sammak127

Thanks for your input. I’m afraid I’m not considering producing them at this stage, but happy to share the 3d print file if you have a printer! It is specific to the Skywatcher HM5 Polar Alignment Scope for EQ5 (part 20117). So that might be a different diameter to yours. I think you’re right about attaching to the mount - makes sense as you use the rotation to properly calibrate the scope to the axis. Basically yes it is designed to snap on and stay in place without needing to drill the case. I’ve seen more solid looking ideas out there and there is a tiny tiny bit of wobble, but for what it is it’s pretty solid.

Welcome along.

I've had some luck 3d printing a bracket to hold a polar scope (skywatcher hm5) to fix to the Skywatcher AZ-GTI. see here -> topic/379380 Now feeling a bit dense and wondering if anyone can advise how exactly I make use of that during setup and alignment? Do I simply manualy polar align using the polar scope, before turning on the mount, with the knowledge that the axis of rotation should be pretty good then on? Or is there some part of the alignment procedure within the synscan pro app (used on iphone) whereby the Polar Scope could come into play? Forgive me if this question is blindingly obvious, but any advice gladly received. Haven't had a chance to actually use the setup in EQ mode at night yet, but trying to get prepared for when I do. Cheers Sam

For experimenting with Az-GTI mount in EQ mode, I have designed a removable bracket that holds a Skywatcher HM5 polar scope, that allows polar alignment on this otherwise excellent little mount. Designed in Fusion 360 and printed on Prusa Mk3s with an 8mm nozzle. It has little nuts that the 3mm bolts go through allowing for collimation, basic but effective enough for my standards anyway. Now awaiting some clear skies to try it out with a new Skywatcher steel legged tripod I bought to go with it.

Not officially a newcomer but stargazing has been dormant for about three years - coincidentally that’s also the age of my young daughter. Slowly hoping and planning to get back into it. That coincides with a move to south london... forest hill in particular. I read about the Flamsteed group monthly observing meeting on Blackheath which looks good. But I wondered about any super-local meet-ups in or around SE23. It looks to be a bit more use than my current more central london location and wondered if there were any other stargazers in that neck of the woods who had found any useful (and safe) observing sites. I couldn’t figure out the most relevant section for this query so I’ve ended up in the welcome section. Please advise if it should be elsewhere. Cheers sam

Welcome to stargazer’s lounge Neal.

Good sleuthing guys.

Here is a picture I took with my wife on holiday in France. It was a rare evening of stargazing after 3 year toddler hiatus. We took it on a canon 6d with a 16mm wide angle sitting on the star adventurer. It’s based on 3 exposures where I stacked the sky part whilst only using 1 layer for the foreground. Maybe 20 second exposures I can’t quite recall now. Then bumped up the levels also in photoshop.

that looks great already, and only 40% finished! It still boggles my mind when I see images of such distant and massive things, it's aweinspiring.

Good luck Damian, an intreaguing journey it has been to follow.. What a feeling it will be when it is finally done.