paulastro

In terms of aperture, I've always found that, assuming good optical quality, that the colours in stars (and other objects) are more saturated and better seen in larger apertures, irrespective of the type of telescope. I currently use scopes of 80mm, 130mm, 125mm and 250mm aperture, and I dont see anything to contradict this. For sharpness, the reverse is often true, unless the seeing is exceptionally good.

Yes I have. I'm a 'gusher' too. Better than sliced bread 😊.

Thanks Alan, good advice. When I went to bed last night the lights hadn't come on, but they haven't finished fitting them yet. I will post again when they are finished, and when the sky has been clear as well. I will certainly take your advice if I get 'bedroom light spillage'. Thanks again.

Many thanks Zermelo, it sounds like a little hope there. My hope is that it won't be much worse than it was before - Bortle 5 I think, but I've never measured it myself. Its not only street lights of course. Like for many of us , so called neighbours of mine don't desist from putting bright lights on when it suits them, even if I'm observing. I always put a dark hood over my head when observing and its possible to almost forget I'm not under a more reasonable sky at times. This is helped by having a ten inch scope which is big enough to give me access to much better views than when I had a maximum aperture of four inches at home up to about eighteen months ago. Years ago I used bigger scopes scopes but then had a long mostly refractor phase before seeing the light and having larger aperture scopes once more 🙂. Nothing against refractors, but the older I've got I've needed bigger scopes to give me better views - just the aging process. I've never really used broadband visual filters, only UHC and O111 when they are helpful. Anyway, I'm rambling, that's an age thing too 🙂. I will post up how the new lighting affects the sky when I've had some clear skies. This could be a few days as I'm posdibly away from home for a few days soon.

I suppose its not only the type of light, but the design of the housing? In my pic the light panel looks to be recessed a little which may help, and it looks to be shaded from the rear. Or am I being overly hopeful?

Many thanks. I'll suppose I'll know the difference it makes around here soon enough.

Blimey, they are fabulous pics Stu, who needs a Dwarf 11 ! Your 6 pro could be the perfect phone for me - if it runs Starsense Explorer with no problems of course? 🙂

Many thanks for that, it's useful information. The previous lights spilled light everywhere so hopefully they may be an improvement!

Thanks for that. Is the light grey worse or preferable than what went before for astronomy?

I'm very sorry about this Paul and hope it comes out well for your son. If it's any help, I have a relative who developed epilepsy some years ago, and with the aid of regular medication is leading a very full and active life.

I have an interest as its just been put up outside my neighbours house, about 20 minutes ago! They are putting loads of them up to replace old ones over a wide area. The second pic was a quick grab when they put it on briefly to test it. The lighted bit consists of rows of small lights. I've got my fingers crossed they are cut off lights aiming the light downwards. If they aren't, please break the news to me gently! The local pigeons will miss the old ones as they used the long arm at the top to perform their yearly nuptuals!

Im not surprised if someone is making them. A kind SGL member kindly supplied me with mine. I wouldn't say who it was as I don't have his permission, but he's not making them to order anyway as far as I'm aware.

Robert. It's not a coincidence. If you look carefully you'll see that it's the two multifinder shoes (in the first pic) joined together that makes the angle come out as I needed it to be. I just fiddled about with them until I arrived at the angle I wanted. There were several possibilities. A bit like doing a puzzle 🙂.

Previously I have tried Starsense with the C5 on my AZ4 and a Scoptech Mount Zero. Both these worked, but neither was the most user friendly setup. I've now managed to set it up on the AZ5 and this is much better, to the degree it's going away with me to a visit to a an astonomer friend of mine in the Midlands shortly. Previous difficulties were to do mainly with the designe of the other mounts and the fact that the finder foot on the C5 is not convenient for fitting to single forks which need the scope to be attached to the right of the fork, as seen from behind. The photos are hopefully self explanatory. The first pic is of my spare phone holder with an orange 3D printed adapter to fit its base to a Vixen finder foot, two different designs of multi-finder holders I used and the Celestron 30mm finder. The other pics are from different angles to show how it is all fitted together. The tripod is an Artcise AS88C CF tripod. The rig is very secure, no skakes or rattles and it's easy to use and smooth in use.

I think I'm right in saying that they started to make motors for the Scopetech Zero. A few seemed to appear but as far as I know they quickly withdrew from offering them. Perhaps it was that they were too expensive to make, or there wasn't the demand.

Yes, but its not long enough for a short 6inch reflector tube. Its frustrating, it was just a little too short. It only just takes my C5. I'm fact I got excited when I saw your post as I thought the arm might be longer in the Sightron. If it was I might have been tempted to add it to my AZ mount portfolio 🙂. I wouldn't part with my Mount Zero, I'd just like it to be a little bigger.

Totally agree John. If a mount needs power to use it and time to set it up, it's no good as a grab and go mount for me. Observing time is at a premium. Hence I have a dob and use my other scopes on my AZ4, AZ5 or Scopetech Zero mounts. The latter is a great mount, but I would say I've been irritated at times when for want of the arm being an inch (or even less) longer, I've been unable to use a small scope well within its load capability.

Thank you, thats kind. Its been cloudy here too since I took that frame early on.

Single frame and crop taken at 8.17 am, through early cloud and mist. I/100 sec, 200 asa, Altair 80 ED-R

Well, that's cheered me up no end 😊.

Well done for persisting Neal. Hopefully you'll have a good session next time you try it, and you'll see the effort was well worthwhile.

Possibly a big bird?

Yes, my car had Saharan dust on it too this morning. Luckily for me, it never gets cleaned anyway as we usually have enough rain up here to do that 🙂.

Ah well, I don't feel so bad it was so murky last night now, thought not so good if it lasts a few days.

If the finder foot is over one side of the scope, a multifinder attachment can be useful to shift the phone holder to the other side for better balance or convenience. Not sure this is helpful in this case though.