BlabyStarGazer

Hi - Don't know if it's just me (or my browser), but the AZ-GTi stripdown photos you posted over on CN aren't visible. Any chance you can repost them here or elsewhere? Also, I didn't quite understand the addition of a washer to the AZ clutch mech that's referred to above - was that part of the solution you provided? It's the AZ axis that I'm having problems with - on a brand new mount! Any help advice you can offer would be much appreciated. Skywatcher are not my favourite brand at the minute, I'm also having problems with a Star Discovery mount, but that repair is in hand.

Apologies if I've missed seeing the answer to this if it has already been mentioned, but rather than break my own Solarquest ... has anyone switched one 'on' to see what happens if the Sun is below the horizon ... a long way below the horizon ... as in, at night?

Hi Paul, I've have only ever used homemade baader film filters prior to buying a Herschel Wedge, though I still have several in use for cameras as well as 'scopes. I can only assume that by 'indentations' you are referring to small rucks or creases where the film is not stretched taut to produce a mirror like flatness (?). If so, then there is nothing to be too concerned about. My own filters tend to look like that too - a kind of exaggerated version of the image in the link that you posted. Pin holes are what you need to worry about! Holding the filter between your eyes and a ( lit ) lightbulb and checking carefully for holes (as you appear to have already done) is the way to check it. If there are none, I wouldn't worry. If there are, and the filter was purchased 'new' then it is covered under the Sale of Goods Act and will be replaced/refunded as faulty, but I would expect that to be VERY unlikely to arise. It IS daunting, using a film filter for the first time, and it's good that you're being careful. I remember being a bit sureprised when I saw my first film filter - i had expected it to be 'stretched taut' - but they're generally far from it! Heck, I even got nervous the first time I looked through a Coronado Solarmax 'scope !!

Hopefully I'm not breaking any rules by posting this link - the National Space Centre is afterall a not-for-profit educational organisation - and this appears to be the most appropriate section to post it: Transit of Mercury Event at the NSC in Leicester on 9th May http://spacecentre.co.uk/event/transitofmercury/ A section of the main car park will be cordoned off for use by astronomers who are happy to make their solar viewing equipment available to the public.

Thank you Martin, a very interesting and understandable concise explanation. As a newcomer to DSO imaging, for me it has served to confirm that at last I'm starting out in the right direction. If only I had seen this post 12 months ago!