clutch on the Alt axis plus an adjustable worm gear mesh to allow you to compensate for long refractors if not evenly loaded. And also the “feel” of the slo motion controls is adjustable.

Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip

Old repeat but may be of interest to someone

Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Miranda Krestovnikoff

This episode's celebrities are two of the nation's best-loved scientists - Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Miranda Krestovnikoff. They are assisted by experts Phil Serrell and James Braxton as they shop for antiques around south Wales and south west England before heading to auction in Clevedon, north Somerset.

Today on freeview channel Really at 6:00pm and Wednesday 10:00am and 6:00pm

The Rowan AZ100 would handle it easily. A masterpiece of engineering built to the highest standard.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/alt-azimuth/rowan-az100-alt-az-mount.html

TS-Optics Alt-Az Counterbalance System

“The TS-AZT6 L Bracket allows attachment of telescopes, spotting scopes and large binoculars to mounts with side mounting. Perfectly suited for mounts like TS-Optics AZT6, TSAZ5, Altair Sabre, Celestron LCM GoTo mount, iOptron Minitower, Skywatcher AZ-GTI, AZ-EQ5 and AZ-EQ6, Tele Optik Giro, “

*************************************************************************

Was looking to improve the stability of my Manfrotto 405 geared head and 475 tripod so decided that the TS system should work. While the setup easily carries the StellaMira 80mm f/10 vibrations took longer than I liked to settle down. The weight of the scope being high up over the head amplifies vibrations. 

Made up an adapter out of 1/4 thick aluminium to fit the TS counterbalance to the head. Changed the small saddle that comes with the adapter to a Starwave one.

Temporarily using the Rowan counterweight while I’m waiting for the EQ3 black counterweights to arrive from Astroboot.

Had a brief test of the setup last night between the clouds and was pleased to find vibrations had been greatly reduced. Not eliminated but reduced to the point that focusing was much better as vibrations settled down quickly and weren’t as great. 👍🏻

With the StellaMira the whole setup can be carried outside easily. Scope and tripod in one hand and counterweight in the other. Makes the setup grab’n’go. The Rowan AZ100 is vastly superior of course but not so grab’n’go.😁

Absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the next two parts. It is intended to be a three season series with series two and three filmed one after the other.

The clouds spoiled things last night. Got about ten minutes total lunar viewing. Was clear for a minute then the clouds would come back. In the few clear moments seeing was pretty good though.

The StellaMira 80mm f/10 is proving to be a great grab’n’go scope that still gives good views without much cooldown and the counterbalance system added to the photo head / tripod setup was very effective. 👍🏻

Edit:

Details of the counterbalance system to follow in the mounts section.

I’m wondering if the eyepices used might have something to do with it and of course seeing conditions. But with your scope wouldn’t expect it to be a real problem. 

Would help to know which refractor are you using.  

I think small items only now and items that can be wiped down with an antiseptic. Perhaps wipe down the item and pack it up and leave aside for a week before shipping. 

Couriers have new procedures for collection. I would only ship by courier and wouldn’t go to the post office.

DPDs new collection procedure.

What was the name of that French company that offered insurance for telescopes etc shipped by any courier? 🤔