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Skipper Billy

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Posts posted by Skipper Billy

    Are Starlight Xpress dead in the water?

    in Discussions - Cameras

    Posted

    I have owned a SX SXV-H9, an Atik 314 and 460 and still use a SX Lodestar and have just bought a Lodestar Pro. My main imaging camera is an Atik 16200. 

    They were/are all excellent cameras and my 16200 produces images that belie my meagre skills.

    I had an issue with one of the Atiks - I think it was the 460 and it was fixed within a week - no charge even though it was well out of warranty.

    I also have two ZWO 178 - one of them developed a fault and ZWO said it wasnt worth fixing - throw it away!!!

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    Obsy Build Has Started!

    in DIY Observatories

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Budgie1 said:

    Yes, I'd planned for that as we have 12 "wetter" months up here, check out blanket of cloud over the mountains in the background that this heatwave has given us today!  😂

    Ah summer in Scotland. It's probably my favourite day of the year 😉 

    Well done - looking good!

    • Like 1
    • Haha 2

    Rusty counterweights - cured

    in Discussions - Mounts

    Posted

    The Geoptic counterweights supplied with a Mesu mount are advertised as 'stainless steel' but clearly are not stainless steel.

    Over the off season I left them with a local company that repairs and powder coats car alloy wheels.

    They have done a good job and they shouldnt rust now!

    £40 well spent I think.

    image.thumb.jpeg.1f8621e596c31025d93bdaa159b8a019.jpeg

     

    • Like 10

    Bearing grease

    in Discussions - Mounts

    Posted · Edited by Skipper Billy

    I used 'Superlube' which is a very lightweight grease - and good for -42º to +232º  ( fine for Scottish Highlands!! 😉 )- it made adjusting the backlash out so much easier as it wasnt clogging up the spaces between the gears.

     

    Dark Skye , dark sky.

    in Observing - Discussion

    Posted

    On 05/05/2022 at 07:13, PeterW said:

    I’m certainly envious of those who live in dark locations, only consolation is that if I need milk or the like I can get it within a few minutes stroll.

    There are downsides to living in the back of beyond - all these things are a two hour drive away - buying clothes and shoes, good quality supermarket (Waitrose etc), buying a car, getting cars serviced, hospitals, large shops of any kind etc  A soon as we mention our postcode for deliveries we get hammered with surcharges or more often a straight NO we dont dont deliver to Highlands and Islands.

    On the upside - its a 2 hour drive to MacDonalds, KFC and Burger King!!

    The nearest street light is at least 3 miles away and going outside at new moon and a clear sky and looking up makes it all worth it.

    • Like 4

    Anyone tried Windows 11

    in Discussions - Software

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Mr Spock said:
    • edit the registry to get 'copy to' and 'move to' back in the context menu

    What - do they think people no longer move files around?

    It might vary from version to version but on mine copy and move are shown as symbols not words at the top of the context box.  Before I spotted that I found that right clicking a second time brought up those commads as words not symbols. Weird ....

    Dark Skye , dark sky.

    in Observing - Discussion

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Zermelo said:

    But you need to be lucky (unless you've moved permanently). The best view I ever had was from the north of Arran, but a few years later I spent a whole week in Skye and never saw a star.

    We have just had a whole winter where I barely saw a star !!!!! 😉 

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

    Help choosing a longer focal length??

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    22 minutes ago, dan_adi said:

    Then maybe it's time for upgrading to a obsy 2.0 :) in order to make a little more room for a new scope. My refractor barely fits in my obsy too, but I don't see myself upgrading from a 8 inch frac to a 10 inch one, although one can dream :).

    Our business is for sale and when it sells we will move back to England and Obsy V2 whill be much bigger and able to house something very tasty!!! 😉 

    • Like 2

    Edge HD + Baader Steeltrack + Celestron OAG ??

    in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Stuart1971 said:

    I see no reason why not, plenty of back focus on the edge to get close, then fine focus with the Baader, OAG’s commonly used with SCT…I would say all good…

    I have used a similar set up with a Meade 8” SCT without issue

    You may need a really sensitive guide camera though with an OAG at those SCT focal lengths…the ASI174m mini is an excellent choice…👍🏼

    Thanks Stuart

    I am planning to repurpose my Lodestar.

    What the heck was that!

    in The Astro Lounge

    Posted

    10 minutes ago, wulfrun said:

    I'll be happy to know if anyone can give a definitive answer, I'm intrigued & it was an odd sight. First glance I thought "the moon looks seriously hazy" then a double-take because it couldn't be the moon!

    SpaceX second stage deorbit burn

    • Like 2
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