wheresthetorch?

Interesting - quite a moon halo here as well tonight (south coast UK).

Looks like AR2871 is approaching - hope for some clear skies this week. (Picture from My Sun app).

Glorious here on the south coast! 

Happy with my 1.25" Lunt on an f7.5 80mm achro.

Not the best photo ever, just taken through the eyepiece of my 80mm achro, but I like the way the tops of the Tenerife Montes and Mons Pico are catching the sunlight, like three white dots.

I found this book by SPM very helpful when I was starting out with binoculars.  While it's a bit dated now, the constellation and stars haven't moved (much). 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0521793904/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_QW06HMJBB3HVMR3T7MEJ

My f7.5 AR80S with Herschel Wedge.

I tracked down the Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392) for the first time tonight.  Looked like an out of focus star through an 8" reflector, and took a magnification of 150x ok, at which point I think I could see a central star with averted vision.

Really chuffed to have seen it for the first time.  

30 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

It's a Japanese made, tall Vixen tripod, which has a more substantial build and wider spread than the aluminium tripods from Skywatcher. Also, all the components are metal, where as the recent Chinese version uses plastic which is a weak point and can split when tightened. I think the tubular steel Skywatcher tripods are very solid, so perhaps your love key looking scope and mount would benefit from the 1.25" steel tripod, which should still give you a relatively lightweight grab and go set-up.   Or you could stick a wanted add on SGL or Astro Buy & Sell for a tall aluminium Vixen tripod. 

Thanks for this reply.  The only thing I dislike about the Skywatcher tubular steel tripods is that you can't lift and quickly fold to carry them - you need to unscrew the leg support/eyepiece tray.  I remember this being an annoyance with my old Celestron 4SE. 

 I'll look out for a used Vixen tripod as you suggest (or start saving for a Berlebach!).

On 01/02/2021 at 18:13, mikeDnight said:

I did use a Tak FC100DC F7.4 quite effectively on an Skywatcher AZ5, and my friend used a FC100DL F9 on one too. I think that on your existing tripod you'll be ok. The weak point as with most mounts is the tripod.

May I ask what tripod you are using with your AZ5 in those pictures?

Mine is on the black tripod that came with it, and isn't very steady at all, so I'm thinking of replacing it. 

I have a 2" eyepiece that can't reach focus in my Revelation dob.  Instead of using a focus extender, I just don't put the eyepiece in all the way - just out by about 5mm and it reaches focus.  Might be worth a try.  

10 hours ago, jetstream said:

I might buy one of these adapters- how do you like it? How long are the three eyepiece posts?

This is the one I used:

https://uk.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Accessories/Smart-Device-Accessories/Orion-SteadyPix-Quick-Smartphone-Telescope-Photo-Adapter/pc/1308/c/1382/118375.uts

It opens up to an eyepiece diameter range of 25-45 mm, and may mean taking the eyeguard off some eyepieces (eg BST Starguiders). 

The beauty of it is that you can line the phone's camera up with the adapter before you then connect it to the eyepiece, though you do have to be quite careful not to move it while tightening it around the eyepiece. And also make sure you tighten it to the eyepiece properly - I didn't once but thankfully my phone's screen didn't hit the ground when it fell off!

6 minutes ago, PXR-5 said:

 have one of those adapters, but haven't tried it yet, thanks for the motivation

I'll be interested to see how you get on - do post some pics.

3 hours ago, Sunshine said:

One trick i use is making sure to tap the screen on a bright area just before activating the shutter, it allows for a nice exposure and black sky as most phones change exposure 

very quickly.

I've just tried that on my phone indoors, and you're absolutely right - good trick, thank you.  

2 hours ago, jetstream said:

My niece wants to try this with her phone- is the image stacked and processed? Excellent image btw. Any advice welcome.

Thank you! No, not stacked or processed in any way.  I used an Orion Steadypix smartphone adapter to hold the phone steady over the eyepiece, but that was all - just took a snapshot. 

Fr Christmas kindly bought me an Orion smartphone adapter, and this has been my first chance to use it properly.

Taken through an 8" f6 Newtonian at 37.5x

On 22/01/2021 at 07:43, kirkster501 said:

Just search for the Sky at Night on YouTube and you’ll see it in the list of results.

Thank you! 

On 20/01/2021 at 18:32, kirkster501 said:

I love his and Paul Abel’s monthly night sky show on YouTube as well.

What is the name of the YouTube channel please? I'd like to watch this.  

Nothing wrong with that scope at all.  90mm is a decent aperture and the mount is suitably sturdy.

Just take your time - start with easy targets such as the moon to begin with - and don't be discouraged if you struggle at first.  There's a wealth of knowledge on this site from helpful people.

First thing to do when you get the scope is to line up the finder scope.  Do this by lining up the telescope on a distant object such as a telegraph pole or TV aerial, and then adjust the finderscope so you can see the same object in it.  Then, when you go out at night, point the finderscope at the moon and it should be in the eyepiece of the main telescope.

If your telescope comes with two eyepieces, the one with the higher number actually gives the lower magnification - use this one first as it will be easier to use.  

Do let us know how you get on, and welcome to the world of astronomy! 

Got a good view today with an 80mm achro, Herschel wedge and continuum filter.  Definitely worth investing in.

10 minutes ago, Aramcheck said:

Thanks everybody - that's been a great help! Much appreciated.

As per @happy-kat's suggestion I've loosened the bolt a bit, so the Alt-axis moves a bit more freely, but I'll be getting an AZ5 with Steel tripod ASAP.

Cheers
Ivor

There's an AZ Pronto mount and tripod in the Classifieds that might suit? 

I have a Telrad on one scope and a Rigel on the other.  Quite happy with both, as like the OP I only use them to get the starting star in the view of the RACI when starhopping.  

Telrads are big, so a Rigel is better on, for example, a short focal-length refractor. 

I have the AZ5 and the mount itself is good - you can release the clutches to move across the sky quicky, and then use the slow motion controls to star-hop and track.

However, the lightweight tripod isn't great - it is light for grab and go, but isn't that steady on the wind or when focussing etc.  Planning on a Berlebach!

Here's a photo of it with my AR80S. 

This is a helpful thread on the topic:

On 07/10/2020 at 14:44, Steve Clay said:

Report 312 in grey carrying solarquest and Ed80 with quark.

That looks great. I'm planning a 312 for my AZ5 and Opticstar 80mm frac as the stock tripod isn't very steady.