DRT

That prism does not reach focus  

43 minutes ago, Ricochet said:

Does the finder come to focus with that diagonal? If so which one is it? 

Don’t know yet - will try it tonight. It’s a Baader Amici Prism. 

Here is my recently re-acquired ED120 sporting some new CNC rings and a Sky-Watcher EvoGuide ED50 finder scope  

4 minutes ago, 25585 said:

Better to have & keep a few good ones..

Goes for telescopes too!

Trouble is deciding what goes when some need to be sold. 

 

As I type this I am ending a session of solar observing with an ED120, an Altair 152, a Quark, a Badder Herschel Wedge, a Lunt50Ha and a full set of eyepieces. I don't feel deprived ?

Letting go is simply a function of what you need versus what you want ?

Thanks, Alan. I'm sure I'll cope. Very much a First World Problem ?

1 hour ago, 25585 said:

Are your Celestron eps Luminos? 

Pre-owned TV eps are always on the market. And there are now equally good competitors for less money if you want to buy new. 

Yes, they are Luminos, mostly pre-owned so the whole set for around 65% of retail price, which is good enough for me. 

Believe me, I have bought and sold more eyepieces than any man should in the past few years (scroll back through this entire thread to see all of them ?) - all I'm doing at the moment is owning a whole set of wide-fields for the price of one Ethos until I'm able to claw back some Green and black ?

16 minutes ago, Louis D said:

Some my reactions to your news:    

That just about sums it up!  

4 minutes ago, 25585 said:

Have you considered a coma corrector? GSO make a reasonably priced one. 

The Dob is fitted with a SIPS coma corrector inside the FeatherTouch focuser but I think these might struggle in a few way other than just Coma.

I'll just have to put up with it until the day when I can splash out on some green and black again  

For a variety of reasons I have had to let all of my TV eyepieces go and have replaced them with this set. From the research I've done my refractors should deal with these well but I'll have to put up with a few issues in my F4 Dob. 

The space top right is reserved for the matching Barlow if one comes up second hand. 

13 hours ago, Moonshane said:

Here's my 'final case 

FAKE NEWS!  

5 hours ago, Sunshine said:

I did the unthinkable and pointed my scope through a double pane window in my living room in a desperate attempt to have a look at the sun!

its November here in southern Ontario Canada and typically the sun does not show itself at all, if its not overcast its fog, if it isn't fog its snow, if not snow then endless steady rain!!!!!.

I WAS DESPERATE PEOPLE!!!

And how did it go? Did you get any good observing? ?

1 hour ago, John said:

Yes it is Derek. Single speed but very nice to operate. I have the original helical focuser as well but the Feathertouch seems a lot better.

 

Yip - me too  

They are definitely a big improvement on the stock helical focuser.

Very nice, John. Is that a FeatherTouch on the Lunt 50? 

3 hours ago, Jonk said:

That's a shame Derek, I wanted to show you my dob working on your old eq platform!

Another time, mate - glad it worked out

@Grant,

I'm booked on pitch 31 for Saturday night only but unfortunately I won't be able to make it.

Feel free to re-allocate the pitch and my food voucher  

Hope to see you all next year.

Cheers

Derek

3 hours ago, Stu said:

I've got a handset on the way too as I think that may well be easier than using the phone.

That will be a big blow to the marketing department given that the WiFi feature is what makes it different from other SW mounts of this size

Very nice, Mark. I hope it lives up to expectations. 

1 hour ago, ImmortalBee said:

Mine's not worthy of this thread  I have the EPs in their original boxes (except for a Meade 4000 series Plossl which I have in its little bottle inside a padded case) inside a plastic toolbox with gaps filled in using packing foam chips.

There is no wrong answer here. Post away, we have all been where you are. Some decide to go nuts and spend a small fortune on exotic glass, others stay very close to where you are for very good reasons. 

Those with expensive EPs have as much to learn from those who don't than the other way around ?

3 minutes ago, John said:

That looks very impressive Derek

It's going to be quite a stack with a big 2" eyepiece in the focuser. No chance of tube flex with the weight out that far is there ?

I don't think so John. By the time I do the adjustment I expect it to be roughly the same length as with the Mk II and that didn't give me any problems. I've also switched from Ethos to Delos eyepieces so that will lighten the load considerably ?

My new SIPS comma corrector arrived from FLO today and is now fitted to the VX12 F4 ?

The focuser assembly is now a hefty lump but I must say it is as solid as a rock. I've still to adjust the SIPS to the correct focus point so I'm not sure whether or not the riser will still be necessary but from reading the instructions I suspect it will be. 

Looking forward to using it and there should be a very nice Paracorr Mk II appearing in the classified section soon ?

33 minutes ago, Azbec said:

Is an RCD required for the electric hookups at the site?

I think recommended rather than required. I have run my observation kit without one at the site three times without a problem but if you have a pile of imaging kit attached it is probably sensible to have an RCD in there somewhere.

Very nice, Mark

You seem to be making a habit of meeting SGL members at Kings Cross  

Thanks, @AdeKing - I might seek one out and give it another go  

7 hours ago, AdeKing said:

Here is my humble White Light setup comprising a Skywatcher ST102 and 2" Lacerta Herschel Wedge mounted on an EQ5.

More often than not its on a Skytee II along with a Coronado PST that I've borrowed from the local Astro Society, but not when I want to sketch, which is where the EQ5 really comes into its own, even if it does take me ages to set it up (I'm a new EQ convert).

Here its set up at a viewpoint over Chesil Beach in Portland, Dorset.  Sadly, I can't afford to have a view like this from my garden .

That looks excellent, Ade. How do you find the ST102 for CA? I had one a couple of years ago and I think it was a dud as there was always a big multi-coloured ring around almost everything I looked at. It would be good to know for sure that mine was at the bad end of the spectrum (pub intended  ) as I do fancy something around that size for travelling.

I use a UNI 28 plus a 16" pillar extension with my big fracs and it is absolutely rock solid. I'm sure you'll love it