jadcx
-
Posts
179 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Events
Blogs
Posts posted by jadcx
-
-
25 minutes ago, Davey-T said:
Mind you don't get too high and need planning permission.
Dave
Yes - I'm still waiting for clarification on this. The Observatory will be next to an existing garage, so from the access road perspective it is at ground level. From the house perspective, because he plot is on a slope, it's raised and will exceed the 2.5m. Like I said above - there are some practical issues to overcome
-
Something very odd has happened recently, and there have been fleeting references about 'your observatory'. I'm taking this as a tacit acknowledgment and agreement to building one! 😁
However, there are some practical issues to overcome, and this will likely be the first of many, many questions. As I have been casually drafting out my design ideas (because obviously I haven't been planning this for a few years) I've been prioritising the problem solving order. The biggest one also happens to be the first as it turns out, which is the pier. The observatory floor will (has to) be ~5feet (1.5m) above ground level, so the pier base will be a reasonably sizeable construction. The position of the pier will influence the layout of the rest of the space, and so this is where I would appreciate your thoughts.
The current plan is to install a Mesu e200, but is it worth/necessary installing a bent pier to allow for no meridian flip? I think I will have to have such a pier custom made, which adds a little complexity. Or should I 'just' install a standard straight pier and live wit the (probably quite minor) consequences of having the flip?
Thanks for your thoughts.
-
When I had SynScan my experience was that this is not possible to do natively in MacOS. Running the update software in a Windows virtual environment didn't work either - I had to dual boot into Windows proper.
-
2 minutes ago, Robindonne said:
Try tapping the screen? Dont know with iphones through a scope but i do spmetimes need to image in between ceilings for my work. Tapping the screen helps me
That was what I started with - it seemed like an obvious thing to try but it didn’t work. Maybe I have the spacing wrong?
-
Hi
I feel as though I see a steady stream of images along the lines of “I just held my phone up to the eyepiece”. Now either I’m absolutely missing something (which is definitely possible) or there is considerably more luck/effort in those images than inferred.
I have an iPhone, and seem to have two significant problems using it to grab any kind of useful image. And no, I’m not expecting it to rival a dedicated imaging rig. Firstly, alignment is very difficult. And secondly, focus seems to be impossible. I have one of the Celestron NexYZ phone mounts, which is less steady than I expected but I can eventually get the camera aligned with the eyepiece. But I’ve never managed to get focus. I’ve tried the default camera app as well a dedicated one with more manual control. I’m failing.
Overall this is not a significant impediment to my observing. But it would be great to be able to get some reference shots to go with my observing notes. Does anyone have any tips?
-
3 hours ago, Stargazer33 said:
+1 for it being cloudy, I've booked the day off work!
Could you not put the filter you have got into a larger frame and fit that to your scope? Making certain that it is properly secure.
I thought about ‘constructing’ something but despite the implication of missing Monday, I’d prefer to exchange it for the right product.
-
3 hours ago, ollypenrice said:
Couldn't you fix up a projection screen?
Olly
That’s an option I hadn’t consider, so thanks!
-
Mild apologies in advance, but I'm a little annoyed, mostly with myself.
Having decided that I'd like to try and see the transit, and being new to solar observing, the inevitable FLO order was necessary. I though that I'd try and use the little FS-60CB, so after a few emails about the options, I opted for the Baader ASBF filter. Unfortunately, I ordered the 80mm filter t match the 80mm tube of the scope, and of course, this isn't how those measurements work
So now I have a solar filter that either too big or too small for my scopes, and not enough time to replace it.
I know it's probably going to be cloudy anyway, but I'm still frustrated.
-
3 minutes ago, johninderby said:
Would probably fit in an SAS backpack. 🤔
Ha ha ha - does it come with the SAS man to carry it too?
-
1
-
-
Rowan AZ100 - and it has the slo-mo controls... it *is* tempting. From the pictures I've seen it just looks a bit... big. I know that at 8.5kg it is portable although that's considerably more (yes, admittedly for more of a mount too) than the Ayo II or even the Ayo Digi.
It's probably a good option and I likely need to let go of my fantasy of a mount and scope that fits in my rucksack. I don't even know why that fantasy exists, because apparently the Uni-18 is going to magically levitate to wherever it is I'm heading 😕 😂
-
Hi
Having finally accepted that I'm just not finding or making the time to set up my gear for imaging, I've been moving towards a predominantly visual setup with some reasonable consideration for quick(er) setup times and portability. So the NEQ6 is out (want to buy it?) leaving me with just the AzGti for now. I like it a lot, but it's not really designed for regular manual movement, and I'm looking for options. My wishlist so far is:
- An alt-az mount
- Push-to capability (I'm leaning towards a Nexus DSC)
- Loading is currently quite light, the FS-60CB is teeny, and the 90mm is around 5kg
- Some future-proofing would be nice, so maybe a load of up to 12kg would be good (that 150mm refractor might still be mine one day)
- Budget - I'd like to not exceed £1500
As for mount options, I'm not so sure:
-
AYO II with encoders looks very appealing
- Looks great, good portability
- Should I be concerned about the encoder being *only* 5000 ticks per revolution?
-
Digi II
- Yes the Ayo II does what I need, but while I'm buying something, I could get this and never look back
- It is heavier, and bigger, and more expensive than the Ayo II
-
Obviously I've looked at the emerging details of the Rowan AZ100
- It's beautiful, but seemingly not so portable, and is perhaps more broadly overkill for my needs
-
DSV-3
- Seems like a potential fit, but it's US based and so a bit go a hassle to get over to UK
-
DM-4
- As DSV-3 for being US based
-
- 8kg loading which is OK for now but not future proof
I keep going round in circles, so I'm hoping that some of you will have opinions and expereices which can help me narrow this down.
J
-
On 10/10/2019 at 18:58, F15Rules said:
For visual use, yes, yes ,yes!👍
Dave
Another agreement here. Not that I have a 102 but I have been very aware of the visual improvement from 80 to 90, so if it fits, I'd go for it.
-
I've found the SW 80ED to be an excellent piece of kit, and it's given me a very easy (which I guess is why it's so popular) introduction to imaging too. Check the weight though. I'm not familiar with the Porta II but the SW80 isn't the lightest.
And if you wanted one.... I have one for sale second hand
-
On 08/10/2019 at 21:23, happy-kat said:
Isn't there something about in the settings enabling the additional encoders from the default shipped setting, and this sorts alignment accuracy.
OK - I'm feeling a little stupid now. But the what?
I've checked my app, and yes, I can see the option, had no idea this was a thing. Are there really *additional* encoders? Or are these the *normal* encoders for the Freedom Find functionality?
-
I've had a Sesto Senso on my SW ED80 for a while and it's a great focus motor. But as others have already highlighted:
- No, it won't improve focuser slip, although there are a few things you can try to improve this
- If you get one, be prepared for the very accurate alignment needed to install it properly. It took me several attempts before I got it right, and every time it *looked* absolutely spot on.
-
4 hours ago, neonblade said:
I was wondering why my compass apps were all not working properly!
I used a standard camping compass and found that the scope affects it as soon as I bring the compass any closer than about 10" from it.Yes - I haven't found a good compass option, but the 1-star alignment is usually good enough for some quick visual observing.
-
You might want to also check out https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/ - I generally trust them a *little* more than eBay for astronomy gear, but as above, your budget is going to be restrictive.
Another consideration for a return to visual observing (not photography) would be a decent pair of binoculars. You can see a lot (and a lot more than I expected), and they're very portable.
-
3
-
-
Thanks guys - I think I’ll try the insulation tape first as I already have some
-
39 minutes ago, Louis D said:
Check out this CN'ers solution. You'll want 1/4" or 6mm wide pinstripe tape.
Thanks - have you tried this or are your googling skills just better than mine? 😊
-
1 hour ago, John said:
I've seen a sort of metal adhesive tape used for this purpose. This sort of thing:
Thanks - I can that that could work. I had wondered about using PTFE tape but I think that would quickly get messy.
-
Hello
I was wondering of anyone has any neat and tidy ides for filling eyepiece undercuts? Specifically, I have some Baaden Hyperions which are nice and all, but a little annoying in my Tak prism as the undercut means that the collar on the prism doesn't quite tighten. And yes, I'm very happy with the Tak prism otherwise, so lets not do the whole Baader Zeiss/T2 prism discussion here
One possibility is to slightly shorten the collar in the Tak but I'd rather not if there is a tidy way to 'fill in' the undercut section.
J
-
If you're serious about the imaging then I think you should look towards an EQ mount as a starting point. There is a lot of information available elsewhere on this site to point you in the right direction (see below for example):
I'm not sure what scope you have, but if it's the SW 150P then you should be able to make a decent start with that, although you may want to consider other options as it probably isn't the 'easiest' way into imaging.
-
1
-
-
As @Steve Clay says, you need to mount it on whichever side your firmware version supports (which I believe the standard version is on the left, as pictured by @Owmuchonomy). And no, it doesn't matter which way up the mounting screw is although it's much more accessible to mount your scope with eh screw at the top - obviously
As or accuracy, this is really limited to the accuracy of the alignment process. I sometime struggle with the 'level north' process because I'm apparently not very good at finding north. Actually I think it's because I use my iPhone as a compass and it's not accurate enough n this scenario. I should really just get a 'real' compass.
-
Sounds like it will be a nice little setup when you're done. You'll also need a wedge as I think EQMOD (if that's the way you're going) only works with EQ mounts, so something else to add to your FLO Wishlist
I'm trying to restrain my imagining urges and keep the GTi for visual only - although... a little USB powered ZWO would still be very portable... hmm 😂
Pier design - to bend or not?
in DIY Observatories
Posted
I assume so, but engineering is nowhere on my list of even vague abilities. For now I'm working on the assumption that everything is possible, but it might not be worth the money/space for the added usability. Do you have any views on this?