Alan White

Thank you @Scooot, much appreciated Richard.

Although our scopes are similar spect my stalk is the  same dimension as the mirror, but made me wonder about what material it is made from?

if the stalk is wood, I could get it reduced down in diameter.

The reason Steve would keep the f15 is that it’s too big to shift from his garden 😂😂😂

I joke of course.

When my kit was simpler, I had one telescope and 3 eyepieces.

Observed plenty and enjoyed myself.

Nowadays it’s 3 telescopes, 8 eyepieces (much culled) and goodness knows how many filters, diagonals etc.

So was it simpler in your astronomy and do you have pictures and thoughts.

My EP case was very empty..

Has no one removed the large oouk secondary ally lump and refitted the mirror to a better arrangement?

I has seen some very nice secondary fittings in images online, but not fitted to a scope like my one,

someone surely has done this on SGL?

No reason @Piero other than to see which telescope everyone felt they could compromise with.

We all have differing observing or imaging leanings, so the one Scope is the one that best fits your main aim.

I think you are underestimate your wood skills, it looks great.

Built on the Dining Room table, if that was me i would have drilled a hole into it!

Enjoy using the fine looking instrument you have crafted.

On 03/08/2019 at 12:22, Ags said:

On the subject of One Eyepiece, I have been giving serious consideration to getting a Nirvana 16mm for both sides of my dual scope setup  - the ST80 and the SkyMax 102. Am I allowed multiple copies of the same eyepieces?

Abs, one in each scope adds up to two, so sadly no.

Wow, looks great, excellent job.

I had wondered how the build was going, now I know.

But is that not a triplet imagers Scope Michael?

Different scopes for different folks perhaps?

Looking great Francis,

Pleased you have the replacement mount.

I await the full cabinet finish replacement for the plastic pet food psi/ workbench solution 😉

5 hours ago, johninderby said:

Time to photoshop a few eyepiece images I think. 😁

I think Al Nagler missed a trick, should have them painted like the Saturn V rocket 😂

Perhaps the issue is many observe with smaller lighter kit and the ED 150 looks to not really fit that criteria.

I would love a look through one though.

Well it's now darkish and I could not contain myself anymore.
Improved so much I can now see reflected light from the opposite fence posts!
Sooooo much improved, very happy indeed.

 

^ Before NW from corner outside Screen.                 ^ After NW from inside screen.


 

^ Before NNE from outside screen.                                ^ After NNE from inside screen.

So much more blocked residual light to catch in my line of sight is now gone, 
I am actually looking forward to observing from home again.

Even had a quick glimpse of Jupiter through the trees facing South, bit of pruning due 
My good lady knows pruning involves a chainsaw at times.

3 hours ago, Stu said:

One mount? Hmmm, would have to be one I don't currently have I think. I enjoy manual Alt AZ mounts such as my Ercole with twin clamps, but also tracking when observing the Sun, Moon and planets. So, I think I would go with the iOptron AZ Pro on the Tri-pier with extension which should cover my needs.

Dobs don't count I assume, so i can keep those? 😉

No Stu, been tried already, just one mount and Dobson is a mounted Newtonian as well you know, tsk, tsk 😉

Well I have gone for a 'Toe Dip' or Lucky Dip £18.95 SDR as recommended by @BiggarDigger and will build a aerial as per the S@N article. 

Limited outlay to see how I get on, if I like it or want more then better kit will be purchased.

Thanks all for the pointers, all much appreciated 👍


 

The Pad build got a big push today, Sean the fence man turned up.
He worked like a Trojan and ensured I got what I wanted, nice one Sean.

The area now needs some hedge planting and ground works.



The hedge is already down one side as was already planted,
shows how it will soften the look.
It has full approval of the Household Management Team 👍

And most importantly, look how it will block those lights 😀

Very Happy indeed, progress made and i can see Light at the end of the tunnel.......
well when I say Light, I mean Dark in this case!

2 minutes ago, Paz said:

I'm assuming my dobsonian doesn't count and I can keep a dobsonian as well?

Only 1, so one or the other

29 minutes ago, iPeace said:

Tiny addition - if not the Losmandy AZ8, then ANYTHING made by @Doc.

That is quite a good point Mike.
 

What Yagi would I need if I don't make it?
Any links please 😘

@Merlin66 when you said measure up the box,
just for a minute thought you were sending it somewhere other than Valhalla!

If I had only 1 mount it would be an AYO ii with encoders, linked to a push to computer unit.

Best of both worlds, positional identification and alt az push as I want movement.
Simple movement, small and light, well engineered.

This is a mount I don't yet own.
 

Following on from if you could only have one threads....

Please join in, make interesting reading for all.
Please make sure you tell us what and why though.

9 minutes ago, NGC 1502 said:

Zooming in on the nameplate reveals a TeleVue 85.   Very nice indeed.  How do I know ?  Because I once owned a TV85 and was daft enough to sell it.    It was an early model with the shiny finish to the lens cell and focuser just like yours.  I had one of those “it seemed like a good idea at the time moments”...............👎👎👎

Ed.

Oh we all have moments of madness when it comes to kit, 
selling mainly but quite often buyers regret as well.

Those TV scopes are a very fine bit of kit, I would love one as 'The' refractor to be honest.

 

10 hours ago, iPeace said:

P.S. It makes more sense to keep the 8 inch f/6 newt, but I could never let this one go...

Hello Mike, nice to see you joining in.
I thought 'Stanley' would be the single keeper 😀

Skywatcher love to drop a new product image into the catalogue and then go mute on it.
Interesting looking mount indeed as the SW prices are so competitive.

I bet this will get a lot of attention from all you imagers.
 

All the talk on Cloudynights:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/662827-cq350-skywatcher/