inedible_hulk

Maybe. It’s not going to hurt 😊

It’s been a while since I looked into using my ASI 120 MC with my LS50, so I can’t find the original source, but I’m reasonably sure it suffers from the same lack of infocus. If the sun was out I’d test it!

The suggested remedy was to shorten the camera’s ‘nose’ and replace the eyepiece clamp on the diagonal with a low profile one to gain a bit of infocus.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-low-profile-camera-adapter-for-zwo-planetary-cameras.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/baader-ultrashort-1-t-2-eyepiece-clamp.html

It might be worth a try if you find you have problems 😊

Not to this mount, but I’ve found that mine is horrible to use if under mounted. Vibrations take while to damp down, and at high magnification, the scope becomes difficult to focus due to the vibrations. Also, if the scope’s saddle is off centre, it can feel really precarious due to all the weight being on one side. If you try it, add some weights to your tripod.

I find my 18mm ES 82 useful in my 102mm  refractor. I use it a fair bit along with the 30mm UFF. Like @John says, sometimes it’s nice to have the option.

I lost my partner to illness and observing provided me with peace; this forum provided me with some company. 

Years have passed and my circumstances are much altered, but I still mainly observe for the mindfulness aspect. This forum continues to educate, inspire, and entertain in equal measure. Thank you 😊

I have the Lunt LS50THa. My only complaint is the lack of inward travel on the focuser. As a result not all eyepieces (or cameras for that matter) will reach focus. Personally I’ve found an 11mm TV plossal to be perfect. 
 

It’s a very different experience to other observing and I found it a bit frustrating to start with until I got a feel for the pressure tuner, how focussing works, getting my eye in etc. Now it’s probably my most used scope, ideal for a lunchtime session, but I’m not sure it’s for everyone.

I have all the ES 82s except for the 30mm. The 24mm is a bit of a lump, but it hasn’t seen much use since I acquired a 30mm UFF. The others see regular use and I can’t fault them.

Hello and welcome! 

3 hours ago, Greymouser said:

EQ5 tripod convertor, not sure it will work for the SS50, but I think it should.

Would be interested to know, so do report back please 😊

Hello and welcome. Hope you got to enjoy last nights relatively clear sky 😊

16 hours ago, quasar117 said:

Loving the look and convenience of the Baader clicklock diagonal. However at £304 with the 2-1.25" adapter that's a fair chunk of change!

To be fair, the convenience of the clicklock was my main reason for buying it. The 2” Revelation Astro diagonal it replaced was also (to my eyes) very good and substantially cheaper.  I’m not sure if they’re still made under another name.

Well you’re certainly in the right place then 🤣. Welcome to the forum, good to have you aboard 😊

A little something from FLO to make things simpler 😊. Less than 24 hours from order to delivery!!

+1 for the Baader ClickLock 2" DiElectric and I notice that @Mr Spock attempted some subliminal messaging there; the 30mm UFF is an absolute delight with the Starfield 😊

+1 for @dweller25’s recommendation. 

I’d suggest reading this and doing the sums if you haven’t already. It’s served many a beginner, including myself, well. In my opinion, the BSTs are a good step up from the stock eyepieces. 

On 08/02/2024 at 11:42, StaceStar said:

also very sorry for resurrecting an old thread!

I’m glad you did! Missed it first time round 😊

I always take mine off. Usually only need a slight adjustment when they’re next used 😊

The corrector plate on Maks are proper dew magnets (I have the SkyMax 150) so I can see you soon investigating in a heated dew band or shield. The Celestron PT should run one of these and your mount all night. I also used mine a lot to charge my phone on camping trips 😊.

1 hour ago, Zermelo said:

Congratulations on M79, it's one of a handful of Messiers that have eluded me so far. You really need a decent southern horizon at these latitudes.

Lost in the murk unfortunately ☹️. Maybe next time.

I managed to grab an hour or so last night. The seeing was generally good, but there was a marked deterioration in transparency closer to the horizon. 

Orion was nearing culmination affording an excellent opportunity for a first view of M42 through the Starfield 102/UFF 30mm combo. The nebula was easily observed within a wider starry expanse and averted vision afforded more than a hint of the extensive ‘wings’. Although the magnification was low (x24), the four ‘keystone’ stars of the Trapezium could be discerned. Fabulous !

Lepus, aka The Hare, is a new discovery for me, despite being located immediately below Orion.  Two targets were selected for observation, NGC 1964, a spiral galaxy and M79, a globular cluster. Despite careful observation, and in the case of the latter, searching, neither were observed. I would estimate that poor transparency meant that the effective observable threshold in the vicinity of the horizon was maybe as little as magnitude 7. 

It’s always nice to finish on a positive result. Sitting high in the sky and out of the murk was M1, the Crab Nebula. It was readily located adjacent to Zeta Tauri and observed at x24 (UFF 30mm) and x40 (ES 82 18mm). Easily visible as a faint oval cloud, but no hint of any the detailed internal structure was apparent.

In all, a short but satisfying session 😊

If it’s the one I’m thinking of I’d suggest saving the money and putting it towards something better. You can rig up a temporary repair with jubilee clips until you decide on the replacement.

Personally I’m finding the moisture laden turbulent atmosphere associated with this seemingly endless series of storm fronts means that, even when I get a clear night, my views of Jupiter have been pretty poor. Maybe the forecast cold weather will bring some more stable skies and better visibility. Coloured and specialist filters can help tease out the details (see here), but I’d say 99% is down to the state of the atmosphere. Hang in there!

Hi and welcome. You may find this paper of interest (presuming you haven’t already read it):

https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1998JBAA..108...79R

Nice 😊 

Welcome to the forum 👍