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Everything posted by RT65CB-SWL
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got this for a song
RT65CB-SWL replied to davehowat's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
That’s a nice little ‘scope. I would like one of these... the William Optics/Ferrari ‘Zenithstar’... and in red! I know what you’re all thinking... “Keep on dreaming!” -
Agreed! All About Space should be consigned to the nearest recycling centre. Looking for astronomy magazines in branches of WHS too. I have not seen any.
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Is the moon useful to nebula shots?
RT65CB-SWL replied to Chewie65's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
Even when viewing the planets or the Sun, the Moon gets in the way and ‘photo-bombs’. Damn annoying! 😉 -
Is this the Andromeda galaxy M31?
RT65CB-SWL replied to imakebeer's topic in Getting Started With Observing
Nice! If you get a UHC filter it will tease a little more detail. I have the Explore Scientific one... (and because I like the pretty box it comes in). -
SCT corrector plate replacement
RT65CB-SWL replied to Westmoorland's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Ouch... that’s a bit harsh! - Though you can’t beat using a ‘real star’ for the final test, (assuming the atmosphere is still and cloud free). I have one, and at £19.00GBP + P&P + batteries, it will do and I will continue to use it. So I don’t lose the small ‘magnetic’ mask/shield thingy, (when not in use), I put a vinyl pipe/tube end cap over the end of it... and remove the batteries. -
Are light pollution filters still needed?
RT65CB-SWL replied to bendiddley's topic in Imaging - Discussion
Unfortunately they [ie 'traditional' LPR filters] don't work is the simple answer. LED streetlighting gives off too much at the 'blue end' of the visible spectrum. Using a neodymium, UHC or Olll filter should improve your viewing. The Olll maybe overkill on small aperture ‘scopes. -
Another ultra-light travel kit project
RT65CB-SWL replied to badhex's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
I have purchased a few items via Adriano Lolli's website as well... https://www.adrianololli.com/ and very pleased with them. I am also subscribed to his YouTube channel... https://www.youtube.com/user/lolliadriano He may be the saviour/solution for me, as I need a set of 'custom' tube rings for my 're-modded' ETX105, as the diameter is 124mm. The alternative is a pair of rubber lined 122 to 127mm Munsen rings. At the time of writing/posting, the dovetail bar is secured by a pair of rubber lined Jubilee/hose rings, as shown in the image above. -
Bolides and fireballs are amazing! - The only 'bolide' I have seen to date was the night a day after the late HRH Princess Diana, Princess of Wales 🏴 died/was 'killed' in that awful RTA*. I have seen a few 'fireballs', etc. Anyway... back to the topic. During the pandemic, I signed up to a local social-network site, and strangely enough one of the members/residents, yesterday morning posted what they think [especially their young son], say was a 'fireball' about twelve hours earlier and south-west. I have replied and said that I think it is a vapour trail/contrail from a passing aircraft. I have looked at https://heavens-above.com/, https://ukmeteornetwork.co.uk/ and https://spaceweather.com/ - there are no reports for it. I have looked on my laptop, [as it was a tad difficult to ascertain on my iPhone] at the footage the OP has kindly sent me via email after transferring it from his wife's phone and I am convinced that it is a vapour trial. Just listening to his wife and young son's reaction/commentary made it more amazing. * I do not want/wish to start a discussion here on SGL or anywhere else on my thoughts relating to it. Please do not reply to this part or personally to me via SGL PM, email, SMS/text, etc. They will be ignored and reported. It is a sensitive topic may/will breach the SGL T&C's, etc. Thank you in advance.
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Hi @imakebeer and welcome to SGL....and not to far from you as I am in Lower Earley.
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I am going to say: It's quite an eye-opener... from the TeleVue Apollo 11 [page 1] to my 'budget' Skywatcher 2"/28mm LET|LER [page 3] and everything in between.
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Same here! I paid with a credit card via PayPal, so at least I have some protection if it goes pear-shape.
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Let's start at the very beginning
RT65CB-SWL replied to Nitecoda's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
Hi @Nitecoda and welcome to SGL. Whilst you are at it, download the PC or Mac version of Stellarium… and It is free! -
Checked the progress of my order earlier this evening and SVBONY are saying it may take longer [upto] 30 days [ie 01 December 2022 at the earliest] before they start shipping them as they say: “…are still pre-production…” and apologise for the delay. I have politely sent them a message and asked if they are going to keep the buyers/customers updated with status updates, etc.
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Hi @KingsAmis and welcome to SGL. BTW - Ed Ting posted a YouTube video on his channel, (see below), a few weeks ago, as he was on a visit/writing course.
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I like others tend to keep it simple, ie Plossl or Ortho. Also, I can put a Plossl or Ortho in my EPU, (shown in centre of image), too… if I use a DSLR or digital compact camera.
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Sorry to read about your loss @Alan White My heart stopping moment was whilst I was tightening up a die-cast white metal dovetail and it snapped. Attached to it was my ETX105. Luckily [#1] the OTA, primary, secondary, meniscuis cell survived, but two of the three mounting points on the rear ABS plastic cell and cheap star diagonal did not. Luckily [#2] it was on grass/lawn. When I got the replacement backplate made by a local engineering workshop made and fitted, I made an appointment and took it to Steve Collingwood at SCTelescopes to check the collimation. It was only slightly out and was soon rectified within thirty to forty minutes.
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Before I mess it up...2
RT65CB-SWL replied to TheThing's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Why are you removing the dovetail ? If you do have to remove it, then I suggest you remove the front and rear cell, so you have a 'naked' tube to work with. You don't want anything rattling about or swarf in the tube and damaging the surfaces. Also, a piece of masking tape at each end, so you can realign them when you reassemble it. This reminds me to think about/find a [better]solution to attach a dovetail to my 're-modded' ETX105. At the time of posting, the dovetail is secured to the OTA with a pair of self-adhesive lined Jubilee hose rings/clips. -
I too have pre-odered one! It's going to be interesting to see how it compares against my TeleVue 3-6mm Nagler zoom.
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Meade LX200 12'
RT65CB-SWL replied to Happysolderer's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
The ETX maksutov’s have a counterweight built in to the rear ABS plastic flip mirror cell as well. -
Meade LX200 12'
RT65CB-SWL replied to Happysolderer's topic in Getting Started General Help and Advice
Hi @Happysolderer and welcome to SGL. As far as I am aware, it is damn good for lunar and planetary observation. That said, any catadioptric [ie, Mak or SCT] ‘scope is. As you said, it has been de-forked, so you will need to source a sturdy mount and tripod/pier for it. If you can attach some images, then we can suggest what else you need. A dew shield is a must have. Any catadioptric ‘scope is a notorious dew magnet. A few other things I would consider would be an SCT star diagonal and a ‘crayford’ focuser. If you are planning on astro-imaging now or later, then a field flattener/focal reducer is another must have, as the focal ratio is f:10 -
Sky atlas for use with a newtonian
RT65CB-SWL replied to Ratlet's topic in Getting Started With Observing
All three volumes of Tri-Atlas will fit on a CD-ROM. Available for the iPhone & iPad here... Triatlas on the App Store (apple.com) - [FREE*]. Also available for the iPhone & iPad is... Star Charts by Wil Tirion on the App Store (apple.com) - [£3.49GBP*] [* at time of posting]. -
Welcome back to SGL @Kn4fty
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Astrophotography eyepiece question
RT65CB-SWL replied to Seoras's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
And afocal is using the eyepiece and connecting the camera to the telescope with an eyepiece projection unit [aka EPU]. Below is an image of mine,... <--- the EPU is in the centre. Below is an afocal image of Montes Appennius on the Moon, taken with an Olympus C-2040 digital compact camera and 20mm Plossl in the EPU attached to my ETX105... -
A religious festival/season is nearly upon us. Do not put an eyepiece set on the list of Xmas pressies you would like to receive. You may not get use all of them! - IMHO buy separate individual eyepieces. Below is just a small selection of what I currently have and use in my collection: TeleVue... 3x Plossl's... 8mm - 13mm - 15mm 2x Radian's... 6mm - 8mm 2x Nagler's... 13mm [Type 1 & Type 6} 1x Nagler... 3-6mm zoom Meade... 3x Plossl's... 9.7mm - 20mm - 24mm 1x UWA... 8.8mm [series 4000] other 'bits & bobs'... 2x AB*... 18mm WA 1x AB*... 7-21mm zoom 1x AE**.. 1.25" Magni-Mate [x1.6] 1x AE**... 1.25" focal reducer [x0.6] ...plus a few filters *AB = AstroBoot. **AE = Astro-Engineering.