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paulastro

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Everything posted by paulastro

  1. Thanks Geoff. I did look on line for alternatives and I recall looking at GIMP in a long list that came up. I'll go back and take another look. I'll compare what it offers compared to my ancient Elements software.
  2. Thanks Mr H. I'll see if I can borrow a cd drive and give it a go. I might buy a cd drive otherwise if they are not too much.
  3. My ancient laptop riuninjg Windows 8 has finally given up the ghost and I've bought a newer used laptop running Windows 11. I've used Photoshop Elements 9 on my old laptop for many years, and it's been good enough for me. I have the original CD and access code, but he computer I now have doesn't have a disc drive. My first question is, if I bought or borrowed a disc drive, would I be able to download Elements 9, put the access code in and carry on using it on the new computer with Windows11? This is my preferred option. If this won't work, can anyone recommend some other free imaging software? I don't want specialist astro imaging software, just something for everyday use. The extent of my astro imaging, such as it is, is only for single frame solar shots, lunar shots or widefield shots of comets and other wide field events using my mirrorless camera. I'd be grateful for any suggestions. Many thanks.
  4. I was after an altaz mount for the Askar 103 Apo. Alas, the AZ5 is fine for powers up to about x80, but above that the view was far too shaky to get the best out of planets and the Moon. I wanted a rock steady mount, manual, with slow motions for the Askar apo - approaching 6k with dovetail, rings, small finder and binoviewer with x2 Orthos. Money was not plentiful and I had a limit of around £300. I was surprised there weren't more options in this price range, certainly that I might have confidence could cope with the Askar. I had a SkyTee (1st incarnation) around 20 years ago if I remember correctly. In my recollection, it could hold a big load but there were some drawbacks. It was rather rough and ready, the movements were not that smooth, not much finess and in those days it was generally accepted you had to replace the two clamps. If you didn't there was every chance that a clamp could spring apart, if you undid the knob too far, and spill the scope onto the floor! Roll on 20 years and we have the mk 11 SkyTee. The mk11 designation perhaps indicating it may have improved over the years? In addition, FLO now have their own version under the StellaLyra brand. In the pics there are at least a couple off differences between it and the Mk 11. It also comes with a couple of counterweights. I had some confidence/hope that FLO would have specified a better spec than the Mk 1 and possibly the Mk 11. With a black Friday reduction on offer, I ordered the StellaLyra. It arrived on Nov 29th and I was impressed with its appearance and sturdyness - at least set up in the lounge! Nov 30th, frozen snow on the ground, - 3 degrees and a GRS transit pending at 9.36pm at an altitude of 48 degrees. I was set up by 8.35, the SL mounted on a Vixen channel aluminium. tripod. Well, in summary, what a agreat decission, rock steady and firm but smooth slow motions. The Askar was mounted on one side no counterweight used on the other side. ( FLO rate the mount as 10 kilo each side) at around x150 Jupiter was indeed rock steady, the seeing was fairly good and it looked like a drawing. The detail, particularly around the two EBs was very good with either barges or other details spilling into the EZ. The GRS was visible all the time. There was easily more detail that I have seen through any four inch class scope scope for some years. One or two expletives punctuated the cold night air. Wonderful. I'm not sure which was more responsible for the wonderful views, the quality of the optics or the steadiness of the mount. The seeing was good, but by no means the best. Certainly the Askar on the AZ5 wasn't in the same class at high power - not unexpectedly. The clamps were very good, and far better that the originals on the SkyTee Mk 1, in my view they don't need to be replaced. Having said that I did replace one with an ADM clamp. The only small negative with the mount was that one of the azimuth slow motion knobs caught on the slow motion locking lever. I noticed this on the day it arrived and removed the offending knob. I never missed it, and I may put on a short-stalked knob which won't foul the locking lever. I'm over the Moon with the mount, it's a bargain buy at the price, it would probably be fairly at home with the Askar 140 Apo 🙂. I have never used the SkyTee Mk 11, so cannot comment on how it may compare with the StellaLyra. The pic below was taken on the night of the test, complete with snow. An extended dew shield was put on to keep the frost off.
  5. Thanks John. I had owned one many many years ago - perhaps as many as 25 years if they've been around that long. My recollection is that they were more 'industrial' at that time. Some aspects seem to have been improved over the years, and it seems a bit smarter than I recall my original one being. It's certainly very sturdy, Hopefully I'll be able to put it through its paces tonight - but the omens are good.
  6. This arrived this morning. The mount is FLOs version of the SkyTee 11 of course. There are some minor differences, but I'll leave those until I write a review. The important thing is, it appears steady as a rock, and we'll within the mounts capacity. It doesn't need the counterweight - I was just trying it out. Far more convenient than a GEQ for visual observations for me - especially when using the Starsense Explorer. Me buying this mount has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it can take the weight of some of the 103s larger cousins!
  7. I'm not on Facebook but my wife went on the link re the 185. It appears to be a few pics and people's comments. I've attached two of the pics - bear in mind they are screen grabs so haven't the original resolution. The Jupiter pick was taken with the 185 - the original is much better.
  8. I'm not trying to tempt you John, but I'd like to see a pic of the 140 on your T-Rex altaz. 🙂
  9. Perhaps instead of asking why Askar triplets cost so little, perhaps we ought to ask why some other manufacturers charge so much. There just might be some refractor manufacturers feeling just a little nervous right now.
  10. A lovely image Vash, thanks for posting it.
  11. Just to say I gave much thought before buying the 103 as the price seemed too good to be true. But in the end I decide that with FLOs return policy there wasn't anything to lose. Also, though there were no visual reports when I ordered mine, but there was a good comparative imagers report with three other four inch scopes on u-tube in which the Askar stood up well to more expensive scopes. I've only had nine hours observing with it due to poor weather, but I'm very pleased with it in every way. I don't know how they manage to produce such a high quality scope with so many features for such a comparatively good price. As Peter says, if the others turn out to be as good, then they may not keep the price so low for too long.
  12. That's quite true - also I'm VERY wealthy - but don't tell anyone else 🙂.
  13. ASKAR 103 TRIPLET £150 KNOCKED OFF PRICE- one only under 'offers' on FLO. I should have waited a couple of weeks 😊.
  14. I'm saving up to buy the whole set - I'm just hoping they don't introduce any more!
  15. You've missed out the 140 version! I've just seen it listed on FLO, £2098.
  16. The Askar 103 Triplet has a new companion. A friend of mine was kind enough to sell me a black Vixen GP mount, from the time when they were supplied with some TeleVue telescopes.
  17. Good to hear from you Andrew. You're always welcome to come round. Regards, Paul
  18. Hi Robert. Yes, that's correct. In actual practice I'll probably rarely take the section off for binoviewing - I tend to reserve BV for the Moon and planets. I didn't mention it, but the focus travel is 100mm, plenty enough to get focus with just about any eyepiece type I would have thought.
  19. This review is the same one I have posted on FLO's website under the telescopes listing. I'll update it here as I've more experience using it. was looking for a four inch apo for visual use to compliment my 10inch Starsense Explorer Dob, and 80mm ED doublet ((Altair 80 ED-R). I had owned a 102 Tecnosky F7 previously - FPL53 and Lanthanum doublet - which came from the same stable as the Starfield and several others. I was very pleased with the Tecnosky, very sharp images, good contrast and virtually no CA to note.. So, the natural thing to do was buy the well respected⁷ Starfield version with the same optics of the Tecnosky. I though I'd check out the current crop of 102 apos anyway, I couldn't see anything that looked better than the Starfield - and then I happened to come across an ad for the new Askar 103 triplet. Here was a triplet with all the extra features (including two finder feet fitted, a handle with the capacity to add more finders/accessories if necessary, binoviewer friendly, graduated field rotator, 3.5 inch R&P focuser, a case etc). All this for a triplet only about £100 more than the Starfield. I had set my heart on a four inch that would be at least on a par with the Starfield, Tecnosky etc range of doublets in terms of optical quality. There is little on line about this scope yet as a visual instrument, but there are a few good reviews on imaging with it on u-tube and other places. They all seemed fairly positive to me, and Askar has a good, if young, pedigree, so I took the plunge and placed my order. I've had the scope since Nov 1st and have had about nine hours with it under the stars. So how is it doing? The fit and finish of the scope is excellent and is of a high standard. The sliding dew shield, focuser and image rotator work very well. Attention to detail is very good, it even comes with two finder screws on the handle which fit into two holes at the ends of the dovetail to stop it slipping through an untightened clamp. The handle is very sturdy and has numerous holes to fit accessories to it, and along with the two finder feet (and two multiple finder adapters I already have) makes it possible to attach accessories in at least nine positions. This is particularly helpful for me as it makes it very easy to adapt to use the excellent Starsense Explorer push to location system which I have already used with it. Now the important bit - the optics. I need not have worried, the views I have had indicate they are of a high quality, and certainly are worthy of a very good triplet - if used visually or for imaging. The sharpness, and contrast on Jupiter and the Moon have been very good indeed, despite less than ideal conditions. One morning when the GRS was in view and also Ganymede and its shadow was particularly memorable. Star images are really tight, and I was surprised with the number of faint background stars visible when looking at some deep sky objects. The Orion nebula showed greatly detail in swathes of swirling nebulosity with the background a lovely inky blackness. The colour of stars were also very evident for a four inch scope. The most surprising thing to me was when I observed Vega one night. Admittedly it was at a high altitude - though the seeing was not great. When I focused in on it with my 12.5 Morpheus it was reduced to a beautifully small and pure white airy disk. I watched it for several minutes, and it did not vary in appearance, I knew then I had made a good choice. One thing, it is a fairly hefty scope compared with a doublet, coming in at 6K / 13.5 lbs with rings, dovetail, handle and a 1 25 inch prism - no finder. I was using it on an AZ5, fine up to about x100 but difficult as you increase the mag. past this. It deserves more stability if you intend to use it to its full capacity. To this end I have just bought a used Vixen GP which is on the way! In use, straight out the house, I had no problems with it taking a long time to cool down. If you do have any problems - it's worth the wait! Finally, when I tried to remove the section of tube off to put it in bino or reducer-mode, I couldn't grip the tube hard enough to undo it. I now own a strap wrench which did the trick! Summary so far - Great build quality, great optics, very versatile and amazing value.
  20. Sorry Kianna, not sure what you mean. You mean You've started using Starsense? I've been using it for over a year with many different scopes. It works wonderfully well on any objects, whatever the magnitude.
  21. After delivery on Nov 1st and an hours first light on 4th, I've been devoid of clear skies. To ensure I can make the most of second light I've set it up to use it with the Starsense Explorer App push-to location system. With the Askar's multiple positions to position the phone holder and other accessories it was very easy. Hopefully I will have second light before Christmas 🙂.
  22. Mind you Jeremy, now I've looked at this page, I was right. They DO all look alike!
  23. Just the ticket - that should cheer him up 🙂.
  24. What's the use of looking at pics of a load of Tak telescopes, they all look the same - so yesterday. 🤣 Only Joking! For goodness sake Jeremy, please post a couple of pages with some pics for Mike, or he'll be all sulky and miserable as he hasn't got a copy. 😊
  25. Glad to hear you're still looking up Andrew 🙂. Best regards, Paul
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