Swoop1

Hi all, First set up of my guide kit tonight- ASI120Mini guide camera through a ZWO 30F4 MinScope. PHD2 software. Went through the set up wizard and took the Darks library run then went to focus and, no matter what I did- focus barrel all the way in and out, sliding camera in and out of the scope, the screen image never changed beyond this- I could see that the capture was changing due to variations in texture but I couldn't get and change in the image sharpness.

Happy Birthday Pluto!

My Rule Of Thumb is this- I feel like going out and Observing and Imaging. It WILL be overcast.

A very nice looking scope @cajen2 BUT I find your lack of organisation in the DVD collection disturbing 😉

Wouldn't a cord/ bungee secured at the middle of the fiberglass rod spider at one end and a sandbag/ bucket full of bricks on the floor of the obsy help to prevent that fly away feeling?

And don't forget- a thread about an new obsy is useless without pictures.

It actually reminds me of a certain iconic piece of headgear 😉-

Now THAT is very tidy! Cracking bit of work.

Don't know if you have bagged the first of the year BUT, it certainly works for me. Nice.

No toolkit is complete without a Dremel or clone.

Have you thought about digging in some decent footpads as a stable base for your tripod? Something like 3 flowerpots filled with concrete. Another advantage of this is that it helps with speedy alignment of your rig.

It might be a cheaper way of getting the Lego bricks and Meccano into orbit so we can build an orbital Mars Express construction and launch station though.

I know a bike mechanic with 'calibrated wrists' so he doesn't need a torque wrench. Does it up to the prescribed torque then adds another 50% 😱 Despite the fact that he is a trained and qualified technician, I don't let him near my stuff. Many folk out there with less qualifications often delve into the innards of expensive technical kit with sometimes less than favorable outcomes (me included). I do however RTFM (Read The Flipping Manual) which seems to be anathema to a lot of wielders of tools.

I looked into timber when I researched my pier. I seem to recall the basis behind bolting 4 smaller posts together was that any swelling/ shrinking/ warping would have a lesser effect as it is spread across the 4 as opposed to one large cross section piece.

Hi Damian and welcome to the forum. If you were viewing the moon or a planet I would suspect you were seeing the result of moving air- atmospherics are very visible in solar system viewing. As you were viewing a star however, I'm not so sure. It could be that an aircraft flew across the star and you were seeing the result of the hot jet engine exhaust? I am sure more knowledgeable forum members will be along soon with a more accurate explanation.

I regularly stroke my Newt though....

Signed up. I wonder if I will do better than the 18 I managed last year?

So, you were at S+1 (Where S is the number of telescopes owned before Separation)?

I got a pair of these in the sales- Plough Mens Snow Boots | Mountain Warehouse GB Not had chance to test them out yet what with life getting in the way of astronomy.

I think unusual sensitivities relates to medical issues. Hobbies are enjoyment of the property which light trespass intrudes upon.

Nice description Paul. it is sessions like yours that make me wonder when deep sky aficionado's complain about the moon.

I would be more inclined to install the disc onto the pier first at a rough level, then install the mount afterwards- less weight to deal with when trying to get the disc onto the bolts/ threaded rod on the pier top. You don't want to go getting placement wrong and dropping the mount. At best, you've got broken toes, at worst, you have broken your mount.......

My scopes live in cupboards but, the spare bedroom has some nice astro related canvas prints- Earthrise being one of them, plus a spiral galaxy and a multi colour nebula. It also has a Saturn V blueprint type artwork and a Lego Saturn V ornament.

Yes-the plate acts as infill for the hole in the middle of the disc so that the securing nut has something to bite against. Purpose made adapter plates have M10 or M12 diameter holes in the middle so don't need this.

Camera bags are padded and have various inserts so they can work. I had a small one as an EP case for a while.