wheresthetorch?

And a close up, also with mobile. 

Moon with a mobile phone through a telescope:

I've read this book numerous times and it always moves me.  He has a beautiful writing style.

Clear night tonight on the south coast.  Heading outside shortly, but it's pretty chilly out there! 

Have finally replaced my steel tripod with a Berlebach Report 312.  Looks good, feels good, but I can't try it out properly as it has rained constantly ever since it arrived . . . 

11 minutes ago, Ratlet said:

Hope they work for you!  I loved mine on the dob, though I used a digital inclinometer for inclination.  Like goto should be.

Yes, I have the on my dob base and use a wixey angle gauge - it works so well that I've been looking for a similar system for my frac.  My only reservation is how small the graduations are for the AZ5, but should get me in the general area I hope! 

Well, they're on @Ratlet!  Hoping to test them tonight at the weather looks clear. 

10 hours ago, Ratlet said:

I never got round to actually fitting them 😳.  I've been having too much fun with the dob.

I used these.  I was mostly trying to get my monies worth out of the printing so filled the sheet as much as I could

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/621600-skywatcher-az5-manual-head-setting-circles/

Ok, cheers.  I might give that a go. 

8 hours ago, Ratlet said:

and a couple extra circles for my az5.

Any chance of a picture of them on your AZ5? I have a set on my dob, but would like to add them to my grab 'n' go AZ5 rig.

3 minutes ago, sojourneyer said:

here are photos for you

I hope that helps

Massively helpful - thank you! 

1 hour ago, sojourneyer said:

Good question.Funny thing is that 4 days ago I tried such a situation and it could not reach zenith.  Almost .. about a 1/2 " and it would have made it.

All I did was put a piece of wood under the front leg and had the scope so that the other two legs were facing me... The funny thing is that the Celestron 102 that came with it did not have that problem..   If I added a 2 inch extender it would be fine.  What hits the mount base is the focuser

 

Interesting - thank you.  One other question if I may: is the the mount removable from the tripod, to fit on a beefier tripod with a standard 3/8" thread? 

6 hours ago, sojourneyer said:

Here is the 48P (90mm Achro  f/5.5) on the mount I use. (Celestron Starsense Explorer DX)

I've been considering buying a Starsense DX set up to mount a similarly sized refractor (Opticstar AR80S).  Are you able to reach the zenith without the scope striking the tripod legs? 

On 13/06/2023 at 15:14, wookie1965 said:

Yes you have I keep checking Ikea unfortunately not got any seen a couple on ebay similar but want £90 not paying that lol. 

Just seen this on eBay (no connection to me, etc. . . )

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334897344960?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7QLHfhfzTbW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=fIm6QpuDRJa&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Opticstar AR80S (f7.5) on AZ5 with steel tripod.  Observing the sun in white light in this picture, with a Herschel wedge. 

No chance of getting there from deepest Sussex today (my day off) as no trains, and working tomorrow. 😒

Here's my attempt with a smartphone this afternoon.  Not as sharp as yours! 

Does anyone know yet who is speaking on which day? Website still doesn't say. 

On 26/12/2022 at 13:00, Swoop1 said:

A quick heads up- Waterstones have this in their on line sale at 50% off. IRL shops will match the on line price if you ask them.

Thanks for the heads up - I wanted to buy a copy but was hoping for a post-Christmas price reduction!  Now ordered. 👍

Both the British Astronomical Association and the Society for Popular Astronomy provide a bi-monthly journal to members, so membership of one of them might be an option:

https://britastro.org/join

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popastro.com/main_spa1/join-the-spa-now/%3famp

43 minutes ago, Rusted said:

Keep at it! 

I had a play with your 1st image.

The first [below] is just image handling software [PhotoFiltre7] to crop around the sun and make minor adjustments. B&W instead of colour.
The second is after ImPPG and then more image handling software to crop. Both images are resized to 600x600 to suit the forum format.

Wow - thank you very much!  I'll have to start having a go at that myself.  Much appreciated. 

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

Some nice shots the @wheresthetorch?. It’s a very complex AR isn’t it, looks great through the scope as you say 👍

Thank you - moments of steady seeing gave a real sharpness to the image, with lots to see. 

Some white light shots of AR3089, taken with my Pixel 4a held up the eyepiece of my 80mm f7.5 achro.  

No too bad, but detail and focus was better visually. 

Some pictures here:

https://www.ultravioletphotography.com/content/index.php?/topic/2420-rainbow-in-uv-and-ir/

33 minutes ago, badhex said:

Thanks for the heads up! Sadly as I'm in Germany it's not really feasible to purchase second hand stuff from the UK, the customs issues make it a nightmare for everyone involved and the import fees often negate the saving 🙄

Ah - I hadn't realised you weren't in the UK.  Yes, that would be more trouble and expense than it's worth.

4 minutes ago, badhex said:

Thanks Mark. the Gitzo 5 is very tempting in terms of looks, capability and portability... everything except the cost in fact 😂

Might keep an eye out for second hand but not holding out much hope, my access to a trusted pool of second hand Astro stuff is a bit limited.

Someone is selling a Report 312 in the Classifieds section at the moment - it's grey as well which may help your concern about aesthetics.