iapa

To go back to why? I would suggest the the main reason for small refractors is that they rarely require collimation - alignment of mirrors and optics. For SCTs and reflectors as they get jostled around the mirrors move slightly. Do you need to collimated - if you look at a star with high magnification eyepiece and bring it slightly off focus, you will see s series of rings (Airey disks) - if these are concentric, you are fin, i the centre of off set you are miscollimated. A couple of reference: https://garyseronik.com/a-beginners-guide-to-collimation/ https://www.ozscopes.com.au/guides/telescopes-guide/caring-and-collimating-your-telescope

-10C in winter is not uncommon, for summer, well, it was -2C last night :), although usually would hover around 10C over night unless particularly warm, then 18-19C In winter I would take my rig out in daylight and spend about an hour putting everything back, balancing and so on. By which time the OTA and option will have reached ambient.

Thanks - I was obviously off on a completely wrong tangent.

so, for the feeble minded, use the 1st flat as a light, and apply the 2nd as a flat to multiply out the different pixel intensities? So, do we take a bunch of flats, and stack as for lights, then apply the same flats as fast to the stacked image? The final results being our master flat?

To check star focus I invested in some bahtinov masks (from Gerd Neumann https://www.gerdneumann.net/deutsch/astrofotografie-parts-astrophotography/bahtinov-masks-bahtinov-masken.html); basically replacement filter but slotted to give a cross pattern you can use to get very close focus. If you use one of those you could set for focus on any particular star, then take an image. and inspect it to see if there is a significant focus issue across the field.

LOL thee and me both

bit late for you, but, I've seen right angle connectors that would have removed he wee u bends...

Down side of that 4" bracket is that a decent thump and the single bold rips the thread out of the OTA Trust me I now have a dovetail and rings attached. Otherwise, no complaints about the mechanics or optics on this.

And all my DSLRs are included in the compatibility list.

Have to let me know it is, they’ve had my CGEM-DX, just waiting to get it back hoping for serious improvement if their video is anything to go

Pier_DayBrief_20190201_000509.mp4 a day in the life of......

you'll be one of the few who will be happy the nights are getting shorter lol

I used a cocktail stick with the smallest bit of vaseline on the tip, help keep it in place

I also added one of these to the 200PDS, and also the Startraveller, but, it does not readily fit the focuser on the 10" Quattro or the Equinox ED80 as the holes fo not match the tension adjustment bolts

all I can suggest is a Stanley knife and cur away the foam material - i have the same dilema and working up the nerve to do it.

A "gripfest"? Hey, if, collectively, we all start using the term, it could be in the OED by the end of next year

well, I certainly fit in the 'older' category, but will be a 1st timer.

agreed minimise physical effort

grey squirrels are vermin, grab a few for a stew. protect the native reds

pegasus actually have a diagram for their l-bracket on their web sight. You could start with that...? It has multiple slots for the focuser side For an RC, can you 'lock' the mirror, and add a crayford inline with optics? - I did not you think you are at weight limits, so, may not be viable.

Dunno what you mean by cold, but we had 22mph winds with a 5C temp at the time you posted.

Where is this project sitting costwise? I need a rebuild, and this looks like it gove the the option to "sneak" in a couple of extra pier bases Not going to change putting piers and mounts in just yet - financial controller is not that daft ?

Not something that I knew - I asked our youngest daughter (Charted Civil Engineer - figured that if any one knew it would be her :))