DRT

6 minutes ago, Pig said:

That's great news Derek and you haven't missed any sunshine ?

You're not wrong, mate. I think I've had the Lunt out about three times since the Quark was sent off. 

Guaranteed sunshine for the rest of the summer ?

On 06/06/2017 at 23:46, DRT said:

Simon at Widescreen Centre emailed today to let me know that Daystar have identified/know the fault from the picture and will replace the filter under warranty. 

Windescreen Centre are taking care of logistics. 

?

Less than two months after agreeing to help resolve the problem Widescreen Centre returned my Quark to me today.

Daystar have not supplied any information about what the fault was, how it occurred or what they did to fix it but it looks to me that they have replaced the entire red section of the device. It is a slightly darker colour than I remember and absolutely no signs of use.

The service from Simon at Widescreen Centre has been excellent and I am quite impressed that Daystar turned this around relatively quickly during the period leading up the the total eclipse in the USA.

It is a sunny day tomorrow so I will be testing it out and will report back  

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

Just now, FLO said:

At ours they are £24, have you seen it costing less elsewhere?  

Extension Tube for AZ5

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

47 minutes ago, SilverAstro said:

I'm going to regret asking this := I dont get that Magellan quote, why not a round flat disk casting a round shadow ? he seems cock-sure of himself !!   >  and runs for cover. >

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?

1 minute ago, Knight of Clear Skies said:

The scale is well off in that picture - the bottle of wine should be a similar size to the cat.

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 

10 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

I couldn't find the app on android, whats it called?

Alan

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?

2 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

They can power the SA the EQ3 and EQ5 with standard motors and even my Canon with a diy adapter. 

Alan

Really?  For how long?

{sorry, thread drift!  }

Just now, Alien 13 said:

You can get a 11000 mAH mobile phone power bank for £5 

Alan

Yes, I know, but not to drive a telescope

4 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

I would have liked a 5-6v supply so I could use mobile phone power banks and I would be using it with a DSLR and lens so the offset is a slight problem.

Alan

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

1 minute ago, Alien 13 said:

This mount is almost perfect for me almost...

Alan

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. !!

3 hours ago, DRT said:

Does the iPhone App feed the mount GPS co-ordinates, date and time?

(yes, I am exceptionally lazy  )

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  

2 minutes ago, Moonshane said:

Assuming the ND3.0 is fitted as it should be there's no real risk at all. In fact, it's only necessary for comfort to add other filters, not for safety.

Very true.

1 hour ago, Merlin66 said:

Just fit a bit of Baader film over the finder and just use that??

That's what I do.......

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

2 hours ago, Moonshane said:

Nice one mate

I used to just take the eyepiece out and (looking from the side not directly into the eyepiece holder) light up the drawtube and pop the eyepiece back in. The sun will be somewhere in the field once you practice a couple of times.

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

8 minutes ago, DarrenH said:

No posts since Jan guys?

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? ?