AdeKing

Thanks very much Stu, I'm very pleased with the setup, its definitely a keeper. The white light views have been stunning, though lately only stunning views of a cue ball

This week, not the postman, but my friend Peter delivered a new to me Moonlite Focuser that has now been fitted to my lovely midnight blue Celestron Omni XLT 102ED. Here are a few images of it fitted to the Omni XLT 102ED in WL solar mode and I'm very pleased with it.

You can't do it normally as the sensor is attached to the altitude axis which can't be released. I resorted to moving the scope and dovetail on a pencil until I found the balance point and then marking the balance point on the dovetail. Then I make sure that the mark on the dovetail is roughly central in the clamp on the mount. Not ideal, but has been good enough for me.

You'll love the SolarQuest mount Dave. I was sceptical but picked up a used one and have been constantly surprised by how good it is. Now negotiating a LS60 DS to go with it. Works a treat with the ZS66 and Lunt Wedge.

No, like you I haven't switched mine on after dark. I'm guessing that there are probably altitude limits programmed. You can program limits in manually on the AZ Gti and other synscan mounts, but I suspect that there is a factory set limit on the SolarQuest.

Hi Luke, The part circled is the heliofind sensor and contains the four photodiodes that the mount uses to sense and track the sun. The photo does make it look like the sensor is touching the mount, but thats just down to perspective and a shadow being cast on the mount. I've just rotated the Alt axis round and can confirm that the mount reaches 90 degrees with space to spare.

Not the Postie, but I have just collected a new to me Solarquest mount from a seller in Bristol. I was amazed as it rotated and pointed towards the sun despite quite a lot of cloud. Really looking forward to using this mount and will post some images when I get home. Roll on a fortnight of clouds I expect. Edit: Unexpectedly the clouds cleared so I've had a chance to play and am very impressed. Ade

Thanks for responding @Grant that is just what I wanted to hear ☺. I've been using the AZ Gti for solar and it has been a bit of a pain with outreach/friends for the reasons you state above. Mine doesn't track perfectly in solar mode but that's my fault as being visual only I'm never particularly fastidious with my alignment and am happy if it stays in the FOV for 10 mins or so. I'm glad it just does what it says on the tin as I'm also of the school of thought that wants something to just work out of the box without fettling, so I'm glad to hear that it delivers the goods. Thanks for answering, Ade

@Grant have you had much use of the SolarQuest mount over the last couple of months? Is there any chance of an update on how it performs now you've had it a while? I'm really keen on one to pair with my ZS66 WL setup but there dosent seem to be much user feedback out there and having seen two come up in quick succession on ABS stating they'd only been used a couple of times I'm keen to learn more. Ade

Yesterday the postie delivered me a pair of very nice Baader Maxbright binoviewers thanks to @janesdsg. Now I'm just waiting for the T2 prism diagonal to fit them to in order to get a short lightpath.

@FLO is there any indication whether or not Skywatcher will offer this as a mount only version as has been done for the AZ Gti? I'm interested in the mount but already have far more tripods and pier extensions than I need so would be interested in the mount only. Many thanks, Ade

I could do with a handle on my 200pds good idea ? I've just received a couple of these too. One for my Omni XLT 102ED and another for the Starwave f11. They needed shortening but make life so much easier. Thanks @johninderby.

I was really surprised when I opened the box, as you're right it looks like metal in all the images I can find. On the positive side, at least it won't cause too much of a problem with balance, which is what I was initially concerned about ?.

Today I received a new to me 1.25" Baader Q-Turret. I really enjoy using my set of BCOs for WL Solar as they give excellent views, but having to keep swapping the solar continuum filter between eyepieces was becoming rather tiresome, so hopefully this item will solve that particular problem. However, I was surprised and slightly disappointed to find that everything was plastic except the central pivot nut and bolt and the eyepiece securing thumbscrews ?. I know that they're quite cheap but I was expecting something a bit more substantial from Baader. I guess we'll see how it performs in practice.

Yes they are, mine has the Aluminium case and I've squeezed a WL solar, night time and terrestrial setup in there based around the Lunt 7.1-21.5mm zoom. I just need to persuade the fine focus to work properly, something I've failed to do so far.

I thought it looked like my WO ZS66SD only in a lovely orange colour. Mine is in blue, that is now slightly faded.

That's just mean that's like asking me to choose my favourite child ?

Viewing Jupiter at the moment and loving every second. I couldn't miss that you'd owned the Celestron Chris as your name was still on the shipping label on the box ?

Thanks, I'm very pleased with both. That's me done for a while now. The WL views I've just had have blown my socks off even though there are no sunspots visible, the macro granulation detail apparent on the disc was just stunning. ?

Here are my latest two which I'm planning on being my final scope purchases for a while (fatal last words I know). ? First up my new to me Altair Starwave Classic f11 which comes to me via @DRT and @Jonk then secondly a new to me mint condition Celestron Omni XLT 102ED f9 which comes to me via @Lockie and @Saganite. I've only done a bit of terrestrial observing and some WL Solar this evening and the views have blown me away, but that's for another thread.

Thanks Derek, that would also require a more substantial mount so I'm not even going there..........for a substantial amount of time anyway.

I hope so Stu, I've heard so many positive reports about the 100ED variants that I thought I ought to try one. Hoping for first light tonight fingers crossed and all that malarky.

I know, Dave but except for my 8" Dob, which was a 40th Birthday present from my mum & dad, all my Newts and my 90mm Mak are being sold. The summerhouse has turned into a scope storage shed and needs to be cleared out.........or so I've been reliably informed in no uncertain terms!!!!

Following a drive from Poole to South Mimms Services on the M25 I'm now in possession of a new to me but mint condition Celestron Omni XLT 102ED courtesy of @Saganite. Here is a shot of the scope set up on my EZTouch mount and waiting for light levels to drop and for Jupiter to appear. I know that this is very similar to the Starwave f11 that I picked up earlier in the week but the tube length is much more portable and so this is likely to become my portable setup.

Not delivered, rather collected a new to me Altair Starwave Classic 102 f11 thanks to @Jonk. I even managed a quick glimpse at Jupiter through thin(ish) cloud and was impressed with the detail so can't wait to try it out on a clear night. Here it is on my AZ4 which coped with it nicely.