DRT

Another solution would be to stick a long 3/8ths bolt through the top connector on an EQ5 pillar extension.

No, same price, which I don't think is expensive given that the M10 to 3/8th adapters seem to be twice that price

Because if we were on a flat disk the shadow would only appear to be round when directly overhead

I noticed on another retailer's website that those AZ5 pillars are not expensive. I wonder if it would be possible to just tap an M10 female thread into the base (obliterating/replacing the 3/8th thread) and then use the mount and pillar on an EQ5/HEQ5 tripod?

Perhaps the bottle is the same size as the cat, it's just that the bottle is farther away? {With thanks to Father Ted for the joke}

I have had a Lunt 50 for a couple of years and never had any issues with it. I find the best way to tune it is to put in a relatively low power eyepiece (15mm plossl?) so that the whole disk is in the central sweet spot of the FOV and then tune slowly until you can see prominences around the disk (assuming they are there). Once they start to appear just slowly move the tuner in an out until you find the optimum position where the prominences at their brightest. Assuming it is a clear day, you should now be able to see surface detail that is not too dissimilar to this picture... I agree with others that it is likely that your tuner is not properly sealed but hopefully the above gives you an expectation of what these scopes can deliver. Good luck!

That could just be a conspiracy by cats to make us all believe the world isn't flat

It's called SynScan (by Pacif Telescope Corporation) on the Apple App Store and the icon is the black and white spiral galaxy SW logo.

Thanks, Helen. If I buy one I'll try it as it comes before considering the upgrade. I have a Tele Vue Telepod tripod so it will be good to see how the SW compares to that.

So can I fit that pier and the mount to my Berlebach tripod in place of the EQ5 pier that sits on it today?

Really? For how long? {sorry, thread drift! }

Yes, I know, but not to drive a telescope

This is my only power bank - lots of power and the size of a half brick - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/tracer-12v-22ah-lithium-polymer-battery-pack.html Smaller and cheaper options available for a mount of this size

I get that - this mount, my OMC140, Lunt 50 Ha and TV Pronto plus a box of EP's gives me and Monty the dog a great set-up to take away in the car on holiday. There might even be room for Mrs T. !!

I just downloaded the App - the answer seems to be yes I want one, I want one, I want one

Does the iPhone App feed the mount GPS co-ordinates, date and time? (yes, I am exceptionally lazy )

I go on holiday next Saturday and this looks like it would be very easy to fit in the car

Very true.

I also have a Baader film cap that I use with my SW RACI Finder, which is also very effective.

I admit to doing this myself sometimes but it certainly isn't the safest way to locate the Sun I use the TV Sol Searcher on my Lunt 50 and I have another one on the Synta-style shoe that I can switch from scope to scope as needed. Not cheap at fifty quid for the finder and shoe, but new eyes are much more expensive

Isn't that because Dobsters hibernate for the summer?

Very nice! Perhaps you should have used a few peacock feathers to keep the objective and the focuser covered for a little longer just to tease us some more ? ?

Very nice, Garry. Perhaps you could turn them into solar bins? ?

That sounds excellent, Mark. That is a very nice collection of glass to have in a travel bag

Will do, Dave. How long did yours spend in the care of Daystar?