Fozzie

On 16/02/2020 at 21:10, Stu said:

I am supposed to be selling kit off, but couldn't resist this when I saw it. A rather lovely 34 year old Vixen FL102s f8.8. I now have three 4" classics in my possession; Televue Genesis, Tak FC100 and Vixen Fluorite at f5, f7.4 and f8.8. Quite fun  the Genesis and Vixen side by side will be quite a combo.

It is in lovely condition and I've had some excellent views so far, splitting 32 Orionis the other night, more to come. I want to spend some time with it side by side with the FC100 to see how it does. I've been using it with the original Vixen prism, but if it stays with me it may gain a Moonlite so I can have dual speed and use my other diagonal. Time will tell.

I am certainly looking forward to some lovely views of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars through it later this year. Venus has already been pretty impressive.

That's like a dream scope right their, let alone with it's stable mates, very lucky boy... I'm very envious... still though you don't have vixen green half piller, and I do... I could be tempted in to a straight swap.. 😈🤪

Finally an update on the computer front.. 8th gen i7, ssd drive, 8gb ram.. should speed up the processing, relevant to the old Celeron core 2gb ram thing in the corner! 

Can t cope with the OCD either so I totally get that..

to clarify the first Divorce was not astro spend related, her reasoning was now way as plausible, or acceptable as that.. I mean he wasn't even an astronomer so I have no idea what she was thinking TBH...

Sounds like a wanted Add, but good luck with the search if you go for one of those lovely green ones..

14 minutes ago, Stu said:

 A Vixen green half pillar would solve this I think, if i can find one.

You'd laugh then cry if you knew how much mine cost me, and I'd probably end up divorced again if my wife found that  out too.... but I needed it so it was worth it as a loss leader! They don't come up often..

Another, came up quite well..

Tried something a bit different tonight, seeing if I catch the illuminated clouds scuttling past the moon, not easy to do without over exposing or not picking up the clouds..

All processed on the phone, couple of overlayed images.. tweaked on the phone too..

What do we think?

Canon 750d, 70-300 nanoUSM at 70mm iso200 f20, 8secs..

Ta

Fozzie

I think we have a habit of over complicating things.. either it will go SN or it won't in my life time, that's two options, therefore I make it 50/50... not bad odds tbh.. 😂😉

https://www.cpre.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/star-count-2020/

Big amber wind warning now, lots of rain forecast... batten down the obsy hatches people!

9 hours ago, John said:

I guess that's a potential issue with sliding dew shields although my TMB/LZOS 130 has a flocked sliding affair. I believe it was flocked when made though so the flocking material thickness has obviously been allowed for in the machining of the sliding mechanism.

 

 

Never even considered this to be a potential issue, still goes to show that it's a well engineered bit of refractor, the papers not exactly thick.. 1mm maybe! 

9 hours ago, Alan White said:

Some may say you flocked this up 😂

6 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Oh yes, that’s my style.

Then sit thinking, why the ****@@%%+&(&5+5=5(=5( did I just do that

And then the lens cell starts to unscrew stuck up in the dew shield... you have to tell yourself not to panic although the situation is getting away from you, rapid! 

All free now though... and unflocked!

17 minutes ago, johninderby said:

No problem. Just get out the angle grinder and grind some off. 😁😁😁

Nip it down for binos at the same time... what could go wrong..

And errrrrr would youforce it on and then get it stuck on too?

Yep...

Just spent a good 30mins flocking the inside of the f11's dew shield..  and I may say so myself done a very very good job..

Only problem is it does not fit over the lens cell now!

Doh.

That Gassendi is a cracking shot, the rest are in the zone too...

That's a lovely set up John..

Those images are outstanding! thanks for sharing..

Went for NASA blues and space helmet!

Old blue boiler with some iron on patches, very dad proud if this and a less proud box and tinfoil helmet!

Yep I can swing a space heater around on a skyteeII too! 

I miss the aperture of the 200p, but by eck this was a heavy set up..  The chap I bought the sky tee from had a 250p on it, with a big 7kg meade CW.. grab and stagger!

That DM6.... 😎

That's a serious collection @John over time... which was best?

Heres my offerings, skytee and a ball head pan plate combo!

21 minutes ago, wormix said:

Great job! - Can I ask where you source your timber from?

 

Thanks! I used Clive walker timber in Hunslet, Leeds..  local to my work, thought it was a decent price for small quantity.

16 minutes ago, Stu said:

I wonder if @dark star has completed the project 10 years later? 😉😉🤣🤣

Zombie thread alert!!!

Lol... still quicker than most of my DIY... speaking of which I've got half an observing chair somewhere round here!

27 minutes ago, Alan White said:

I am confused Fozzie, what are those marks, 'dust bunnies' perhaps? 😉

Time for a bit of wonder fluid maybe..