wookie1965

I thought of that using something hold it on if it didn't illuminate straight away and the button that turns the brightness up did turn it off that would be great. As it doesn't just going burn through the batteries. I thought of rethreading it but I've not got anything big enough to do it. Thank you for your replys appreciate all your help.

Has anyone got any ideas please.

If its not blocked by houses and does not go behind the nasty street light that will be a great view for me. Thank you for the post great report.

Yes you are correct but that measures 5mm in depth not sure if I could get holes in there. Plus the screw cap switches it off and one. I am at a loss how to fix it I am hoping some clever person on here can help. Thank you for the suggestion though I appreciate it.

My polar scope illuminator won't screw together looks like the screw thread has gone. Has anyone got any ideas how to fix it please.

I had the F5 8" skywatcher reflector on my EQ5 mount and that only just held it, the EQ2 and the EQ3-2 in my opinion would not hold it.

Brilliant I had cloud much more than you though. I will give those in Delphinus ago apart from the 1.2° split I very much doubt I would get that in the 5". Great sketches as usual Nick a nice short session.

Great session I must try some of those.

I have heard good things about the Hotech ones when I had a Reflector I bought a cheap laser not realising it was out as much as I could I could not collimate it, foolish me bought another collimated that but for £70 for the pair could of bought a Hotech one.

Have a read through this it will help you. http://www.smartavtweaks.com/RVBL.html

I'd love a big dob either bought or make it just one thing I'm lousy at star hopping. My first scope a 150p on a eq3-2 mount I was just sticking to objects that were very easy to find. M13, M3, M57 I had real trouble finding M81 and M82 until a good friend showed me how. That was it that's all I could find I could not get my head around which way was up or down. sadly a Telrad did not help. Good look with your scope looks amazing I've looked through a couple one being Damians and they are different class.

I was not aware this was a double star, I will give it a go next time I'm out with my Meade 127mm F9. 3 see if I can split it. Thanks for posting.

Clouded out here then rain early hours so no chance of catching anything. Going try NGC 6692 and follow the curve to NGC 6695 like you showed me then M17 The Swan or Omega Nebula.

I bought a Oiii filter I have not even tried it so thank`s Nick I have a couple now to try. I am in the process of writing another Cygnus list up so many doubles and multiples in there. But I will definitely try those clusters in Serpens as Usual having a sketch to refer to makes it much easier.

Thank you Nick I was totally taken aback by the size of Graph`s never thought to crank up the mag I will do that next time.

Set up 10.30pm been having problems with the mount again so I have been ticking off things wrong anyway I bought two new RA and Dec cables and reset the handset to factory settings. Still light but managed to polar align put my scope and weights on polar aligned again only needed an adjustment. Switched on had input all my information again then I thought 1 star alignment gave me Arcturus but scrolled through to Altair it was on the very edge of my Telrad rings so brought it back to the middle alignment successful. Now a couple to see if it is right. Jupiter two bands 1 star on one side other 3 lined up on the other side nearly central so quite happy with that. M 29 nice open cluster and again nearly central. M 39 another open cluster again central. NGC 6910 "Rocking Horse" I have been shown this before I had tried a few nights ago but the mount was not playing ball this time unmistakable lovely star field easily recognised as a Rocking Horse by this time am a happy bunny. Quite dark now so one cluster before I start my double hunt NGC 457 one of my favourites and yes there he is bang in the middle. On to doubles as I am in Cygnus has to be Albireo with my BST 15mm lovely contrasting coloured double, yellow and blue very distinctive. 26 Cygni SAO 0490 98 with a separation of 41.4° this is a wide pair yellow/orange with a turquoise companion. 29 Cygni SAO 0696 78 with a separation of 215.8° this is very wide with a blue/white and Yellow/orange pair. 61 Cygni SAO 0709 19 with a separation of 31.1° twin yellow/orange I could see what looked like another pair NE in the FOV this is also known as "Piazzis flying star" 16 Cygni SAO 0318 98 with a separation of 39.1° lovely pair of pale yellow stars with loads of stars all around. 59 Cygni SAO 0503 35 this is a triple with separation of 20.4°/26.5° giving the illusion its an easy split its not I had to use a Meade 6.4mm x184 to split. Yellow/Orange primary with two tiny companions. 52 Cygni SAO 0704 67 with a separation of 6.4° another close split with my Meade 6.4mm Yellow/orange with a tiny spec. 49 Cygni SAO 0703 62 with a separation of 3° I was not sure I would get this but as seeing was very good I tried and a couple of closer ones which surprised. Had to use a generic 4mm at x295 I saw Orange with a blue/green companion. 24 Cygni SAO 0321 14 with a separation of 2.9° using the 4mm again split nicely pale yellow with blue companion. Last I tried for a closer double δ Delta Cygni SAO 0487 96 with a separation of 2.5° used the 4 mm again as this is the highest mag I have and to my delight it split only just but it did Lemon primary with a tiny almost touching silverish companion. Last couple Double double in Lyra easily split with my Meade 6.4mm Saturn next and I banged up the mag best I have seen it in ages could of sworn with averted I could see the Cassini division I did see 2 moons which I was happy about. Finally before I packed up a cluster a good friend said to try IC 4756 "Graph`s" what a cluster so large even with 25mm could not frame it. All in all a very good night the mount and especially the scope really impressed me with the close doubles one happy chap.

Brilliant Nick I was going to make a list up for Lacerta so this give me some great ideas.

I will have to look at those clusters in Lacerta, I just want do the doubles and triples in Cygnus first I've had a list for 4 weeks now I really want to get them bagged. Still light here like you said at 12 but like you said 3 minutes a night extra will help. S738 is a new one on me I will have to look that up. Hoping for a clear night tonight. Thanks for posting.

Regarding the mount I really like the sound of these I have seen one before. First what is the load capacity and second as I use long fracs A Tal at F10 and a Meade 127 F9.3 I have to use a pier extension on a EQ5 would it be viable to use the mount with these please.

Seeing was awful here last night not even dark at 12 only got my binoculars out Jupiter was a hazy ball the stars I could see where twinkling for there lives, hoping tonight is better.

I used a paper reinforcement ring on my 8" when I cleaned it as been told the one on may wash off worked brilliantly.

Take a picture of your focuser if you can as I know the Skywatcher focuser's have a screw to hold focus so no matter whether you try focus one way or another it will still be the same. This would need to be loosened off then the focuser will do its job.

Just one thing if you are using Vega you will not mistake this for any other outlining stars as it is very bright. As the summer triangle is up I use Vega and Deneb.

My first foray into astronomy was a 150p on a eq3-2 mount I had to put sand in the legs and put a weight hanging off the spreader until I found a HEQ5 tripod which fitted. If I was you I would look on the secondhand market and get the best mount you can for your money. An EQ5 will hold a 150p but if you can get a HEQ5 you will future proof yourself in case you want a bigger OTA.

Mine from St. Helens in backyard.