StarryEyed

Couldn't resist it.

This is a common problem getting developers to write manuals when they just dont understand that when you build the tower and shout instructions from the top on how to climb it you do so from a perspective and knowledge that the the person at the bottom does not share.

not really but if you can get a higher magnification and make sure your using 16bit for the captured video this darkens the sky but still gives some image depth in the data to work with.

Look on the bright side. We can all start grinding flats for our next scope start some carpentry classes.

I did earlier look this up and they used a cosmac 1802 which originaly was designed by a Joseph Weisbecker - Wikipedia in his garage at home. Apparently he went around all the Radio shacks buying transistors to build it. He's now one of my heroes for coming up with that and for it to be sent of into the void on such a mission. In fact he's a legend what an achievement.

Did you ever wonder why those long space missions always have a young bunch of team members at the start. Makes you wonder how many generations might be involved in the first robotic interstellar mission.

I bought a cheap BBQ cover from amazon and during a spell without any rain I take the scope off and cover the mount. I can't for the life of me understand why I haven't been doing this years ago it such an obvious thing to do and I literally setup again in minutes. I've stopped being precious about my mounts and it's changed my viewing habits enormously.

I've seen the sensors in an AZ GTI do exactly the same thing so maybe if NASA can fix Voyger they might email Skywatcher the solution.

Thats a really exciting choice. I'll add I had a lot of fun with an ST80. Took it to Ireland and the canary Islands if you have good skies it wont disappoint.

Buy a cover for the dob and leave it out. If you cant do that put it on wheels. Otherwise the 102/600 which you can also stop it down to 80 or 70 if you use it on the moon which will sharpen it up a lot.

That made me laugh, even though I dont doubt its true. One good reason solar observers should advocate the use of electric cars for better seeing conditions.. sorry sorry I ment better air quality. There does tend to be worse transparency in the city and skyglow might be worse because of it. When I visit the west coast of Ireland the transparency and dark skies are a little over whelming. In fact there are parts of the sky that I think I know well, when there or just out of the city I am just lost in a blizzard of stars. Its sometimes also a little heartbreaking.

Bank of England equivalent is £3,396.17 in today's money. Which considering it includes the mount suggests the price has been pretty stable. Even if we all gripe about price rises. The thing I like the most about this is Vixen are still going strong thirty seven years later and that the FL102 and GP mount are still considerd a benchmark after all that time. Thats quite a feat in any industry. Makes you wonder how many brands you see on FLO's site will be able to claim the same about their current products and thats even if there still around. You might argue these days that Vixen are overpriced but the truth might be their just under appriciated with so many other options from upstart companies. Ive loved my skywatcher equipment but Ive never admired their stuff for their quality in the same way I have Vixen equipment. I SOLD ALL my synta made optics but have hung onto some vixen without realising it at the time but its just better quality at the end of the day. Its said you have more surplus cash when your younger so as a matter of necessity you learn to spend more wisely as you get older maybe thats at the heart of this thread. As the review says "best all round choice for the committed astronomer" Its about realising this is you and a four inch apo is the right choice. I was a committed astronomer at age twelve but had to wait another thirty eight years before I could afford to become a financially committed astronomer!

I didnt realise your in Texas. You probably need a cold room then! I lived in the tropics for a few years and developed a loathing for mosquitoes that persists to this day. More so than sand flies because they live on the beach and I was a couple of miles in land. Ive even brought my kids up who are now young men to kill on sight. Brings me great satisfaction having three men in the house who will even team up to mercilessly hunt one mosquito down. Back to Filters, I have considered two opposites a bigger scope with a filter a smaller scope for travel for better skies. But opted for a camera lens and a second hand planetary camera which are quite sensitive and I can keave it out all night throw a BBQ over it during the day. Thats been a lot of fun. But the most fun is hunting things down visually in the London light pollution and whilst at times it appears a bit disappointing I have learnt to appreciate the hopping and glimpses of what I am looking at rather than trying to see more so to speak. But my favourite astronomical filter is a solar filter!

I never had much luck with filters but hoods or clothes than can block stray light when at the eyepiece and allow your eyes to get better dark adapted have always improved things for me. So an over sized hoody or just an old t-shirt can work wonders not to mention its a cheap fix.

No idea to be honest might even be the coatings or some scattered red or any combination of things. I only notice it when comparing it to other eyepieces.

I bought a Vixen 7mm LV a long time ago more than fifteenth years I believe mostly to use with a 127mm Mak. It produced some of my favorite views on planets and the moon. I changed scope a couple of times for smaller WO80FD refractor then a bigger 100mm Tak. I have picked up some delites which are all round better eyepieces and was somewhat disappointed with the brownish dim views the 7mm Vixen gave in the 80mm and 100mm certainly compared to the 9mm Delite. But I never had the heart to sell the 7mm Vixen for the views it had produced those years back. It was always sharp and comfortable to use but kind of sat in the corner of the eyepiece case getting cleaned and looked through occasionally. I recently got a herchel wedge which has a polarising filter built in. I have been using the 9mm Delite and coupled it with another old 2.5 powermate. This seemed a bit to much power on the sun so I tried the 7mm LV which predictably gave a sharp brownish dim view then remembering the polarising filter gave it a tweak and the image brightened right up and the brownish hue turned paper white which as a whole seemed to given the perfect mag for observing spots. I kept it in the scope all morning and Im thrilled my oldest eyepiece has a new found niche because of the Herschel wedge. Often we are quick to upgrade of swap out but sometimes if something is just inherently good it might be worth hanging onto you never know when you might find it excels again in different circumstances.

When I saw that I thought Its just plane odd that. Its not as if they don't know the exact make up of every element in that soil. It must be the most studied bit of dirt from anywhere and they grow a stunted plant in it. All the plants in our office are stunted or dead is not an achievement. In fact if they could grow a plant in our office that lived more than three months it would be more impressive.

Surley calling it a collapsible stool is tempting fate!

I think an 80f5 stopped down a bit by a badder film home made filter and a philips web cam. The 80f5 was a lot of fun.

Recently bought a wedge was off work Friday, kind off following some guides here and a couple of you tube videos but not getting everything quite right. Ive learnt over time to not worry about such things and just go with it. I took my first solar image in nineteen years. Think I'm hooked again. P. S. Free software forums and YouTube have made things so much easier. This is just a thank you to anyone that ever shared software they created, knowledge or posted inspiring reports or images with the rest of us. Youve made us all happier people. This one from June 2003. A long time getting back..

Recently bought a wedge but I started with a film filter 19 years ago. Prefer visual its so enjoyable and dabble with imaging. If your browsing the section and dont own a solar filter nows the time to buy one. Our sun is heading towards an active cycle so It will double your opportunities to use you scope amd its the only way to see a star up close.

I appreciate a lot of people havent the time or inclination for this which is fine if thats the case. I would start with what you have already. Find out what you can and cant do with these scopes. Its the best way to learn and the most fun to find out the answers to these questions. You'll understand why you bought what you did rather than just because someone told you..

A collection of fantastic work. Thanks for sharing.

There is only one safe answer to this and that is NO. For visual anything you might do other than replace it is a risk. In your hand when you hold it up to the sun do you see the gap? Patch it with a double layer of tin foil glued over the gap and use with a camera only. Thats a what I would choose to do

First reaction was wow thats nice and sharp and grainy while I Chuckled to myself.