RT65CB-SWL

I ordered an SCT extension yesterday https://www.365astronomy.com/365astronomy-2-sc-extension-for-scts-schmidt-cassegrain-telescopes.html so that I can use my Baader Planetarium 'Crayford' focusser with my 're-modded' ETX105 without having use a Celestron f/6.3 FF/FR as the extension/spacer. Less than 24 hours later, I received it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank @johninderby for forwarding me the link to it. Without it my 'Crayford' would still be in the For Sale section.

I ordered an SCT extension yesterday https://www.365astronomy.com/365astronomy-2-sc-extension-for-scts-schmidt-cassegrain-telescopes.html so that I can use my Baader Planetarium 'Crayford' focusser with my 're-modded' ETX105. Less than 24 hours later, I have received it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank @johninderby for forwarding me the link to it and Zoltan & staff at 365 Astronomy. Without my 'Crayford' would still be in the For Sale section.

Very nice images - plus I liked the Places Afar video on your website.

I had one of my 32Mb 'SmartMedia' cards corrupted. I had been doing some aerial photos on a SOF-VAR internal/domestic flight and forgot to save them to HDD. The fourth image was corrupted and would not read any images after it. I managed to salvage the card by formatting twice it in my laptop as FAT and then formatting in the camera twice. It still is good and no further corruption issues since... touch wood!

Hi @Kevin Kretsch and welcome to SGL. Below is a few images of my 're-modded' ETX105, after proving that gravity and telescopes don't mix! ...especially when they have the backend made from ABS plastic.

I use these Kingston 'SD' cards in my Nikon D40x & D80... I purchased them from here... https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/c/433/SDHC-Cards/ The user guide/instruction manual should tell you the minimum and maximum storage card capacity to be used. I would advise not to use the 'micro-SD' card and 'SD' adapter. My Olympus C2040 (digital compact camera) uses 'SmartMedia' cards from 8Mb to 128Mb capacity...

Hi @Lexi and welcome to SGL. +1 for the advice given above by @almcl. Many imagers here and elsewhere are using Canon DSLR's and a few; (including myself); use Nikon. Though at the time of writing I have not taken the trip into the 'dark side' of it using my DSLR's. I have done a few basic astro-images in the past with a few digital compact cameras that I have owned or still have and the results were not brilliant, but OK'ish.

When comets Hyakutae and Hale-Bopp were visible... I used my 7x50’s and a monopod. I used the same combi/kit on NEOWISE last weekend too.

Hi @murph_man99 and welcome to SGL. My first ever telescope I owned had a had a max. of 40x. I could just about discern Jupiter and see the rings of Saturn. Whoever told you 50x is talking rubbish from their backside. The late Sir Patrick Moore is often credited with saying: “50x per inch of aperture.” - and that was for a refractor. Forget online places like amazon, eBay, etc. Please use a dedicated astro-dealer such as SGL’s sponsor FLO, or have a look at RVO and 365astronomy. Some EU astro-dealers are very good too, such as Teleskop-Express/TS Optics.

Hi @Boodysaspie and welcome to SGL. You could try Stellarium. The PC 'desktop'/'laptop' is free. I have an old version on an old Apple iBook G4; (before they dropped Motorola/PPC chipsets in favour of intel chipsets - now they are going there own again who knows - I don't want to start a political argument as to which chipset is best/better); and that too was free. Tablet & phone for Android OS & iOS versions are also available... but you have to pay.

I have used Baader Optical Wonder fluid on my mirror diagonals without any issues and then carefully wiped thoroughly the following day with a clean tissue when I did notice a small amount of streaking on one of them. Also, cleaned the primary and secondary mirrors and the meniscus cell inside and out on my ETX105 and filters. So far so good.

I think the best advice is 'try before you buy' (if you can) and down to personal preference and what you feel comfortable with. The same applies with most things in this hobby and other hobbies and interests. The Omegon 20x80's are the same as mine... albeit a brand name change. Many of the popular brand names are manufactured in one far-east factory and then simply re-badged.

Hi @Imsmoothi and welcome to SGL. I have a pair of 7x50's and 20x80's. The 20x80's are OK, though they are heavy, I recommend a joystick/pistol/trigger grip mount; (as shown below); that can be attached to a photo tripod or monopod. I would advise not to get zoom binoculars. <-- 7x50's <-- 20x80's Below is a side-by-side comparison...

Well done that man! - excellent result.

Hi @Danielle and welcome to SGL. Firstly what do you intend to image? - lunar and planetary should be very good for an SCT. For galaxies and DSO's you will need the Celestron field flattener/focal reducer, a.k.a. FF/FR. (Other brands do exist). This will bring the 'scope down from f/10 to f/6.3, therefore shortening the exposure time by about one-third. Your mount will need to polar aligned for longer exposures. Secondly do you have a T-ring? - this is what couples/connects the camera to the back of the 'scope, along with a nosepiece adaptor. Depending on whether your are going prime focus you will use the 'scope as a lens only, or if afocal you will need an eyepiece projection unit a.k.a. EPU. I myself have a Celestron C6/SCT-xlt; (and two other 'scopes); Nikon D40x & D80, have the parts/accessories as above, but not net attempted anything serious. Also my mounts are manual alt-az. Other more experienced astro-imagers will be able to answer and advise in greater detail.

Hi @Jezphil and welcome to SGL. ref: question 1. As long as your camera can 'shoot' an .AVI -> process in PIPP -> then process in Registax or Deep Sky Stacker. If it is a .MOV then that will need to converted to .AVI Unsure about question 2. Hopefully a more experienced astro-imager/SGL'er will be able to assist and answer. BTW - I am purely visual at time of writing.

...and let's not forget Isambard Kingdom Brunel's GWR [and railway station].

Slewing of topic... Slough was the birthplace of John Herschel. Son of William & Mary Herschel and nephew of Caroline Herschel. Also home to Mars and Milky Way. At least something good came out of Slough... apart from the M4 and the A4. Apologies in advance... I had to get this one in before someone else did! 😜

Below is my Manfrotto 055, (the PROB) with my 're-modded' ETX105 and Universal Optics DwarfStar mount... ...the ideal/perfect lightweight 'grab & go'. I sometimes will attach my Tele-Optic Giro mkII or AOK-AYO if viewing as a dual 'scope setup.

Hi @Lobo_Steve and welcome to SGL.

Very nice! I was tempted to get one of my 'scopes out on the morning of Sat. 11 Jul. 2020, when I had my first view of C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE).

These are not to be sneezed at... ...the SkyWatcher 2"/28mm LET|LER Apex. They are a lot better than what I thought for a budget e/p. Also; the rubber eyeguard is twist up; (the end cap is from a 35mm film cannister).

This is the small circular disc that @John is referring to. Mine came with a TV 6mm Radian. I believe they also were included with the TV Nagler type 4 series too. Instructions on how to use it here -->TV Pupil Guide Instructions.pdf

My iOS & Android OS of Star Safari (basic) do! - just click 'Search' ->'Brightest Comets'

One other thing! - metal tripods will get extremely cold during the winter months. To protect your fingers/hand from being frozen to the legs, you could add some pipe insulating foam on the top leg sections. Alternatively, you could go wood... i.e. https://www.berlebach.de/en/ - OK they are expensive, but wood has good vibration damping/elimination properties.