kev100

Couldn’t not try this one. Orion above the ramparts of Dorset’s Maiden Castle Hillfort. No processing, just as it came off the Pixel 4a. January 30, 2023. The foreground doesn’t normally show up in phone shots, but was illuminated by a very bright waxing gibbous moon. kev

Hiya, have you tried the computer application Stellarium? It lets you add your scope and eyepieces to its ‘ocular’ plugin, and gives a decent rendering of what you can expect to see re any given object … available on mac, windows and Linux, and it’s free! stellarium.org Kev

Just had a look at the comet (meh), Mars (ditto) and then this fat boy came out to play and it was game over 🤣

In for a penny … Gemini, captured on a Pixel 4a in ‘Astrophotography mode’ on the 26th of December, Piddletrenthide, Dorset. Boosted the contrast slightly with Curves in Photoshop. Pretty close to original tbh.

I'll be there, usual pitch (36)...

Hi. I do hope you find it useful to some extent, it's primarily aimed at absolute beginners 👍

So glad you’re enjoying it, and can’t wait for more 🙂

It's hard to be sure, but from the second pic it looks like the secondary isn't centered (see attached). As for the stiffness in the primary screws, just checking that you've loosened the lock screws (belt and braces!). Also, do measure the secondary vane lengths and adjust the secondary so they're all equal (I've been caught out by this). You might find this useful...

Can you take a photo through the cheshire or using a collimation cap? Like the attached. So we can see the issue. Can't help with the specifics on the Orion scope, Im afraid, tho ....

The anxious wait for feedback continues 🫣

Hiya, there's no up front cost 🙂

Do look at Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing... Doesn't cost anything to set up, and author copies are at cost price 👍

Wow, thank you 👍. 🤞🤞🤞That you like it

🤞🤞🤞🤞🙂

Hi Malcolm, I published them both through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing thing ... though I did all the research, writing, layout and design myself. Compared to only a few years ago, the production quality has improved massively, and with the 'Extended distribution' option, the books are made available to US and UK book wholesalers. As for how it feels ... i've never been so anxious/terrified in all my life - fearing the worst reviews, etc, though feedback has been positive so far ... Kev

Hi, First of all, I've already checked with the admins about whether it's okay to post this (Grant said yes). But yes, I've just published two astro books(!): A decade in stargazing and Demystifying visual astronomy (details here). The latter is squarely aimed at absolute beginners, but A decade in stargazing will, I reckon/hope, have something for everyone. They're currently only available from Amazon (paperback, hardback and Kindle editions), but I'm told that soon they'll be available from book retailers (if not actually in stock then available to order). Cheers! Kev

Hi all. I found this post when googling 's-shaped curve of stars from Orion to Hyades' having recently taken a pic of the region with my Pixel 4a. There's a really nice s-shaped chain of stars running from 17 Orionis (or even Bellatrix) through the bow to Aldebaran that I've never noticed before. Can I claim it ?

Hi, I use a secondhand Manfrotto 190 tripod with an extender I picked up on Amazon. Works well with my 20x80s. Kev

It was miles out after being blown over ... With bent secondary vanes and a damaged focuser. I'm happy it's not far away now.

Thanks for that, still a little way to go 🙂

I just used my phone up against the collimation cap for the pic. Will try a t-piece and DSLR tomorrow.

I've been having all sorts of problems with collimation ever since my scope blew over whilst at Astrocamp the other week, but I think it's getting there. Pic taken through a collimation cap... Kev

Wow Don, thanks for the information. I'll need to give it some thought before committing. However, given that I already have a low profile focuser, with an adjustable extension tube, which, on any given night is adjusted depending on the EP being used, it may be the case that I scribe a mark into it for the myriad, and just use my current 2in/1.25 adapter for the other EPs. It's only really the wide fov that needs the CC ...

Thanks everyone for the info. I was particularly interested in perhaps using one with my 20mm myriad (having recently seen the positive effects of a televue paracor on a 20mm nagler in a fast scope. However, I’m not sure it would be a good idea for me. I use a low profile focuser plus extension tube on my scope, then a 2in EP adapter, then the eyepiece. Adding further weight to the focuser sounds iffy… unless the coma corrector sits in place of theEP adapter… cheers, kev

Hiya. Just wondering if anyone has experience of using the above (link) for visual use in an f 4.7, for example, Newt? Kev.