Nigeyboy

Ah, so its your fault its cloudy what with the new scope etc!!! 😉

The new scope curse sucks!! hopefully the clouds will part soon, and you will get out with your 200p!! Welcome to SGL - I'm still pretty new here, but the help and advise is second to none!! Don't forget to let us know how you get on with your scope for the first time!

Nige

While I’m certainly no expert, I would think the Mak would be easier to use for that sort of AP. The smaller OTA and longer focal length would be a double bonus! I’m sure someone with hands on knowledge will be along soon!!

I’m hoping to use my 150-PL for basic lunar AP once I get a set of motors for my EQ 3

Would it just be AP of the moon and planets then?

I have not yet dabbled in the dark art of AP apart from a couple of shots done by holding my iPhone up to the eyepiece! The OTA is about 1.2m long and does catch the wind easily. I would think a Mak would be more easy to use for AP plus it would have a longer focal length. 

+1 for the 150-PL. I have one and it’s perfect for lunar and planetary obs. The long focal ratio means you get good magnification from modest eyepieces and the 150mm of aperture makes for lots of light gathering! I have it in the EQ3-2 which to be honest does struggle a bit!

I'm sure that you will have hours of enjoyment from your new scope. Everyone starts out with their 'first scope' and learns its pros and cons quickly.

I really don't believe you need a bells and whistles Go-To mount to enjoy the night sky. While a reflector eyepiece can get into some pretty strange positions, I added DIY tube rotator rings for the princely sum of about £8 (Here are some pics)!! Means I can twist the whole OTA around safely without upsetting the balance.

I own a 150-PL on an EQ3-2 - I know the mount is at its limit, but it is doing me fine at the moment! Yeah, one day I will upgrade the mount etc, but funds won't allow that right now, so am making do with what I have - and I have to stay I am loving my little set up!!

Have fun with yours, and be sure to post on here how you get on! 

I have the 150-PL on the EQ3. I am Purely visual at the moment and can tell you the mount is indeed at the limit!! Lots of shake when you focus etc but it does settle down fairly quickly. Views are pretty good to be honest! I have spent plenty of evenings on the moon and planets and the extra focal length does make a difference. Ages ago I had the 150-P and the PLs extra length really makes a difference. 

Yeah, I also think Lister from Red Dwarf had a similar experience. I seem to remember he had accrued about 80% of the worlds wealth!!

14 minutes ago, Stu said:

2.537 million light years away at 0.99999999999992c, it would take you 1 year to get there from your perspective. Trouble is, it would still take 2.537 million years

Best thing here would be to invest £1 in a small savings bond - when you get home 5 million years later, it would have increased in value somewhat!! 

On a serious note though, I read something somewhere about spacecraft using an artificial magnetic field. Something large enough to protect a medium sized craft would need approx. 10kw of power. 

That looks pretty similar Malcolm! I'm pleased with the result - the tube rotates pretty smoothly, with no 'metal on metal' scrapping noises!!

Hi all

I own a SW 150-PL on the standard EQ3 mount. As reflector uses know, sometimes the eyepeice can end up in some pretty awkward positions! You then have to loosen the scope rings and turn the scope around, often losing the balance of the OTA as a result. Rotator rings can be expensive and heavy, so I went online and looked for some alternatives.

I came across someone who had used wooden embroidery rings. I thought what while the idea was good, they may not be sturdy enough. I sat down and came up with the following shopping list:

2 x 170mm diameter jubilee rings - £2.75 each from Ebay

1 x 10mm x 2m plastic cable ducting - £4.99 from B&Q (prior to lockdown i might add!_

Random nuts and bolts from the 'magic drawer' in the kitchen - free

The existing scope ring bolts stuck out a little, meaning the would rub against the new rings i was attaching. So I removed the rings, and carefully drilled out a larger diameter hole for about 6mm into the rings themselves. This allowed me to use some bolts that would be flush with the ring surface.

I measured the external diameter of the OTA, and cut two pieces of the cable ducting to length. I then placed the jubilee clips round the scope, flush with the scope rings, and wedged the cable ducting underneath the clips, I then slowly tightened the clips until they were firmly secured, but not over tight! 

Attaching the OTA to the mount for a test, and low and behold it worked a treat! I can loosen the scope rings and rotate the whole OTA around smoothly without affecting the balance! Am really pleased - like someone who worked on their car and didn't break it!!  Here are some pics:

Hi all,

First off, looking through this section, I am almost embarrassed to upload these pictures! These three images where taken holding my iPhone up to the 25mm eyepeiece in my SW 150-PL. I have to say the seeing over the last few nights has been exceptional - certainly here in Derby anyway. Even when I cranked up to 240x the view was clear.

I'm hoping to get a motor for the scope mount so i can start using my webcam for imaging. Right now I have to make do with handholding lol!!

Hi all,

Thought I would pop my head round the door and say 'Hi' again. Its been a good few months since I even looked at SGL much to my shame! Been a funny half year so far - not even going to mention the current situation, suffice to say up till I was furloughed on April 6th, work had been pretty crazy! Now I'm a home teacher for my 12 year old son, house keeper (my other half Charlotte is a community nurse and working loads of hours!) and general stay at home dad lol!

Up until last week, I hadn't even been out with my telescope. However, all that changed last week, when I got out to look at Venus before it vanished into the glare of the Sun. Then I started on the moon, and since then have been out every night! Proper missed the views, and kicking myself I have left it this long!!

So, this is just to say Hi Hope you are all good, and looking forward to contributing once again to the site!

Cheers all

Nige

Flamin busy body neighbour - while I agree a green dome would have been a little less obtrusive, I do feel some people have too much time on their hands and complain about pretty much anything and everything!!

Just found this story on the Mail website - hope its not one of our own SGL members. 

1 hour ago, robin_astro said:

The observation that really made me go "yes!" out loud though was, after weeks of planning, watching the ISS streak across in front of Jupiter in 2004.

 

That truly is a Wow moment!! Incredible. Just thinking of the ultra narrow angle to nail that shot! I doff my hat to you sir!!

Hi Tim and welcome! I’m next door in Derby! This forum is the best for help and advice.

Welcome to SGL! I got back into the hobby in the same way as you, starting with bino’s and relearning the night sky,  however the disease has spread and I now have a 6” f8 reflector!! 

Hi all

I’m sure those that live in or around Derby know about this, but a huge model of the moon is on display in Derby Cathedral. It must be 25 ft in diameter and looks very accurate! 

Here are a few pics I took today. It is there until next week I think and is well worth a visit. Also outside the Cathedral is the famous Knife Angel sculpture. 

Hi Paul. That’s a great idea. We actually have some material left over from decorating our daughters room so will give it a go. The main issue I have is trying to find the fuzzies in the first place though my 30mm finder. Maybe a bigger 50mm would help?

I went out the night before last to try and find M51 and M101 from my little patio. Failed totally. Had to settle for the Double Cluster and M45. I think I need to make a shield I can attach to that street light so I can use the main garden!

I have a large LED street light right over the garden. The only place I have to view that is out of direct LP  is my small rear patio. I get good views facing North and west only.

Hi

I use Clear Outside - HERE. its been pretty accurate in the past.

A quick check on the specs for the Orion Paragon Plus indicates it has a capacity of 5lbs, so your combination would appear to be over that by over 2lbs. Not used the device myself so can't vouch for whether or not that extra weight would be an issue.

I own a pair of Celestron Skymaster 20x80's. I am pleased with them, but following a review I posted here on SGL, I found out they were nearer to 16x73. So I was a bit miffed really. If I buy a pair of 20x80's that is what I expect to get. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying using them, but each time I pick them up, I do feel a little cheated! I only paid £100 for them though . . . . . .