Fozzie

Hi all.. During my last observing session, i had to swap out mounts, as the RA tracking on the GP was misbehaving, I could hear the motor ticking along but with the 5kg or so frac and accessories it was failing to move.. I worked the problem, is it balance, too much weight etc... but i came to the conclusion the 20 something year old motor is probably just giving up after years of diligent service! Sad times.. So this weekend i decided to clean it up, and order an EQ5 goto system to install.. something i've been reluctant to do as i like my vintage green mount, and don't want to spoil its look with non matching plastic components (even though i wouldn't actually mind goto... i know right) As i removed the the RA housing and ran the motors at 32x and free hand, even with no load, the gears binded, and i was crest fallen, almost like it was out of line... i removed the motor, and checked, looked like new, this mount has been really well looked after by its previous custodians! So resigned to the upgrade i started to put the pieces back together, when at the last breath i noticed the motor cog wheel had slip of the flat part of the motor shaft, the little grub screw had worked loose and it was causing the issue! Huuuuurrrrrrraaaahhhh! A quick realignment and tighten the grub, and we are back in business.. So close to a needles spend (in some ways, i'd still fancy goto!) I have form for this, i once replaced a TV because it didn't work when i lived by myself, only to find out my partner had unplugged it and not plugged it back in.. In my defense i had no reason to suspect she'd messed with plugs.. and it was an old unit.. but still! Has anyone else done something similar, jumped for an expensive replacement, for the sake of a quick cheap fix, by mistake obviosuly! Anyway the GP's fine, that's all that matters! Ta Fozzie

There's a bit of a show on at the moment.. Get out and have a look... Ta Fozzie

Here's an example of a similar size scope on skytee with the 16" extension.. it is quite a big rig.. The scope is 1125mm long, not including dew shield..

It's good stuff is that Polyx oil... wear gloves though, takes a bit to get the stink off! My home made chair is finished in Polyx oil clear, two coats... then topped with 2 coats of clear finishing wax, looks lovely.. be interesting to see the teak stain, are you useing a pre-stain primer... for the life of me i couldn't find one (i was happy to pay for at least)?

Your welcome! A worthy title.. the Felix Ridge.. I'll look out for it in the future.

Mmmmm im drawing a blank here... not listed as a satellite to Atlas or other.. but it is a feature.. geology wise, it appears as the flank material in yellow (above Atlas A) nice image though.. Ta Fozzie

Retro Vibes are a good 10 out of 10.. Looks a great scope, and sounds it too from your initial impressions..

Id' say you couldn't write it, but you really can.. Weeks of great conditions, nothing other than a bit of faculae and the tease that somethings round the corner... bring in the clouds and BANG a beauty of a spot to look at.. Although i have seen the HA lot have had a bit more to play with recently... Just us poor WLers who the weather gods despise! Thanks for the heads up though Stu!

Glad you found these interesting.. It's an app on android called "Lunar Map HD".. I've found it really useful... until recently it was linked with a Moon Wikipedia page, you could "touch" the feature and a link would pop up to the WIKI page, giving you a NASA rover picture and more information.. unfortunately the moon wiki was taken down, not sure why. I have however over the last few days found the information in a different location.. https://the-moon.us/wiki/Main_Page If that helps.. Clear Skys Fozzie

Two more cc's seem well placed tonight.. Marth La Condamine F.. Suspect marth is the easier of the two, although both approx 6.5km.. think marth is more pronounced.. Just a heads up..

Just thought i'd link this in again, a few more concentrics to look out for..

Just noticed that Hesiodus A is well placed, with half in shadow and the inner crater easily visible.. one of the collection of concentric craters.. Worth a look..

Finished!

The little lads enjoying the view from the top... FYI I've sat up there also, chair handled it well.. might have to get a big dob!

So after weeks and weeks of trying different samples of stains and finishes I've decided that actually I'm going to embrace the red wood pine for the wood it is and clear finish it to bring out the grain, as opposed to stain or varnish. Going with OSMO polyx oil, Matt finish, two coats followed by two coats of clear finishing wax.. First coat of the polyx oil applied.. you can tell it's pine.. but after all this supposed to be a trail run, before I copy in a hard wood.. I'll post a picture of the finished chair in a week or so when the finishing is done, but for now.. here's the first coat pics. Ta Fozzie

Get out and catch it.. He Fozzie

Same as John, the eye cup extender transformed the experience if this eyepiece for me.. is that worth a try?

I'd second this, found it a very nice EP to use.. Only replaced it with the green and black one, because i was collecting the set of plossls.. not for any other reason.

Looking at it;s track for the morning... i don't think it'll be too far from where SWAN is expected to be looking at this.. That would make for a heck of a sight, provided the dawn light doesn't drown it all out! Thanks for the heads up!

If it's ok i'm not going to take apart any of my set, as when ever i do exploratory investigative works like that on anything, there's always a bit left over that i just can't place! Actually thinking about it might do the 12mm to see whats wrong with the twist up eye cup.

That is very impressive, what a thing to behold.. Mr Fusion! One thing occurred to me though, I don't suspect that one for travelling, doesn't look "airline friendly"

That and someone asking if it's going to hit us or if it is in fact nibiru... Bet you'll get a decent view from brimham rocks or Sutton bank, lock down depending

Don't think I've shown the business end of my frac before, for an achro, it's a lovely lens.. that deep blue...!

The SLV's are my ep of choice normally, I have the 5mm to 25mm, and have spent a good many hours on lunar with them. I've never seen a mirror image reflection or anything of that kind. The only issues I've ever had was a ghosting caused by two stacked filters, I believe condensation between the filters caused a halo around Jupiter, and my 12 mm eye cup has a little rattle and is a little loose.. it was second hand and came like that. This evening I pushed my achro to x500 with a 5mm SLV and 2.25x baaderBarlow on a telegraph pole about a mile away.. again no reflection.. lots of ca but, with a filter in place the image was still reasonably sharp.. I could make out a number of bolts holding a bar in place.. Fine ep's the SLV..

That's a lovely classic moon shot Jules.. hope your keeping safe, nice to see you dipping your toe.. Ta Fozzie