wookie1965

What I am going to do is get some of these so I can charge the battery without lifting the lid. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-5-16-Stud-Premium-Remote-Battery-Power-Junction-Post-Connector-Terminal-Kit-/202660185532?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I have got new tube rings well new to me and a longer dovetail bar, being on the EQ6 Tripod it's really solid even at higher powers I just don't want to break the mount or thrash the gears. I can easily use my 4" scopes and see about either a Ioptron or a Skywatcher HEQ5 or EQ6 next August. Thank you Franklin much appreciated. Paul

A warm welcome to SGL

A warm welcome to SGL

Very welcome Pete hope it has helped. Paul

Magnus that is a beautiful set up performs and looks amazing. Great Report some of those objects especially the clusters must have looked spectacular. Paul

A warm welcome to SGL

I have the Tal 100rs I could not tell you how old it is and I bought it off Jules aka nightfisher Optics in perfect condition I have the celestron c-102 I got off a very good friend I know these are quite old optics still in perfect condition My Meade 127mm I bought from ENS optical so I have no history at all now the glass is in the right way and been cleaned its optics are brilliant. What do people clean their optics with and how often, I use Pure eco glasses cleaner and a glasses cloth

Thank you Franklin for that very concise reply you have answered everything I had asked. I wonder if the Ioptron will take the longer frac with the pier extension. I have two 4" fracs which will do very well on the EQ5 so it's just the 5" now I will price up a skytee ll or a HEQ5. Paul

Hello all you knowledgeable people I want to pick your brains. I have a EQ5 Pro on a EQ6 Tripod with adapter, had a bit of trouble with the mount not hitting targets I found the RA axis brass screw was loose. I have since put ptfe tape on which has helped but I am going to line the hole with some aluminium I have been recommended from a gentleman who has stripped and rebuilt a mount on here perhaps you have read it. Now I was reading another thread about which mount and it mentions weight capacity and should not put too much weight on. Now what is too much weight according to Skywatcher the EQ5 can take 9kgs visual now my Meade 127mm F9. 3 weighs 18lbs is this too much weight. I am saving for a Ioptron AZ Pro with pier extension hoping with the extension it will take the longer frac. If not I don't know what to do the 127mm it owes me £300 with the Skywatcher dual speed focuser and adapter plate I had made. I am never going to get anything like that so selling the 5* is out of the question. I struggle now with my mount so getting a HEQ5 or a EQ6 I am going to struggle even worse or not get out at all. Have any of you got any ideas and Imput on the weight issue please Paul

Obviously prices have gone up now but these are what I have got now all from the bay, you can search that site for the comparable items see which are cheaper. I have done a quick search and just picked the ones I have, not the cheapest because wanted to reply asap. I have added a couple of extra pieces now for my homemade dew strips. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363151739649?hash=item548d87cb01:g:w~sAAOSww35ggRz9 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/113899409910?hash=item1a84ef11f6:g:M6UAAOSw8S9eTql7 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393138957332?hash=item5b88e86c14:g:9UoAAOSwggRfoFBi https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124256718400?hash=item1cee470e40:g:3uEAAOSwQTle~Mfw 0.5 will carry 11amps get thicker pieces for the positive and negative terminals of the battery. 1.5mm carry's 21 amps should be sufficient. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363476062512?hash=item54a0dc9130:g:EZAAAOSwDWVgPLj0 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384325503792?hash=item597b95cb30:g:vXcAAOSwfStfv6Bl https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393304272976?hash=item5b92c2f050:g:NZEAAOSwNMNglFUI https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222544569773?epid=15023443414&hash=item33d0b0a5ad:g:vOsAAOSwHLNZP777 inline fuse holder 3rd picture https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253263731634?hash=item3af7b1dbb2:g:ilwAAOSwc0FUm0pP I have added these for dew strips https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252452734645?hash=item3ac75b06b5:g:P58AAOSwU9xUMbN3 attach to voltage and amps so it is not on all the time. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265220802929?epid=18017013600&hash=item3dc0644971:g:1dQAAOSwW6pgbIOV I hope this helps you and everything is explained. my components have 5amp fuses in as far as I can remember I will check tomorrow just to be sure and obviously inline fuse is 20amps. Paul

Thanks Nick, I will try I am not one for many words. Paul

Received this from a very good friend and it came on my birthday double bonus.

I am really sorry about that, I wish governments around the world would do something about the light pollution its not conducive to health or wildlife.

Only ever seen M33 from Galloway can never see it from home it's the same with M51, I have seen M1 from here in my 8" when I had it. Smashing report John you must have lovely skies there much much better than mine. According to Clear outside I have Bortle 6🥺 Paul

A warm welcome to SGL

I have found a 100rs with the finder on the focuser. My 100rs is like this one.

Here is mine I had the bigger focuser wheel fitted to aid finer focus.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/tie-out-stake?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&cm_mmc=Google-_-CPC-_- google_shopping-_-google_shopping&ita=1976&ito=google_shopping&istCompanyId=7255ccad-a1fc-4729-af31-478f79e5071c&istFeedId=385e6b9a-8b03-4076-a8bb-e4737df8549c&istItemId=itxmxiala&istBid=tzwt&gclid=CjwKCAjw9uKIBhA8EiwAYPUS3DSrTMulfSfyYDwbsKV_9jfmDsfQI8Odo83T6iB93jhJivK9MvDjnBoCQ0YQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds I have seen these used in conjunction with bungee cords obviously on grass. I suppose a heavy weight and bungee cords may work as well could use 3 one from each leg wont need a lot of pressure.

I love the BST'S I have 3 25mm 15mm and 8mm I sold my 12mm and 5mm and dropped and smashed my 18mm, as I have a 11mm Televue plossl which is very good I won't replace the 12mm. For some reason I just did not get on with the 5mm I could never get my eye in the right place I use a 6mm TMB now. The one I would replace is the 18mm I did have a 20mm Televue plossl I regret selling that I should of kept hold of it. For me the 15mm is outstanding its my goto eyepiece.

A warm welcome to SGL

Set up at about 11.15pm with nearly full cloud had to wait until 11.30pm spot Polaris get polar aligned, by 12am the clouds had sufficiently cleared to start alignment. First port of call was Saturn and it was a bit wobbly I knew Jupiter would clear the roof tops soon so went for the supernova. RS Opiuchi RA 17h 50m 13 Dec -06° 42` 28" Obviously just a star but I will keep my eye on this as long as I can see the star dim past where I am able to see it. Jupiter Next and a bit wobbly but I knew the GRS was going to be there and Io was going to transit the Planet so I kept that in mind. Swung around to Pegasus caught 2 meteors bright and clear one yellow one green. ε (Epsilon) (SAO 1270 29) mags of 2.7 and 8.7 with a separation of 144.0" A nice Lemon star with a tiny companion 3 (SAO 1269 40) mags of 6.2 and 7.5 with a separation 38.6" nice combination of a Yellow and a White double. 1 (SAO 1070 73) mags of 4.2 and 7.6 with a separation of 35.9" Yellow with a tiny dot 33 (SAO 0904 62) mags of 6.3 and 8.5 with a separation of 89.9" Yellow and a off White combination here. Σ2978 (SAO 0730 10) mags of 6.4 and 7.5 with a separation of 8.3" a bit more mag on these showed a lovely combination of Yellow and Blue By this time it was 1am so swung the scope around to Jupiter the seeing and transparency had improved 10 fold GRS was easily spotted as was Io`s shadow 5 coloured bands on the planet I was just drinking it in when I could see Io itself start to transit the planet this was a brilliant sight, this is only the third time I had seen a transit in all my 10 years with a scope and the first two where accidents I had not known in advance there was one I will be keeping my eye on these from now on amazing sight. Moved over to Saturn with my 10mm vixen and Tal barlow Cassini was clearly seen and a darker band near the equator on the planet just magical. on to Perseus looking up this was the first time from my house I could see the whole constellation it was there hanging in the night sky. γ (Gamma) (SAO 0237 89) mags of 3.1 and 10.8 with a separation of 55.3" White with a tiny Blueish companion ζ (Zeta) (SAO 0567 99) mags of 2.9 and 9.2 with a separation of 12.7" White and Blue again here only the Blue was easier to see than the last one. η (Eta) Miram (SAO 0236 55) mags of 3.8 and 8.5 with a separation of 28.5" Stunning sight lovely Yellow and Blue combination one of the best and colourful doubles I have seen truly beautiful. Σ162 (SAO 0375 36) This is a triple system AB are 6.5 and 7.2 with a separation of 1.9" AB-C are 6.5 and 8.4 with a separation of 20.1 a pair of pale Yellow stars with a wider Blue star in a isosceles triangle shape cone if you like. In among these I saw a further three Perseids, NGC 1528 a cracking cluster NGC 1513 the same really nice cluster with stars really distinct. NGC 1545 with the conditions being so clear these looked amazing M34 wide open cluster which just filled my eyepiece BST 25mm Not forgetting NGC 884 and NGC 869 the double cluster this is the best I have seen them stars popping out everywhere. I just did a couple in Andromeda one particular as it is really tight but as the sky had been so clear I had to try it. 36 (SAO 0743 59) mags of 6.1 and 6.5 with a separation of 1.0" both sun like stars but difficult I had to Barlow my BST 8mm with the Tal barlow to get X295 ΣΙ 1 (SAO 0541 38 )mags of 7.3 and 7.4 with a separation of 47.1" wide bright twins Σ 3004 (SAO 0529 27) mags of 6.3 and 10.1 with a separation of 13.5" Gold with a tiny speck had to use my 10mm Vixen with the Tal barlow to split these. γ (Gamma) Almach (SAO 0377 34) mags of 2.3 and 5.0 with a separation of 9.7" Although split with my 25mm I used my 15mm to bring out the colours beautiful combination of Orange and Green π (SAO 0540 33) mags of 4.3 and 7.1 with a separation of 36.0" straw Yellow with a blue companion. 56 (SAO 0551 07) mags of 5.8 and 6.1 with a separation of 200.5" very wide pair of Yellow stars last but not least NGC 7662 in the 25mm looks like out of focus stat but put the mag up I used my Televue 11mm plossl and the lovely blue marble (Snowball) comes alive, Jupiter and Saturn had moved too far behind trees to have one last look so packed up for the night. Highlights obviously the GRS and Io`s transit but Saturn gave one of the best views I have seen the other other highlight was 36 Andromedae to split that was brilliant. Disappointment`s only five meteors I have spent less time out and seen more in recent years I had seen two a couple of nights ago so I was really looking forward to seeing many many more. Well I hope you enjoy this, Paul

A star test is essential I have three Refractors one a Meade 127mm came with something wrong I enquired on here and took it to a brilliant and welcoming man Peter Drew he did a star test on a artificial star and diagnosed that the glass was the wrong way round. It is a achromatic having a crown and flint combination one was in the wrong way he turned it around put it together and did a star test again I have never looked back. one thing you can try is make a cover for the front out of paper same circle size just leave tabs in four places i.e. 12,3,6 and 9 o'clock use the tabs to secure to the front of the scope, now take a laser collimator and put it in straight through without diagonal you will see where the laser hits on the paper, turn the laser 180° check again now do the same with the diagonal if it is then way off you will know the diagonal needs adjusting.

Wow great read and session some lovely targets there so nice to compare scopes I need another mount so I can do that. I was out until 3am the sky was amazing after 1am here. I love those wooden tripods they look a lot more appealing than the metal ones. I to cannot see the propeller in M13 never have even in a 8" reflector. The "Blue Snowball" NGC 7662 put a bit of mag on it and it shows its lovely blue colour. Paul

Wow that's a good price I was looking into this when I had my 8" reflector, when I picked it up the front cover had been left off and the mirror was coated in allsorts luckily a good clean and it was perfect. I respotted it with a hole reinforcer wish I had done what Craig did. I also wish I had never have sold it but cannot change the past. Good luck on the rebuild cannot wait to see the mirror back coated.