Jarvo

What an interesting article that raises some very valid questions. I personally tend to keep hold of old scopes (I have a 6” Newtonian in the loft I bought when I was your age) but I do understand Craig’s point of view. 
 

if you haven’t got the space and you love the refractor maybe it makes sense to sell it to someone who will be able to make better use of it. 
 

Decisions, decisions...

Yeah it’s a bit touch and go at the moment....

...and it’s amazing. The stars last night were amazing. Just waiting for it to get dark. A Tikka Masala and a large Beer are helping pass the time. 

and yes this post is to make you all a tiny bit jealous 😊

Queue the hate mail....

Steve

Hi All. 

I made some key changes last night. Things I did differently:

Longer .ser file (4 minutes);

Sifted through all 4000 frames to deselect the chaff;

Resisted the temptation to push magnification (used 2x apochromatic Barlow instead of 2.5x Powermate);

Deployed the new Bahtimov Mask to improve focus;

1000/4000 frames used.

The 9.25 Celestron is a fabulous Instrument and is working well. Very pleased with it. 
 

It’s so nice to work with a planet with a decent elevation at last. 
 

I also did a Uranus .ser file which I’ll be posting soon as well. 
 

Thanks for looking. 
 

Steve
 

brilliant work. Did you use a separate animation package?

43 minutes ago, CraigT82 said:

Plenty of detail there in the first image. That's interesting about the improvements without the IR cut filter, I wonder if the QHY 290c has an IR cut window already installed in front of the sensor? 

You're bang on the money Brown Dwarf. Just been looking at the online manual and there is an IR cut coating on the front cover:

"....The optic window is the IR cut coating or AR coating. So you need to be careful when cleaning it. You can also use the DSLR clean tools or the lens paper. Don’t use big force to clean it. The coating is not so hard and it is easy to get scratch when you use big force on it...."

Hi all,

First real opportunity to use the new scope on Mars this week. I've gone and got myself one of those Celestron  9.25 XLT thingys specifically for the Mars opposition.

The past 48 hours have been quite a challenge as the first night was a complete wash out (There is a shot below to compare). 

It was interesting to compare the 2 evenings work. This first night I used the scope with a 2.5x Powermate and an IR cut filter and the results were disastrous (I actually thought the scope was defective). Last night I used a 2 x Apochromatic Barlow and no IR cut filter.

Both nights seeing were, in my opinion, broadly similar  that is to say not ideal. Mars was maybe 25-30 degrees high.

I can only conclude that the 2.5x Powermate was simply too much power on the first night coupled with some back luck with the air currents. Removing the IR Cut filter and getting a better result was surprising however, wondering if anyone has a view on this?

Focussing is an issue with the SCT therefore I've bought a Bahtimov Mask and will be treating myself to an autofocusser shortly.

Camera used was a QHYCCD QHY5III 290c Planetary Camera (lovely little piece of kit), a 2 minute .ser file using Sharpcap and 1500/2000 stacked in Registax, tweaked in Gimp 2.0.

So another learning curve (when will it end?) but encouraged by last nights results.

Thanks for looking.

Steve

I’m forever in your debt guys !!!!! Thank you. 
 

Twas a little bit stiff and I didn’t like to force it

happy days 

thanks

Not the dust cover the fastar logo cover

Help!  Just bought a c9.25 for the Mars opposition but the collimation is way out. 
 

so I need to collomate but I’m falling at the first hurdle. 
 

how do you get the fastar cover off the front plate. It is a loose piece of plastic but gentle coercion isn’t shifting it. 
 

Photo attached 

thanks in advance all

Steve

Let me know how you get on. I’ve also got a house in front of my one inch telescope so don’t think the extension would work for me. 
im waiting for Mars to rise at a civil hour. 

I have the same lower lip observatory problem only I have one ninth of a 9.25” sct available to use. Essentially I’ve spent £1500 on a one inch telescope. 
 

Great shots by the way. 
 

jarvo

Thanks all. I’ll let you know what I go for and post a review.

jarvo

Getting some excellent results from that Mak. 

Hello fellow Stargazers. 

Sadly I am a reluctant solo traveller these days following the passing of my beloved Wife last year. 

To stay vaguely sane I had invested my time in travel before everything went South. I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few places on or South of the Equator where I have been fortunate to view the southern skies (There’s nothing better than seeing the whole of Scorpius high in the sky without any sky glow or rooftops).

I have a little Celestron Travelscope which has alway punched above its weight and it will get replaced but not yet. The only thing that lets it down is the abysmal tripod that has the constitution of a butter stick on a hot day. 

I think you know what I’m after. Can I get some recommendations (and piccies if you can be bothered 😊) from you lot for a decent tripod. It must collapse down to fit into hold luggage and be stronger than butter  

Help and advise always warmly welcomed. 

Best regards, stay safe and clear skies 

Jarvo
 

Love em. 

17 minutes ago, Stardaze said:

PS. for the gear tarts amongst us, must say that the Morpheus doesn't look the coolest kid on the block. But then I'll over look this aspect as they'll primarily be used in the dark..😂

Gear tarts 😂

Beautiful 

This is an interesting question. I have a 2.5 x power mate and a 3 element 2x apochromatic Barlow. 
The best results I’ve had are with the Barlow which I was surprised at because I have a complete blind devotion for all that is green and black. 
 

Or is it me?  Anyway, skipped to the observatory tonight wondering whether I could see our new best friend from the comfort of my Man Cave

Absolutely no chance. 

I ended up back at the bedroom window with the iPhone and the ProCam app. (clouds weren’t cooperating either). 

I can’t get enough of this Comet. Don’t know about everyone else. Loving everyone’s contributions too 😊

This this only the 3rd naked eye comet I’ve seen (Hale-Bopp best ever followed by the weird Holmes) so long may it remain. 

Thanks for looking.
 

Jarvo

I love this image. Not over processed   Looks really natural. Less is more 😊

Beautifully presented. 

Great set of images 😊

On 14/07/2020 at 22:59, merlin100 said:

Looks like it would give you a hernia, just trying to lift it off the table!😲

I does make a surprising difference to the overall balance of the set up. I am also paranoid it going to drop out of the diagonal due to the height of the new OTA. I keep checking the tightness 😊

Love it