Clouds and yet more clouds. 🤬

Some sun is forecast for tomorrow though. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Once I’ve had the chance to get it tuned in waiting times won’t be a problem as won’t need to adjust the tuning very often. 10 minutes to warm up at the start and that should be it. About 5 minutes if adjusting tuning during observing.

Better late than never as they say.  Hope the weather cooperates. 🙂 

Camera specs.

ASI120MC-S (color) 

Sensor: 1/3″ CMOS AR0130CS(Color) / MT9M034(mono)
Resolution: 1.2Mega Pixels 1280×960
Pixel Size: 3.75µm
Bayer Pattern: GRBG
Exposure Range: 64µs-1000s
ROI: Supported
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Bit rate: 12bit output(12bit ADC)

ASI120MM-S (mono)

Sensor: 1/3″ CMOS AR0130CS(Mono)
Resolution: 1.2Mega Pixels 1280×960
Pixel Size: 3.75µm
Exposure Range: 64µs-2000s
ROI: Supported
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0

ASI120MM Mini (mono)

Sensor: 1/3″ CMOS AR0130CS(Mono)
Resolution: 1.2Mega Pixels 1280×960
Pixel Size: 3.75µm
Exposure Range: 64µs-2000s
ROI: Supported

Interface: USB2.0

It’s on iPlayer

.https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p07922lr/the-planets

Recording 👍🏻

Found the first one a bit slow paced but Brian made it watchable. 

I’ve been using Luminos on my iPad for years. Just keeps getting better with every free update. Now includes Synscan. There are two versions of Luminos. One for iPad and one for iPhone.

I tried Sky Safari on my Android as Luminos is IOS only but found it really poor in comparison to Luminos.

Some sunshine at last this morning. 🙂

The Solarquest mount works as advertised. Just turn it on and it slews to the sun. Had to centre the sun the first time as expected but after turning it off and moving across the garden when turned on again did centre the sun OK.Is really solid on the Manfrotto tripod. Vibrations are damped out instantly.

The single polarising filter does help bring out detail although now need to tune in the filter to get the best results. 

Clouds moving in now so will have to pack up for a while but at least finally got to check out the mount. 😁

Youtube vid

Yes the same ADM dovetail fits. I already had the Starwave saddle and short dovetail bar so as they say the price was right. Actually you could buy the Starwave saddle and short dovetail new for less than the ADM one. 

The thing that bugs me about the ADM one is the dual fit. I mean who is going to be using a Losmandy plate on this mount? ADM do a plain vixen version but doesn’t seem to be stocked anywhere in the UK and it’s very short as well. 

EDIT

So much for the forecast of clear skies late this aft and evening. Wall to wall thick cloud now. 🤬

Skywatcher Solarquest mount landed this aft. 👍🏻

Will not be using the stock tripod but my heavy duty Manfrotto geared tripod. Nice and solid and the geared central colum is really convoenient for small height adjustments.

Fitted a Starwave dovetail saddle by simply bolting a short dovetail bar to it. Turned the stock saddle upside down to put the clamping knob on the bottom and also replaced the knob with a bolt. Looks nice and tidy I think and no bother with drilling mounting holes in the saddle that I allready had.

Now just waiting for the sun to put in an appearance which should happen later this aft. 🙏🏼

43 minutes ago, JamesF said:

Perhaps containing a solarquest mount, or, if it's anything like Amazon, a 5mm UWA eyepiece

James

Could be 😂

A box 🤔

The rating is 9kg when fitted with the heavy duty tripod which is the EQ5 tripod but with a 3/8 photo connection.

The 5kg is with the standard light weight tripod.

365Astronomy stocks the filter.

https://www.365astronomy.com/Solar-Filter-for-50mm-Finder-Scopes-with-Baader-Astro-Solar-Safety-Film.html

2 minutes ago, Samster said:

That sounds like a great idea. I will keep an eye out for a cheap 9x50. Or check Astroboot.

This shows the idea. Also good enough to check for sunspots.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p728_TS-Optics-Solar-filter-for-50mm-viewfinders---with-Baader-solar-screen.html

Yellow, blue or plain green filters do improve contrast. Not as much as a green continuum filter but still an improvement.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/437721-filter-to-increase-contrastcolor-in-white-light/

You should have put some of the film on the finder. Makes a great solar finder particularily if you use a 9x50 finder and you can buy filter cells to fit the 9x50 finder as well.

Yes think reviews is a better section I think. 👍🏻

Perhaps in the DIY Astronomer section? 🤔

8 minutes ago, geordie85 said:

Where did you get the case from? 

From this place. They do sell on Amazon but cheaper to buy direct and  DPD.is used.

https://www.rc-log.co.uk/aluminium-flight-case-550x220x175mm.html

Comes woth solid foam so you have to buy the optional cubed foam but it’s cheap enough.

https://www.rc-log.co.uk/foam-block-for-en-ac-fg-c401-530-200-100.html

You should try a yellow filter. 

Plucking foam can be very theraputic. Bit like popping buuble wrap in a way. 😁

After some hunting around managed to find a suitable flight case.👍🏻

Now the Quark has a home, 😁

A flight case.

I find it highly unlikely that there is something wrong with the eyepiece assuming that it is a new one of course. Quality control is one reason TV eyepieces aren’t cheap.

A Televue plossl does need more outfocus as I found using one in my Quark scope.