astrolunartick

Hey folks. So Ive been a visual observer for nearly 20 years. I have various telescopes, but mainly use a 10 and 20 inch Dobsonian with no tracking. Ive been using a smartphone to document my observations and also to do live streams for an Astronomy facebook page I run. So Its time to upgrade to a proper camera. I also want to use it as a normal camera for day time photography and capturing video if possible. or maybe that requires a video camera as well. I would like an all in one solution if it exists. My budget is about £600. What camera would you suggest? Many thanks Pete

I always use heat shrink on all my truss poles anyway so it was a fairly well hidden mistake.

I don't see why not. Probably even better than this 20". As when I take it apart the Mirror box is pretty heavy even without the side bearings attached. So with a 13" It would probably be better. I think.

Heres some of the plans.

Hey Friend. Any old excuse to make another telescope! So I've been planning to rebuild my 20" Dob for sometime. I built the original 20" about 6 years ago when I didn't drive, but 3 years ago I passed my driving test and got a van. The van is now a camper with a rock and roll bed seat. The scope sits in front of the bed seat, when I'm in transit. But when I'm parked up for a night observing and I finish the night to sleep in the van. I have to leave the scope outside, as it wont fit in the van with the rock and roll bed down. which i really don't feel comfortable about. So the plan was to make a new Dob using the Optics, Focuser and Mirror cell from the original 20" that will fit under the rock and roll bed. Plus I've just fitted a roof rack. So the ladder and truss poles can sit on top now. I started collecting all the materials about 2 months ago and then started the build at the beginning of December. I've had a mad rush to get the scope finished before the Great Conjunction. Ive taken some inspiration from Gordon Waite Renegade Telescopes. As this seem to be a design with in my capabilities. I managed to get it done in time with some loose ends to tidy up at a later date. But sadly my area has just gone in to Tier 4 today, so I'm at home . Thankfully the last 2 nights have been clear here. So I've managed to observe the beginning of the Conjunction. I had a crazy stressful moment yesterday. I had a stinking migraine and was rushing to get the scope done. I stupidly cut 100mm too much off the truss poles and found out last night when I had the scope at home testing it out. So this morning I managed to turn eight hardwood 22mm diameter by 150mm long dowels on my lathe to slip inside the poles and side the 100mm off cut back on to extend the poles again then used more heat shrink to cover the bodge. What a bodger hey? It doesn't look too bad. I had to hammer the dowels in so they are a tight fit. and i put a small screw through each part so it won't come apart. Any way it's together. as i said before I need to spend some more time on the scope to get it finished. Some of you might know I have a Youtube channel where I've posted some of my scope build videos. I have filmed this build, I just need to edit the footage down to a watchable length and then I will post it on here. Thanks for reading I will update soon Pete

Really sorry to hear this. Its a great event.

Well Ive managed to get the scope finished with the carving inscription that my friend asked me to do. I applied 3 coats of yacht varnish. Yacht varnish isn't the nicest finish to apply but it is perfect for the conditions the scope will be under. The first proper collimation went very well. The secondary mirror only needed adjusting away from the spider a little to bring it to the centre of the light path. Its very satisfying when you look in the focuser and see your eye looking back perfectly framed and centred by both mirrors, with the primary centre donut decal bang on your pupil. then put a laser collimator in and its dead centre with no adjustments. I must be doing something right. I took the scope home last night and set it up outside. I only had a little time to test it out. It wasn't dark but i could see Jupiter and Saturn so those were the targets. I started with Saturn. Saturn and Jupiter were nice and sharp with the 23mm eyepiece considering the planets low locations in the sky. I could make out the Cassini Division and Jupiters belts with one of Jupiters moons just on the edge of the planet. With the 10mm eyepiece both planets were twice the size than when i was using the 23mm eyepiece. The view was a little blurred but that was dew to the altitude of the planets from the horizon. If i get the chance i will test again tonight with darker skies and on some deep sky objects. i want to see the moon through it but that mean being awake at 4 - 5am tomorrow and i have work. So heres some photos of the scope out in my gazing spot.

Today Im very chuffed with myself. Finally got the design down for the wooden red dot finder. This was a very tricky thing to make. Ive made several attempts at this before and I think Ive finally got it sorted. The adjustments work perfectly. Ive used a 3v Red LED with a small piece of fibre optic attached on the end, all wrapped in some small heat shrink and powered by a 2032 3v battery. The same as what is powering the collimator my friend will be using. Ive also been trying to make a wooden focuser, but with my deadline approaching Ive not got the time to iron out the issues with that. Just need to do the letter quote carving on the scope some where. then its strip the whole thing down, sand and varnish then its final assemble and proper first light test. I had a quick look at Jupiter the other night through it and thankful the view was sharp and the eyepieces came to focus with the focuser half way in. so Im happy.

Hey Dr_Ju_Ju The final weight is 13kg. the tube comes of the base, thats half the weight.

Thanks Damian. Hope all is well with you.

Thank you for your kind words fellow stargazers.

Hello again folks Ive had this design idea in my head for about 5 years as a nice looking solid hardwood telescope that would be a pleasure to use sat on a stall and will sit nicely in a room or conservatory rather than a plain metal tube. Sometime has past and I had to put the project on hold. Now Ive had a friend ask me to make him one so its been a push to get it finished. My friend has requested a carving of a quote that means something to them somewhere on the telescope. So that should be fun. This scope is nice sturdy design with segmented tube made from beech and mahogany. The rocker box made from birch plywood and mahogany, with a eyepiece and accessories compartment in the rocker box. I have an intention to make a build video of this design uploaded to my youtube channel for all to see. Videoing the process slow the construction down a bit and i have a deadline for this so a build video will have to wait for when i make another one. But for now i will upload Photos of the finished scope in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for reading AstroPete

Thanks for letting us know

Hello folks. I was wondering if anyone can help. Ive been taking my Telescopes to musical gatherings and small festivals for about 10 years now and im wanting to reach out a little further. So i thought it best I get Public liability insurance. I have heard of the federation of Astronomical Societies, and i believe they only insure Astronomy clubs. can anyone point me in the right direction. Many thanks pete

Fantastic Video Gav. Thanks for sharing

I thought I had a spare I was going to offer sending to you. I just went to my scope spares box to check if still have it. To find its broken just as yours is. So maybe its a week joint, Poorly designed. I like the Red dot finder but the quality isn't great. I had the potentiometer knob brake off on my previous Sky surfer. I have a Telrad on my 20 inch Dob. I can not fault Telrads. Sorry I cant help. Pete

Thank you Damian and thanks for subscribing. Whats your youtube profile name? Pete

Finally finished the scope and delivered it to the my friend. all went smoothly. we found a campsite in the middle of Kent. The owner kindly let us set up our scopes but sadly we only had about 10 minutes of clear sky. But my friend Nathan was over the moon at the views he had of the moon. This project was very enjoyable and i have plans for other scopes and have people interested in scopes for them selves so i may be rather busy this summer. The video is rather long at 40 minutes and speedy as i had to speed the footage up so i could fit as much of the 60 hour build in to the video. I did on a few occasions forget to hit record on my phone. so i missed a small bit of the build. but most of it is there. At the end there is set up and first light test. so stick with it if you can. Hope you enjoy the video.

Im getting close to completion with this scope. Its all gone fairly smoothly. I had to plane down the thickness of the Plywood in the secondary cage as it was a bit of a struggle to get it through the rings but i finally got it in there. It will look great once its flocked. Ive just finished giving it its second coat of varnish so tomorrow I will be flocking the mirror box and secondary cage. Then its final assembly and first light test. The video will hopefully be uploaded on Saturday evening. Im new to videoing and editing but i enjoy it. Its another dimension to a project when you have to always consider the camera angles, not obstructing the camera view and what is necessary to capture and what just boring. Nearly 60 hours of footage, 100gbs squeezed down to 35 minutes. Hopefully it will come out ok and will not be boring.

Hi Ally Im not sure what this weighs but i will weigh it when its done and let you know. there are always ways of making it lighter.

Its amazing how quickly things come together. Dovetails for the mirror box are rather enjoyable to do. I found a nice easy way to do hand cut dovetails on youtube. Using a Japanese dozuki pull saw and a magnetic Dovetail block i made from some Beech wood and Neodymium magnets. This method is easy and accurate. I will show this method in the build video when i upload it. Im set to deliver the scope next Friday so Im having to organise my evenings. As evenings is the only time Ive been able to spend on this build Heres my plan. Finish the mirror box, build the rocker box and Secondary cage and glue everything up tonight and Friday night. Then on Saturday night, formica the bottom of the rocker box the top of the mirror box and the side bearings then give everything a good sand and first coat of varnish. Another couple of coat of varnish on Sunday evening and heat shrink all the poles. Monday night is final assembly day (fit all the hardware and install the mirrors. Hoping for clear skies at some point next week for first light test. Then i have the rest of next week to iron out any issues. So thats the plan. fingers crossed i stick to it. its looking likely as im ahead of my schedule so far.

All the birch plywood is cut up. Im working on a Video of the build. I will post the video when its done. probably end of next week.

I almost have all the bits for this project. Just waiting for some formica and heat shrink. All i really need is time. I will be spending a couple of hours of 3 to 4 evenings a week and perhaps the whole day on Sunday for the next few weeks.

Collecting all the bits for this next build. Nearly have everything, just waiting on quick release clamps, aluminium poles and large heat shrink. Im really happy with the design. I will update with photos of the build and post a video of the build when its done. Here are some photos of one i made for myself a few years back. It performs great. Its rock solid, holds collimation really well. So nice to have a 10inch Dob that is easy to set up when i only want to do a short session. This one is the little brother to my 20inch. My friend is getting excited and so am i. I love building dobsonian telescopes. Cant wait to take it to him and have first light session with all the dobs set up.