RT65CB-SWL

Welcome back Nick @cotterless45 or whatever it is at time of posting. I am sure the admins will get your profile back to as it was. Just may take a bit of time. Now we now have to enter the email ID that we used when we signed up to SGL maybe the issue. [see below].

Excellent first images. I always find it a bit hit and miss getting the exposure just right to bring out the sunspots with a solar filter or Herschel wedge.

BTW… I sold the Vixen GP and now mount my ‘scopes on these… …and now 100% alt-az. Also my ETX105 now has tube rings and not using the Jubilee/hose rings that held the dovetail bar to the OTA as shown in my first reply.

Hi @troymills72 and welcome to SGL. Depending on how old your ETX90 is, I would personally de-fork it and mount it on an alt-az or EQ mount and dovetail bar. There are a few videos on YouTube. The dovetail bar, (preferebly one with slotted holes), can be screwed underneath the plastic rear end with 2x 1/4-20” UNC machine screws/bolts. Just don’t overtighten them, as the threaded inserts may become loose. The RA and DEC drives were not that good anyway as the gears are/were nylon/plastic. I have a de-forked ETX105 [image below] which has been ‘re-modded’ with an aluminium backplate following an accident that damaged two of the three mounting points of the original plastic visual back assembly after a fall from a mount. A good resource for all things ETX related, is this site... http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html If you wish to change the backplate, then have a look here... https://wegatoptical.com/

He’s into recycling timber! 😉

+1 for ‘AstroHopper’. There is also ‘PushToCam’ if you have an iOS device.

I bought mine secondhand from fellow SGL’er @A McEwan and at the same time or year, I joined SGL.

Hi @pavel_s You can get extensions from about 21cms. FLO stock the SkyWatcher ones. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/Tripod+extension/

Hi @DAT and welcome to SGL. If you want a ‘quality’ planetary zoom, have a look at my signature! Seriously, both the TeleVue Nagler 3-6mm and the Svbony SV215 3-8mm are both good quality and build. In terms of operation, the Svbony is smoother in changing focal lengths. I have been an early adopter of both since their initial releases and no regrets buying either. The only ‘real’ differences I have noted is: the field of view: TeleVue is 50o ~ Svbony is 56o both have the same eye-relief: 10mm. both are parfocal throughout the entire range of focal lengths. a few hundred pounds in price: TeleVue is £424.00 ~ Svbony is £124.00 [note: prices shown in GBP for reference purposes only].

That's why I like my AOK-AYO [left] and Tele-Optic Giro [right] mounts. No faffing around, etc., apart from balancing.

I know the feeling! Early shifts, clear skies... 🙄 Late shifts, to tired to get the ‘scopes 🔭 or binoculars out for an hour or two when I get home and just want to sleep... 😴 Rest days, cloudy skies...

Hi @luka I have sent you a link [in your messages box] for the instructions/user guide for your camera in case you do not have or mislaid them...

I Hi @luka I have just been looking at some images of the mentioned camera and it looks like it is going to need more than a 58mm adapter ring! I have an Olympus C-2040 ‘Camedia’ [image below] and to attach it to my ‘scopes, it requires a CLA adapter [also shown in the same image and is the CLA-1 for my camera - the other item is a conversion lens]. The CLA adapter for my C-2040 screws into the camera body and has a T-thread on the other end. note: CLA = Camera Lens Adapter Olympus and a few third-party manufactures made various types of CLA adapters for the ‘Camedia’ series digital compact cameras. The CLA adapters are/were not interchangeable with every ‘Camedia’ model. Therefore if you changed or upgraded the camera, you also had to purchase the appropriate CLA adapter for that model. The CLA-1 is compatible with the ‘Camedia’ C-20xx series only. Not sure whether other digital compact camera brands/manufacturers or third-parties made OEM CLA adapters or adaptations for all digital compact cameras, other than the universal digiscope/camera adapters.

Hi @Sirico and welcome to SGL. An 8" Dobsonian is the most popular size. Congratulations and well done!

Astrobiscuit (aka SGL’er @rorymultistorey), Ed Ting and Adriano Lolli (verbal dialogue* is Italian🇮🇹) are my YouTube favourites. * YouTube translator can change the subtitles dialogue to your locale in the YT settings.

Celestron [other brands are also available] do a Barlow lens a 2X, that has removable lens element that you can you can screw into the nosepiece of a 1.25” e/p or star diagonal and have a magnification factor of 1.4x to 1.6X. Also has T-ring on the other end too. [link here]... https://www.celestron.com/collections/barlow-lens

2X seems to be the most popular size. That said, I have three... AstroEngineering 4X Klee 2.8X TeleVue 1.8X ...all are 1.25" ** UPDATE ** now four... TeleVue 2X

Hi @JackW07 and welcome to SGL. I will second what has been said above by fellow SGL’ers are recommended targets for newbies. The constellation of Virgo has plenty of DSO’s if that is your thing. At the time of writing/posting, Virgo is rising in the early morning for us northern hemisphere observers. To get the best visual views, I would recommend an UHC or Olll filter. I myself have and use the Explore Scientific ones.

Hi @Kilohertz and welcome to SGL.

iPhone 12 handheld image, before I left for work at LHR this morning from the communual parking area.

Hi @Pld / Peter and welcome to SGL. - I too am from the Royal County. 👑 A few societies and clubs located in it... ie Reading, Newbury, Maidenhead and neighbouring counties. There used to be one in Bracknell, though not sure whether it is still exists at the time of posting.

Hi @SteveJR73 and welcome to SGL. Question: What do you mainly like to observe/view? - The reason I ask is, that no ‘scope does everything. One of the most popular ‘scopes is an 8inch/200mm Dobsonian. Apart from collimating the mirrors from time to time, there is very little maintenance. Just place it on a level surface and you are practically good to go. If you have not seen or read this already, then I would have a look here... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html If like me and you enjoy the Moon or planets, then a catadioptric [i.e. Maksutov or SCT]. They have a few downsides and can be more expensive. With regard to smartphone imaging, then I would recommend this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter.html or this one... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-dx-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter-kit-81057.html

Hi @ASTRODEEP and welcome to SGL. If I understand your question correctly, are you mounting the camera on your EQ mount and has a Vixen compatible saddle plate? then this will work... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/astro-essentials-vixen-type-photo-dovetail-bar.html

Always a good day when an old ‘scope is restored and gets used.

I was just thinking the same.