Ganymede12

That's no moon...

Thank you! I’ll certainly give this a look.

So I just got out my telescope for the first time in a good few months and after coming back inside I’ve found my mirror to be looking rather dusty. I didnt check the mirror beforehand, so I don’t know if this happened when I brought it back in just now or if this dust accumulated while I was in Uni. I’m trying to fight the urge to remove the mirror and wipe it clean but I know that could scratch it and mike things words. Does this mirror look too dusty to you guys? Should I just leave it as is? (The telescope is a Skyliner-200p dob).

Hey guys! So I'm not at all new to SGL but I've always been in the South Wales group. Although admittedly I'm not as active in the forums as I used to be. Anyway, last September I started studying at the University of Leicester (studying Geology) and it's only now occurred to me to check out the SGL group for the area. I don't get to observe as much as I used to. I joined the Uni's AstroSoc which has so far had just one observing meet and I do have a telescope with me (Heritage 130). I either bus or walk everywhere so if I do go out to use it it'll probably be local. It'd be great to get to know a few of you!

Although I have not been on in a while and haven't had the telescope out in a good while I want to share that I have been accepted into Leicester University for a BSc in Geology. The first thing I'll be doing is joining their Astronomical Society that gives its members access to the Uni's telescopes and hosts observing meets and other activities. Dr. Paul Abel lectures their, which is also a plus. Unfortunately I haven't made it to an SGL observing session but I'll be on the forums still, even if you kick me out of the SWVG and I have to join an England based group on the forum!

How about next to a Jaffa Cake?

I had an idea for a design for a solar filter in which I put a large sun sheild on the front so that if the telescope moves then the sun won't pass through the sides. I'd also wrap the tube itself as well anyway. Would that work? Oh, and what material should I wrap the flexitube part of the OTA in?

Thanks for sharing! I'll give it a look in. Edit: It looks like the Podcast is still going under the new name "SpaceTime".

Okay then. Thanks for the info. So, how have other people built there covers for the top frame?

I think I might have one of those? Isn't it just a plastic tube that puts the eyepiece further away from the OTA?

I see. So would the image be too out of focus if I tried to look through it whilst collapsed?

But won't it make the distance between the primary and secondary mirror shorter? And in any case, won't it still protect the sides of the telescope from stray light?

That's a good point, which brings me onto another idea I had. Could I use this telescope if it was collapsed? I was thinking of experimenting with changing the focal length and if it would work then I''d use a solar filter only when it was collapsed to avoid light getting in through the sides.

Ah yes, It's the Heritage-130P. My mistake. Also, I completely forgot that flocking was for the inside only and I really need to cancel my order, quickly!