johninderby

Yes with bigger screws rounding off isn’t a big problem. For smaller screws though worth getting the Spax. You can take them out and put them back in as many times as you want without any rounding off. Usefull when having to fit and refit something.

To a Cloud

by William Cullen Bryant

Beautiful cloud! with folds so soft and fair,
Swimming in the pure quiet air!
Thy fleeces bathed in sunlight, while below
Thy shadow o'er the vale moves slow;
Where, midst their labour, pause the reaper train
As cool it comes along the grain.

Spotted this unusual cloud formation this morning. Nothing special really but just a bit different.

I always use Spax brand screws now. Their pozi screws never round off, even the 2 size, as the heads are hardened. Yes you pay more but worth every penny.  👍🏻

The 20mm errecting eyepiece is for daytime terretrial observing use and  very poor at night time observing. What you are seeing is “ normal” for such a poor eyepiece.

You would be better to pick up an inexpensive £10.00 20mm eyepiece on eBay or Amazon..

Not hard to make your own solar filter and a lot cheaper than buying a ready made one.

https://astrosolar.com/en/information/how-to/how-to-make-your-own-objective-solar-filter-for-your-camera-or-telescope/

But if you want to buy a ready made one.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/astrozap-baader-solar-filter.html

Little case just big enough for three eyepieces. 🙂

Optical Tube Assembly

ENS has some used ones at a good price. Worth a look

https://ensoptical.co.uk/index.php?route=product/search&search=Filter wheel

I’ve used Baader Optical Wonder fluid and one of their cloths very successfully. Like to use a brand new cloth when cleaning a scope objective or mirror though.. 

You could also pop into your local gun shop and get supplies that they sell for rifle scopes or a proper camera shop.

Hi

Let me know when it’s done.

    John

Maybe contact them direct and see if there is a better postage rate.

https://eyepiececaps.com/caps-for-eyepieces-5-or-10-packs/

2 minutes ago, paulastro said:

Nice bit of kit. Makes me want to buy a dob. 😁   - johninderby

 

John - I don't think I'd go that far!!  😱     

Would cost more than the 10” dob I intend to buy myself for Xmas. 😂

Nice bit of kit. Makes me want to buy a dob. 😁

You won’t be disapointed by the Pentax zoom. You may be surprised by how small and light it is. 

Here you go. 🙂

https://www.ebay.com/itm/0-965-Caps-for-Telescope-Eyepieces/170289097809?hash=item27a6056c51:g:2FoAAOSwb69ZxsdM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/0-965-Plugs-for-Telescope-Focusers-Barlow-Lenses-etc/170289097813?hash=item27a6056c55:g:2YoAAOSwb69ZxsgA

Basic USB cameras aren’t too expensive.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-StarShoot-Eyepiece-Camera-Black/dp/B0093VH9UQ/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Astronomy+Camera&qid=1564095367&s=photo&sr=1-5

Or cheap very basic camera. Might be OK for the moon though.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Datyson-1-25-Inch-USB-PC-Camera-Electronic-Eyepiece-for-Astronomy-Telescope-HD/283303675052?epid=4024510240&hash=item41f63704ac:g:CfMAAOSwD~Fbtz1l

Microglobe has a very good price on the Pentax XF zoom although waiting on stock.

https://www.microglobe.co.uk/pentax-65-195mm-zoom-eyepiece-smc-xf-series-p-4507.html

Wex is more but in stock

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/pentax-xf-65-195mm-zoom-eyepiece-1529787/

It’s simply that daytime and. astro eyepices have to correct for diiferent types of distortions. Naglers can look very distorted in a spotting scope as well.

The Pentax XF zoom is designed for daytimr use in a spotting scope and so is optimised to give the best view in the centre of the field at the expense of field distorion. Not a problem when looking at the sun but for general astro use the distortions are much worse than would be acceptable in an astro eyepiece. 

It’s not a question of being a bad eyepiece but rather one optimised for daytime use. 

Oh...............bother 😩

Was all set to test out the new camera and motorised focuser this morning only to find the Solarquest mount has died. Won’t turn on no matter if batteries or external power supply used. Hopefully just the power switch.

So being packed up to await collection by FLO.

Bother may not have been the actual word used at the time. 😁

The OTA is a few mm bigger in dia than the Skymax 127 so the primary mirror should be bigger. It’s the same scope as the Explore Scientific 127 mak. Someone on CN measured the scope’s effective aperture  at 127mm. 

The Bresser 152 mak looks quite interesting. Have used that focuser on another scope and it’s a really good one. 1:10 fine focus option is worth getting though.

https://www.bresser.de/en/Astronomy/BRESSER-Messier-MC-152-Hexafoc-Optical-Tube-Assembly.html

You can buy just the diagonal without nosepiece or eyepiece holder and add your own or buy it complete as in the link.

You should also consider the BST Starguiders. Better than the Skywatcher planetaries and close to the ES eyepieces.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/Starguider/