Ratlet

39 minutes ago, LDW1 said:

Do a little research, they are more, much more than a rebranding outlet like many of the brand namers ! A pretty diverse optical supplier of everything thats quality, read between the same old lines that you read, constantly. And they aren't done yet ! Some of the old tried and ........ had better watch their back, in this industry, lol.

I didn't mean it as an insult, but a lot of their stuff is rebranded, and the same as other manufacturers offerings (although svbony are usually a good bit cheaper).

I really like pretty much everything I've got from the so far, and I'm basically an svbony fanboy at this point based on their price to quality ratio, especially the 3-8mm zoom which made me enjoy planetary.  I just don't understand the rational between having such a large variety of zooms with such similar focal lengths, fovs and eyereliefs.

I wonder why they do so many different zooms of about the same focal lengths and eye reliefs.  I know they just rebrand but it just seems a bit odd.  Is there a big difference in optical quality with them?

5 hours ago, bosun21 said:

Out again last night with the Starfield 102. Set up at 9pm, polar aligned at 10.30pm and started observing at 11.30pm. The sky is only dark for a really short period now hence the times above. I kicked off with a few globular clusters, M13, M3, and the open cluster M11. All were defined well with the Morpheus 17.5 and 12.5mm despite the seeing not being the best. M11 was particularly pleasing. I then viewed the two PN’s M27 & M57 with the addition of an Astronomik UHC filter increasing the magnification with a 9mm on the ring nebula. I then had an impulse to view Albireo which I did with the 9, 6.5, and 4.5mm Morpheus. The colors were very bright and standing out really well tonight. It had now reached the point of astro darkness so I tried a few galaxies next. M101, M51 and M81 & 82. All were clearly visible despite the seeing and transparency dropping. I spent a good time on M81 coaxing out more detail. The sky is already starting to brighten so I called it a night.

Did you view M27 and M67 in nautical twilight?  Curious as to how they looked.

We're about to run out of even nautical twilight shortly up here.  Last week of it for me!

2 hours ago, jjohnson3803 said:

RT90C, SW AZ5, and ST120 with upgraded 2-speed Crayford is a bit shaky on focusing for my tastes.  Not sure which is the weakest link.  The RT90 seems very solid when I push on it, tap it, etc..

I'm pretty sure it's the system as a whole.  I get less shake with the azgti than the az5 on the carbon fibre tripod.

Just now, Ratlet said:

I've got the same model of tripod as you bought.  I used it with an az5 and 130pds.

It worked well, could get a bit wobbly fully extended at high power with the legs fully extended, but was like a rock with one or two leg segments in.

I think it was only wobbly fully out because of the movement arm from the newt combined with the az5 holding the scope off centre from the middle of the tripod.  Pretty certain it would be much more solid with and eq mount.

And like I say, with one or two leg segments not fully extended it was solid.  I'd imagine it would make a great imaging rig.

I've got the same model of tripod as you bought.  I used it with an az5 and 130pds.

It worked well, could get a bit wobbly fully extended at high power with the legs fully extended, but was like a rock with one or two leg segments in.

I think it was only wobbly fully out because of the movement arm from the newt combined with the az5 holding the scope off centre from the middle of the tripod.  Pretty certain it would be much more solid with and eq mount.

What pickles my brain is that they use cheap spring then they add lock screws to help it keep collimation.  From my understanding, with decent springs you don't need to lock screws.  Surely the springs cost less than an extra 3 bolts?  Or am I wrong on that?

1 hour ago, Mike Q said:

How about a setting cirlce for a 16 inch telescope.  This one came from Astro Goods out of California.  

I love setting circles

Got this of eBay since I have an overwhelming tendancy to put things into my pockets when at the scope.

Going to get the missus to modify it so it's got an observing hood built in.  Might need to stitch the pocket bits onto a bigger jacket though as it is a bit toight.

I might be wrong, but if you are using the laser only to align the primary only you can put it in a Barlow.  Then it doesn't matter if it is aligned.

You just need to centre the reflection of the primary centre circle on the centre of the laser collimator

Never used one, but I'm wanting to see the feedback.  Might have to get one from flo (and one of the magnetic handles) for the dob.

Always filled with doubt about the alignment of a my secondary mirror.

4 hours ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Baader do an M42x1 to M42x.75 adapter, quite small light path ? 3mm. Mine was nearer £20, probably more now! Still need spacers though. S/H M42x1 'macro' spacer tubes cheapest, T2 variable most convenient.

Probably a better way to do it.  Some of the vintage glass doesn't quite focus to infinity so being able to play with the spacing would be ideal.

Go for some vintage glass.  135mm smc super takumar 135mm did this in 20minutes with a duo band filter.  Autostretch and colour adjustment only.  Not true eaa.  I can send you one of the 1 minute subs from the stack if you want a better idea.

Lens cost £15.  Adapter from m42x1 to canon and then a canon to m42x0.75 to get onto the camera.  That cost about £70.

This was with a imx533 sensor so your Uranus one half side of this image.

Which model have you got saac?

Got a plan for a dob base and yours looks minted. and I'm about 90% certain I can talk the wife into a laser cutter lol.

Incredible sketch.  I'm really impressed by your shading.  Billy really does look completely flat, I don't think I could achieve that level of tonal equality in a month Sundays.  Sounds weird, but having just started sketching keeping control of shading, particularly maintaining it equally in an area is next to impossible for me!

Rally incredible shading throughout.  What materials did you use?

Just now, Littleguy80 said:

You’re gonna give the Solar Scout ‘little scope’ complex

As my wife would say "small but perfectly formed" 

6 hours ago, Littleguy80 said:

I’ve got the GIRO-WR properly figured out. I’m now using a longer counterweight bar  which allows me to to get the balance right with and without the Solar Scout. Works very nicely in dual scope mode!

There is a concept in biology called 'carcinization' where multiple, different species of crustacean have evolved crab like forms over time.

I think you setup might be following a similar path.

Awesome

On 09/05/2023 at 11:36, fifeskies said:

Been clouded out for weeks so good to get a clear patch this morning over Fife, Scotland.

Awesome images.  Its nice to have the zoomed in one, but I always prefer the ones where you can see the limb.  Gives you a sense of the scale.

Learned something new today, the sun actually shines in Fife! 😛

The trofast tray I use for eyepiece and observing stuff is being overwhelmed.  Between my eyepieces, power for the dob fan, seat for the observing chair and the other gubbins, it is too small.

Picked up this manfrotto backpack (bumblebee 130) for £22 of fleabay in the hopes I'll turn it into something I can use for taking my kit out without having to evolve into an octopus.

Any resemblance to a grab and go backpack for a short focal length, high quality refractor is entirely coincidence.  It's even got straps for a tripod, but that is a coincidence.  Honest

Edit:  although I must say, without the diagonal it is a perfect fit for the ST80 down the middle...

Lot more civil discussion on here than one of the other forums.  Could practically hear the pitchforks being sharpened.

Probably why he hasn't done an eyepiece recommendation before lol.

It's easy to get carried away.  Take your time with buying kit, unless you are just looking to experiment.  Loads of people will give you opinions on what to get, but take your time and see how you get on.

Knowing what eyepieces it came with will help with advice given.

47 minutes ago, bosun21 said:

Just buy a couple of disc metal covered magnets from Amazon. They are only £6.?? each.

Do you have a link to one that works?

These would be great I think for mounting stuff to dovetails where the weight might be a little less extreme.  I'm thinking mini pc's and guidescopes. 

I might get 2.  I'm wondering if they'll 'handle' 8kg of lifting force could I make use of my obsolete 1kg ioptron counterweight for a weight to balance my dob.