johninderby

Yes there seems to be a new theory every day but no real answers. I’m off to investigate the theory of the best biscuit for dunking. 😁

It’s hard to overcome urban myths such as increased lighting reduces crime.

So many different theories. 🤔. Try searching for Dark Gravity (emergent gravity)

There was a paper called “Could Dark Energy be a Manifestation of Gravity?“ How they are actually related is simply unkown with plenty of different opinions. One theory is that they are opposing forces.

Some physicists believe gravity is tied in with dark energy so once we understand what dark energy is we will understand gravity. Or more likely when and if we discover what dark energy is we’ll have a whole new set of mysteries to solve. Then there is the dark energy vs dark matter argument of course.

Good news. 👍🏻 You do know you’re not allowed to leave it stock don’t you. 😁 Dobs and modding go together. 🙂

I’ve used twin wheel locking castors and while there is no up and down movement the wheels can swivel a little bit due to play in the locking mechanism. The only castors that do not move at all are the leveling types that let you raise the castors off the ground and the weight is then supported on rubber feet. Not cheap though. https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Levelling-Castors-3783-c My old Blue Whale used them.

This place is where I buy my castors. Huge selection. https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Castors-1085-c

TS just say all necessary filters included which as an ND3 is necessary infers that one is included but they should state clearly that one is included to prevent any misunderstanding..

Bought the Observers Book of Astronomy a few months ago to replace the one that had gone missing years ago. 🙂 Better than your old Tasco but probably about as usefull. 😁 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tasco-Refracting-Telescope-Model-6TR-S-Hospiscare/383239096530?hash=item593ad488d2:g:e2YAAOSwnCtduERW

Unscrew the inner ring on one side of the filter and you will find two filter elements stacked together inside..Note there are a couple of tiny slots on the inner ring that you can use to unsrew it using a tiny screwdriver. There is a pic of this in the thread I linked to but here it is again. Please also note the OP of the thread I linked to asked TS about it and they confirmed there was an ND filter. Did you ask if there was a seperate ND filter which there isn’t as it is a combined filter.

Skywatcher USA does give the OTA weights for a lot of the scopes. https://www.skywatcherusa.com/products/sky-watcher-classic-150p?_pos=1&_sid=71f4b21d7&_ss=r The 150p dob ota is given as 15lbs (6.8kg)

Did a bit more looking around and found it a bit cheaper at FLO. Astroshop - £40.80 incl shipping FLO - £40.95 incl shipping

Just don’t buy a Telrad from here. 🙀🙀🙀🙀🙀

The astroshop Omegon Radian finders are about £3.00 or £4.00 cheaper including postage compared to ordering a Telrad from the UK.

Bit like those old fashioned thread sizes Americans use instead of proper metric stuff. 😁

My old A&E wedge put a lot of heat out the bottom and you could burn your hand if you put it right under the wedge not to mention any children or pets looking up into the bottom of the wedge would get the full unfiltered sun. Definately not a safetry wedge and if you come across one bin it.

Doesn’t get that cold in the UK very often. Around here we might get an inch of snow once or twice during the winter or sometimes none at all.

Have a look at this thread for more info and pics of it disassembled. .

There certainly is an ND3 filter. Take apart the double stacked filter if you don’t beleive me.

No problem. A budget is a budget and better the 200p now and get some use out of it. There are a lot of mods you can do to it to improve the performance. Look for bearing mods as this is a simple thing that can make the scope nicer to use. Improving the AZ bearing involves nothing more than the plastic from a milk bottle.

There’s nothing wrong with the Lunt but if buying new the TS wins on value. Just checked the forecast for the 11th. Wish I hadn’t now. 😢

The TS wedge comes with an ND3 filter preinstalled. It’s double stacked with the continuum filter in a single filter cell. You can remove this double stacked filter and just use a plain ND3 filter if ypu don’t like the green image.

The point you are missing with the Bresser is you are getting a lot more than £110.00 worth of upgrades compared to the Skywatcher. The Bresser is a far better buy. I know the differences aren’t obvious to the beginner but you will learn with experience. There are a lot of second hand 200ps around though that can be had quite cheaply but very rarely do the Bressers come on the market as they are a newer design so not as many around. A Skywatcher 9x50 Raci is less than £65.00 and most find the best combination is a Telrad and a Raci finder. The Telrad to get you in the aera and the Raci to zero in. I find the Telrad is the best but the Rigel is a lot smaller and lighter but performs the same basic function. https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/skywatcher-9x50-right-angled-erect-image-finder--bracket.html#SID=22

To complicate things further the Bresser 8”dob while more expensive is far better specced than the Skywatcher and as the tube is mounted using standard tube rings can later be fitted to an EQ mount if you wanted.. Has proper alt and az bearings, a very nice focuser, tube ring mounting so you can move the tube to balance it, proper black coating inside, good mirror cell etc. Already has the upgraded parts you would want to fit to the Skywatcher so proably cheaper in the long run. https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/bresser-messier-8--dobsonian-telescope-4716420.html