aussi skywatcher

Hi Pat, are you around? skype me if you like, I am bored - it been hot again. Cheers Paul

Hi Pat, at least you got to go outside :) - we have lots of cloud here and its been up around 42 deg C during the days so plenty of heat haze to complement the cloud cover. the nights have been no better most nights its been around the 30 deg C mark. :mad: I am beginning to think there isnt going to be a perfect time anymore :confused: Cheers Paul

Bad news !!!!! but hopefully you will work it out ok. I am going away for a few days but will have access to the net. we have a full lunar eclipse to see on Saturday night but I probably wont have a scope but I will try some photos anyway - the forecast is not too good. Cheers Paul

Hi Pat, this is indeed a disaster, is your gear insured? often its covered if its on your property :mad: Paul

Hi Pat, good to see you got it done and it works :hello2: its amazing what can be done when needs must, the pikes look good considering the conditions. lots of clouds here at the moment so no more pictures of Jupiter as yet. cheers Paul

Hi Pat, great pictures you seem to be getting it all together now. I had the 8" out last night - first time for ages ans as usual the clouds rolled in but I was looking at Saturn for a while and the seeing was just brilliant for a while. I was able to use my zoom on the Barlow and get a really good view - I haven had much success with this combination in the past. Melbourne trip went ok - cold and wet. :) Cheers Paul

Hi Pat, Its B cold here in Melbourne - cloudy too, but thats nothing to the day you just had - nothing like a good rant when all goes pear shaped, talk to you when I get back home at the weekend ;) Paul

Great stuff Pat - you did well :hello2: Cheers Paul

yea - the clouds have gone - the stars are out - but !!!!!!! the local football club have switched their floodlights on for a night game - stars all washed out - I'm off to bed - Paul :confused:

:mad: Still clouds, clouds and more clouds :mad: :confused: :( - Paul

Hi Pat, great to talk to you the other day, gee these pikkies are somewhat different since you modded the camera- the weather here is still not good - clouds clouds and more clouds - I have made a bracket for my Finepix camera - have found that if I set it onto firework mode I can manually set the focus to infinity the only snag is the max exposure is 4seconds but when I ihave some clear skies I will give it a go. Cheers Paul

Hi Pat, - had a look at the pikkies -they look good and are getting better - I like the mount you have made for your camera on the goto - looks very professional Cheers Paul

Hi Neil, Its great that you have done this job, I put it off for ages too but once done it was much easier next time. I have just bought a set of "Bobs Knobs" for my scope - it had Allen screws which were not easy to use but these new ones have made life so much easier - they are worth checking out (just google them). Cheers Paul :hello2:

Hi Pat (again!) I have just downloaded Registax 6 - have you looked at it yet? Paul

Hi Pat, just had a look - thats good -weather still not helping here - moon gone - Saturn hiding behind a tree so I am not happy :mad: Cheers Paul

Hi Pat, what camera are you using for these shots? Paul

I bought an 8" - its great but a 10" would have been better and then of course a 12" would have been better still need I say more :) whatever you buy you will always wish you had bought bigger. Cheers Paul

Hi Pat, I like the pictures - That moon shot is great. I am still away until Sunday and have limited internet access hear at Geraldton - My daughter tells my webcam has arrived so looking forward to playing with it next week - will be in touch when I get home, Cheers Paul :)

Hi Pat, I had this problem too so I bought a 50mm extension tube - I made up a cardboard tube about 4" long and kept trimming it until I found a length that gave me focus about halfway along the focuser tube - this has worked ok for all my eps. but I guess it could be that you may need several tubes of different lengths. I still have a problem if I use my 2" Barlow with some eps. Life aint simple is it mate :confused: Cheers Paul :)

Hi Pat, the new focuser looks good in the picture - its amazing the difference they make to your viewing. On this topic of focuser s I have spent most of today working on the rack and pinion focuser on my refractor scope, when i was using the camera the other night I found it hard to get focus spot on as there seemed to be some slop/play somewhere in the tube - so I stripped it right down and have ended up removing the 2 felt pads the tube slid on, this seems a bit primitive. I have now made a "cradle" out of a solid nylon block and the tube now sits in that with the tension applied as before from the adjustment pad (nylon) at the top of the tube, the difference is amazing and very smooth (lubricated it with automotive dry lube stick) and there is no movement in any direction when reversing focus direction. Of course the clouds have rolled in and look like staying around for a few days so wont be able to try it out on the moon. (or anything else!!) :mad: Cheers Paul

Hi Pat. these are not bad - I have not got them that good (yet :() - would be interested to know what your camera settings were if you can remember - I am still finding out what the basic controls are and their effects ie gain - just what does that do. On the power tank - I have been using a 12volt jump starter pack but have read that there may be problems using these as the voltage is not stable so it has the potential to burn you out - I am going to stick with batteries from now on - I get about 10hrs out of a set of 8 AA. Cheers Paul

Hi Pat - liked the movie - well done Elisha you should be proud of that. I too had a play last night with the goto and webcam but the mozzies played havoc and I succeeded in gettingonly a few mins worth of out of focus moon :mad: - still learning how to use registax. Cheers Paul