RT65CB-SWL

I sold my Vixen GP to a non-SGL person, and he said the same... "virtually zero backlash in both axes." - he is/was using an EQ3/2 as well. The only reasons for selling was... it was at the max-payload capacity with a C6/SCT & my 're-modded' ETX105 side-by-side. cannot be bothered with the faffing about with north alignment, polar alignment, etc., after spending a day at work, and then start observing. Perhaps one day I will regret selling it... truth is... I already do! - I was sorry to see it go. @AdeKing I am sure you will love it, as much as I did mine.

Hi @Joecobbs and welcome to SGL. As per @joe aguiar has said. They are 'defraction spikes'. I don't mind seeing them on star clusters, i.e. Pleiades [M45] in Taurus [Tau], but for planets it's a "No!" from me... and I do not have a Newtonian/Dobsonian/other reflector; that has the tube open to the elements on one end.

The only colour filter I use is a #47 (violet)... for viewing Venus. I don't go for the other colour ones. I think it is hype to boost profits rather than visual... I maybe wrong... 😜 Other than that, I use a polarising filter or the Baader Contrast & Neodymium and/or the Explore Scientific CLS, UHC, Olll filters... 🧐

I use either a variable polarising or #47 (violet).

Try google play - that has a free 'lite' version and a paid version - which one on the site you have shown does not say. Also, have you disabled or enabled from Unknown sources in the settings tab - sometimes this may cause apps not to download/install.

Hi Derek. Can you post a screenshot of the error message as it is displayed/shown on your tablet/phone? If you wish to run Android OS apps via MS-Windows, you need to have ‘BlusStacks’ installed on the host PC.

Hi @djs44 / Derek and welcome to SGL. What phone/tablet is it and what version of Android OS is it using/running? I have been having a few issues lately myself with a few ‘google’ apps not updating via the ‘play store’. Have you tried SkEye? - I use the free version and works for me, though it does give me a warning about an “Extremely strong magnetic field nearby!” when it is in its slip-case.

Depends on how sensitive your eyes are to bright light. I use this type... ...of variable polarising filter when viewing a near or full Moon.

Better contrast when viewing the Moon and planets ...I think! - It is also offset so the 'spider' vanes do not get in the way and no diffraction spikes.

Hi @fijidave and welcome to SGL. ...and we don't "...mind a few newbie questions!" - we have to start somewhere.

A 'belated' Christmas (2019) card from my company... ...and an apology from Royal Mail for the delay. 🎅🎄

Hi @Mic2020 and welcome to SGL. Congratulations on the 'scope purchase and I agree with all the above comments. 130mm is not to shabby. I started this with wonderful hobby with a 40mm refractor and was in awe when looking at the Moon, Jupiter & Jovian moons, could just about view the rings of Saturn when it was favourable and starstruck when I first looked at Mizar & Alcor, (a known double/double in Ursa Major/the Plough*). First really useful accessory is to get would be a red LED torch, (I have even used a rear cycle lights from the £1 shops), so you can read your star charts or when writing notes and preserves your night vision/dark adapted eyes. You will have noticed that the end cap has a smaller cap. This is will step down the aperture even further, but here's another use/tip for it... many observers purchase a sheet/or roll of Baader Safety film, (link below**), and stick it on the inside with adhesive tape and safely observe the Sun for sunspots or they make a full aperture solar filter. DO NOT VIEW or IMAGE THE SUN WITHOUT IT! Wishing you clear skies on the Tyne from the Thames Valley. * the Plough is the asterism within Ursa Major. ** https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baader-astrosolar-safety-film-nd-50.html

Hi @Malko Marchio and welcome to SGL. SCT's & MCT's are very good for lunar and planets. Though they do have a few downsides... notorious dew magnets, so a dewshield is a must have accessory. require a minimum 30-60 minutes to reach ambient temperature. narrow field of view. I have a habit of saying, quote: "No 'scope does all in this hobby." ...which is probably true. If you are happy just to put a 'scope anywhere, without the fuss of alignment, etc., then a 'Dobsonian' i.e. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians.html You have to look/think at the logistics; i.e. storage, transportation, can I manage to assemble it by myself - (attach the telescope to mount), etc. If your town/city has an astronomy club/society, visit it and find out when they are having a star-party/open day and go along. It will give you an idea as to the physical size and types of telescopes that are available. Do buy from a specialist outlet... not ebay, amazon, high street department/camera store as the staff may/will have limited experience of the product.

Hi @Dave1973 and welcome to SGL. FWIW - I have this c.1916 sighting telescope... BTW - a blob of BluTack, (out of view), stopped it from rolling/falling off!

Replace the rubber 'O' rings, because in time they will lose their tension and split/perish over time, where as springs will retain the tension and a minor tweak now and again to ensure perfect collimation. I find the hexagon heads are better than slotted machine screws or 'phillips'/'pozidrive' as there is little or no risk of of the allen key slipping out when collimating. My 're-modded' ETX105 has them under the backplate and high-tensile hex-machine screws to secure the backplate to the OTA. (image below). The three large blue discs on the backplate are anodized aluminium countersunk/fairing washers.

An 'Astro Essentials' mini-Vixen type saddle clamp via FLO for my AOKswiss AYO mount... ...on the opposite side ...when the balance weight is not being used.

Sorry Rob, unable to answer you question; but just dropped by to say: "Hi @RobH2020 and welcome to SGL."

Heather Couper (b. 1949 - d. 2020) Such sad news. She visited Reading Astronomical Society many years ago, (late 1970's/early 1980's, I think), and I asked her to sign my copy of 'Patrick Moore's pocket guide to The Stars and Planets' in which she obligingly did; and is now becoming something of an autograph book as it includes Nik Szymanek and Stephen Tonkin @BinocularSky. The year I forgot to take it to AstroFest, Sir Patrick Moore was there in attendance and unable get his autograph.

Apologies for the confusion. I thought you was a complete newbie and wanted to know the difference between alt-az and eq and it was your first 'scope.

Alt-Az = alt-azimuth... up/down, i.e similar to a basic camera tripod head. EQ = equatorial... needs to be set to your latitude before use, not during use.

Is the mounting plate is like the one shown in the youtube video? ...then watch from 2m56s

I have the Lunt Herschel Wedge (1.25”) and a Thousand Oaks glass solar filter that I use with my TeleVue Ranger, (image below). Personally I would go with the Herschel Wedge/refractor combination. My glass filter is showing signs of age now, (twelve years old), by showing minute pinpricks to the coating when I hold it up to a bright light-source before use and I no longer use it. I prefer the orange disc from the glass filter then the green disc I get with the Herschel Wedge and additional filters*... <--- I think I have been ‘Tangoed’. * the additional filters are the Baader Solar Continuum filter and Baader Polarising filter, (available from FLO or Baader Planetarium direct and other resellers) - the Herschel Wedge has a built-in ND3.0 filter.

I do not own a TV so unable to view it... moron ...yes amoeba ...no ...without amoeba/amoebae/amoebas ...homo-sapiens may not have existed.

I have used rear cycle lights from the £1 shops in the past.

Every time I have used 'hot glue' to make mine, it did not stick!