paulastro

Signed.  Best of luck with it.  No excuse for anyone on SGL not to sign, takes seconds so get to it !

Yes you're right Dave, I use the smaller when I'm only going to use 1.25 and the other for 2 inch.  Baader are about the best firm for giving complete information on all their many diagonals, including the prism sizes.  They have an excellent download just on their diagonals.

It's always irked me a little that most companies don't  tell you the clear aperture of their diagonals.

Kelling Spring Star Party 2023 is on from April 17th to 24th.  Is anyone else going apart from me and Andy from The Astronomy Centre? 🙂

Is anyone else attending this event, apart from myself and Andy from The Astronomy Centre  (Todmorden) ? 🙂

I've attended the Autumn bash for many years, but this will be my first time for the Spring event.

I came across this article, regarding what size threads are used for bolts and adapters used for astronomical purposes.  It may be useful if you need an adapter or bolt but aren't sure what thread it is.

https://agenaastro.com/articles/guides/astronomy-threads-explained.html#small

Regards, Paul

11 minutes ago, Mr H in Yorkshire said:

I've researched (lurked) for years on the internet on various astro topics and I have to hand it to this forum for character and humility. In my experience an alternative and popular forum seems to have a number of souls who are sensitive to the worth of their opinions!

Exactly right. Once you have identified some of the exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful people on the forum you can find out just about anything.  Alas, some newcomers may not realise that all advice is not helpful, however we'll intended.

3 minutes ago, Mr H in Yorkshire said:

Does that explain the plethora of responses to even a simple question, with an evenly matched number of totally contradictory opinions?

Yes, it does.  It's a problem for people new to the hobby, as they won't know who's view is the correct one, or most useful.

It can be useful  to look back at the members posts and feedback which may give clues as to their experience and interests.

I've only got one law.

When reading anything on an an astronomical forum or blog, don't just assume it is true.  People can write in a very authoritative manner, even when they have little knowledge or experience to back it up. 🙂

5 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

  In 2005 I arranged to meet a couple of friends at a dark sky site a good number of miles away, and so loaded my FS128, Celestron/Losmsndy G11, power supply and eyepieces into my car. I put on my full length quilted, waterproof, windproof gear and Yeti boots, and set off. On arriving I set up the tripod and mount, connected the power supply, then before attaching the FS128 tube assembly to the mount I searched for the counterweight. No counterweight!   I had to spend the night begging to take a sneaky peek through the eyepieces of my friends scopes, while my superlative FS128 lay shivering on the back seat of my car. (I only made that mistake once)!

  On another occasion I was observing with Paulastro from his garden, I left the lid of my eyepiece box very slightly ajar throughout the night.  At the end of the night I closed the lid, drove home, and didn't look in my eyepiece box again until the next clear night which was several days down the line. To my horror all my beautiful XW eyepieces were swimming with the dew that had formed on them several days before. They were capped of course, but the eyepiece bodies and the foam were now wet and needed to be dried thoroughly.  (I've only made that mistake once)!

  Again, while observing with Paulastro from his garden, I carelessly placed my eyepiece case containing Naglers, Ethos, and XW's on the driveway. Part way through the night Paul's darling wife drove into the driveway. We both watched,  as if in slow motion she used my eyepiece case as a chock for her front passenger wheel. If youve ever heard a woman scream - well that's what I sounded like, as Paul fell about laughing - again! Fortunately the case and its contents were unharmed. Paul's wife said she hadn't seen the case and then told my "well it's a silly place to leave it anyway". I couldn't really argue! Deep down though I've wondered if she did it as payback for all the lip I've given her over the years??? (I only made that mistake once)!

  One mistake I keep on making however, is listening to my best mate and fellow visual observer paulastro. One evening Paul phoned me to tell me that Takahashi have once again started production of their 4" fluorite refractors. He went on at length about how wonderful they'ed be, knowing full well just how much I love Tak, and then added "I've ordered one"!  After the phonecall ended I went on line to read about this new fluorite scope, then thought "If he's having one then so am I"  The problem was that I'd no spare cash and so to fund the venture I'd need to sell a lot of my gear. Within 24 hours I'd sold everything but my XW's. Then the phone rang - It was Paul. "What are you selling all your gear for"? I told him that if he's having a Tak then I'm having a Tak, and that the only way I could do so was to pretty much sell everything.  There was a deathly silence followed by an explosion of uncontrolled laughter. Then in a Brummi twang "I was only joking, I haven't really ordered a Tak. I just wanted to see how you'd react."   I can't remember what I said exactly but it probably would need censoring. It's really hard to be angry at someone who is laughing so uncontrollably that they're almost losing consciousness, so I ended up laughing along with him until my sides ached and I got cramp in my jaw.  (Will I ever learn? Probably not!)

Well Mike, we've really had some laughs together, but you've forgetting to mention one of the best.  I'm thinking of the time after you had just bought the FS128, and brought it up to The Astronomy Centre  one evening - having previously told me on the phone that you had star tested it and it was a load of 'rubbish' (I'm not allowed to mention the actual words you used to me on SGL).  Also, that having given the seller an earful the scope was re-boxed ready to be collected the next day by courier.

As this thread is about confessing our own mistakes (I've made more than I can possibly remember )  I'll leave it up to you if you want to complete the story 😊.

57 minutes ago, Carbon Brush said:

Good advice from @Peter Drew

Supplemented by my (poor) advice to enjoy the view rather than observe the defects.😁

I am reminded of something said to me me many years ago, about 1970, when a lot of people were trying to perfect the 'perfect' hifi audio system using records. More recently known as 'vinyl'.
......These people are listening to to the scratches, instead of listening to the music....🤣

Seriously. My experience of newts is that they hold collimation quite well and this collimation stuff is often overthought.
Unless of course there are loose screws, wobbly fixings, or the scope gets dropped on the floor.🤔

HTH, Dvid.

 

I agree with you.  It's still often stated in books and on chat rooms that Newts will need to be frequently collimated.  In my experience over many years this is not the case.  I've taken  Newts to Kelling and back from West Yorkshire many times for the star party.  Though I check the collimation after every journey, I can't recall ever having to adjust it.

1 hour ago, Franklin said:

Thanks for that Paul. I have the basic T2- 32mm Baader prism and with my 30mm 2" there is a touch of vignetting, not much but it's there, and I've just realized the 32mm is the prism size, it's clear aperture is more like 28mm so that explains it. Shall have to start saving for one of the larger Zeiss spec prisms! 

You're welcome Franklin.  I'd suggest you look out for a used prism, but alas they don't come along very often, I think people tend to keep hold of them.  The best of luck to you.

Regards, Paul

52 minutes ago, Franklin said:

What is the clear aperture of the BBHS prism Paul? Is it the 34mm one? and you say there is no vignetting with the 2" 70deg eyepiece, do you know the field stop diameter? Lovely set up!

Franklin, here is details of the prism, from Baaders info sheets.

The field stop diameter of the 30mm is 30.4mm.  That's correct, no vignetting with the Celestron 30mm Ultima Edge FF 2inch 70 degree eyepiece.

Sorry Mike.  If I'd known you wanted one, I would have stepped aside, and let you buy it.  🤣

It's £86. Quite a lot, but nothing will ever come detached from it when you don't want it to 🙂.

I purchased this to be able to use my new Celestron Ultima Edge FF 2inch fit, 30mm 70 deg eyepiece with my Baader T2 90 deg BBHS Prism #2456095.  

As all Baader equipment I have ever used, it works perfectly.  Firm grip, easy to use and no vignetting at the edge of the field.  Even better, I think it looks cool too 😅.

The scope in the pics is my Altair Starwave 80 ED-R fpl53 doublet, on a Scopetech Zero altaz 

Scarry!  😱

Thanks for posting the pics Nick 🙂👍.

23 minutes ago, Carbon Brush said:

OK Paul here we go.
Apologies for the poor photo. A dual mount bar assembly. A freebie torch, freebie drinks coaster and some boooks.
Not shown are long chats with Astrotruk, Rowan, and more about my potential future purchases.
Interesting talks as well.
I got two copies of 'The Story Of The Heavens' by Robert S. Ball. The 1890 hardback version  (see the Saturn drawing) and the modern paperback.
Aonther of his books. The Earths Beginning, from 1903.
Picked up the new 'Orion' book at a good price. Signed by the Hunter, and one the contributors.

I declined the 6Kg rock to add to the garden rockery. At bit expensive compared to the stuff at local garden centre.
Fortunately MSG Meteorites were not charging for photos.

Many thanks, you're back on my Christmas card list.

Nice book finds.  I'm glad you mentioned the meteorite.  When I first glanced at your pic, I thought it was someone's brain!

27 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

I think your current scope will be better in every way, except with regard to width of field. Wide flat field is where the magic lies for any 4" Televue with the exception of the TV102. But whatever you decide to do, you can greatly increase your scopes ability to reveal unbelievable detail if you block out any stray light from entering your peripheral vision.  A simple blackout blanket will do this. Honestly, you don't have to live on Hawaii or even in a completely dark site to see every bit as good as, if not better than Steve O' Meara.

Mike, the Genesis I took up to The Astronomy Centre all those years ago and our friend Derek was so pleased to be able to observe with was a Genesis f5, not an sdf.

10 hours ago, RobertI said:

You just want a telescope with the name “Genesis” in the title. 😉

Actually you are right Robert.  For all these years I've been misreading it - I thought it said 'Genius'  🙂.

14 hours ago, mikeDnight said:

 As I'm a member of The Webb Society, which may come as a surprise to other members of the Webb Society, I thought it only right to buy a beanie hat.

Last of the big spenders!

And that was all you bought Mike, really?  I wish I could have been there to help you spend more money 🙂.

20 hours ago, Stu said:

Please let’s not go down the Tak owner bashing route again. Thanks

Stu, I've never bashed a Tak owner in my life.  I'd have to bash myself as I've owned several, including Sky 90s (more than one), FS76, FS102, FC100DL and TSA120.  All very nice scopes 🙂.

Here's a fine drawing by Mike (mikeDnight) when we were observing on April 2nd, 2017.

3 hours ago, jetstream said:

Are you sure the Tak owners are just having a bit of fun?!

I also wonder why it bothers some people who read about the Taks- why read it if it bothers?

I'm not sure all of them are 😊

No, it doesn't bother me at all it's funny, some of my best astro mates are Takiphiles 🙂.

I really don't take it that seriously 😅.

2 hours ago, F15Rules said:

Welcome to the Old Astigmatics Club!

A friendly group of visual fanatics who got together at PAS Kettering for a good old chinwag, in which we discovered that most of us are astigmatic!🤦😂

So ignore anything we say in future about eyepieces not being "sharp to the edge"!🥴😋

Two (yes Two!) Maxbright IIs and a Delos may or may not have been purchased today...😋🤔

A good bunch of lads having a good time at a great and FREE Astro show.. here's to next year👍👍

From Left to right..

Dave (F15Rules), Mike (MikeDNight), Keith, Alan (Alan White), John (Telescope40), and Steve (Saganite)..

 

I hope no one sends this to the police unsolved crimes unit 🙂.

There are numerous examples of people having an illogical affinity to a particular scope.  For instance, the current range of Takahashi 100mm Fluorite doublets. Owners use superlatives to convince people of their merit.

Word such as, razor sharp, sharp enough to damage your retina, that they will knock the socks off far larger scopes, the superb colours etc etc.

I've had a DL and it's a very sharp, well made 100mm fluorite doublet.  However, I have to say, apart from in the very worst seeing, using my 8inch Dob I have far better views of every object I look at, and use it for deep sky on nights I wouldn't bother getting the DL out if I still had it.

I've also owned a Genesis f5, and loved using it, for what it's best at.  And yes, if I ever had some spare cash and one came up at a decent price, I might just be tempted to buy  it!  😊