MishMich

I found this firm really good - turned the order around in 24 hours.

About Stig Fasteners

You can order as singles or multiples, and the P&P covers the whole order.

M.

I got a couple of the Maplins ones - they are almost the same as the Celestron Onyx case, and the key to the Maplin one fits the Celestron case, which is nice, as it never came with a key. One is for eyepieces, the other for cameras & filter wheel, and the toolbox is still handy for the 2" bits and other bits and pieces. I find it makes life a bit easier having a specific place to put things, easier to find, and park the caps when the EP's are in use, and packing up is quicker as well.

So, thanks for starting this thread, as I doubt I'd have bothered otherwise. I actually bought three, because the price of three meant free postage, which worked out not much more than buying two plus postage. I wasn't sure what I'll be using the third one for, but like a house that is too bit, space tends to get filled, and I guess the EOS and assorted lenses would benefit from their own case.

M.

Coolman is good - but be aware his stuff ships direct from the USA (so risks a tax levy at C&E).

I use a £7.99 toolbox from B&Q.

Bottom shelf - 2" stuff

Middle shelf - diagonal, EP's & barlows (flters slide under handle)

Top trays - filters, cleaning pen, cloth & blower/brush

I also have a pink plastic box I bought at the local market for £3.99 for my CCTV camera, QHY5, and a couple of webcams that are useless for anything other than the moon - one day I'll think of a way of getting rid of (Opticstar PL-130C, Trust HD CMOS).

The Celestron Onyx came with a metal case, and the foam has holes for diagonal, eyepieces, etc.

I'm not motivated to take pictures.

I have only cut one hole - for the QHY5, as I can't figure out how (tried stanley knife & scissors, but not tidy). I cannibalised the packing that came with my synscan upgrade and bought two meter lengths of foam from an online foam supplier, and I cut this into rectangles to pack round the things in the box, and larger rectangles to fit beneath and on top.

Form follows function.

M.

Ireland's always wet and cloudy, isn't it - like Wales, only wetter? I don't suppose all those peat-fired hearths and power stations help the seeing very much. As I recall, the street lighting there didn't seem as bright as the UK. But, I'd imagine if you were on the coast in Co. Clare or Galway, away from the cities, you'd get some pretty neat views? I was in Galway for 6 months, and I do recal seeing the sun a couple of times, driving around the bay along the beach. Unfortunately the unbridled access to Murphys and Paddys meant I tended to be looking down through the dark rain-glistening streets on my way back to my digs, rather than up.

M.

I was skeptical, seeing how the forum is sponsored by FLO, but having placed an order I have to confirm that they are a good supplier. They always respond to questions, often quite brusque - but that's OK, it's a business, and at least they give clear and honest responses.

I'm dithering on getting a skywatcher crayford and autofocuser at the moment - because I don't really want to have to cut the hole 15mm bigger in my OO SPX bigger for the draw tube to fit (which I am told will be necessary) - but it looks like that or shelling out for a moonlight is the only way to get an autofocuser on it.

M.

My first shots were at the moon, with Sony Alpha I got for my birthday. This led to my getting a Celestron Nexstar 102 to try and get better shots. This was about three months ago. My first DSO image was of M42 - because I could see what I was doing.

orion nebula crop on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This was just over a month ago.

I am still refining technique, and once I get time, and polar alignment sorted out, and upgraded the drives on the mount, I will move on to other objects.

It may not look much, but it was my first successful attempt (I failed to get anything the first time). I was surprised I could get anything like this with the 102 SLT. Just being able to do this with such modest equipment led me to buy a second hand Orion Optics SPX f6 200, followed by an HEQ5, which I am about to upgrade with Synscan, and I have decided to keep the Sony for daytime work and got a refurbished Canon EOS 1000D from eBay (so I don't mess up the Sony sensor), I also found myself buying an ex-demo Celestron Onyx 80 EDF. I think it must be an addiction. I use the Onyx with either mount, depending on how much time I have, but never really liked the 102 - the Nextar mount wobbled too much with it, and it was too dark. I love the Onyx, it is a really lovely telescope, and I will eventually sell on the SPX (which is large) and the 102 tube (which I don't use) and get a longer focal-length 120 semi-APO/ED. I suppose I should try an SCT one day - but it appears I like refractors. Especially black ones.

A few of the images I have taken since are in my gallery - which I hope to use as a catalog. I have become interested in astronomy through this, although it is the technology I find fascinating. I do take time actually look at stuff as well - but I am still finding my way around. I want to start on the flame nebula next, and get a better image of M42 with the running man nebula, and get Pleiades properly sorted, as well as ANdromeda, so I can move on and start looking for other stuff.

We will be moving to New Zealand in a year or so, so I also need to cover as much here that can't be seen there as possible while I have the opportunity. Equipment there is very expensive, so I also want to pin down the rig we'll be taking before we go, as upgrading will be unlikely for some time once we move.

M