cletrac1922

I have a Solarmax 11 mounted on a Skywatcher EQ5 mount I am struggling to spot through the spotting scope on top of the scope Attached image shows spotting scope on the Solarmax 11 I also use an ED80 on my EQ5 mount, have a glass solar filter for that Does anyone have any suggestion for spotting with the Solarmax 11 I am also using the Wi-Fi adapter for the EQ5 mount, which takes the guess work out of setting up the mount, as don't have to input date, time, location The Wi-Fi adapter also has a solar viewing function, gives u an equation to solve to activate With my 10" collapsible Dob, the hard cover has a detachable viewing hole, and I have attached Baader film over this hole, attached the hard cover to the top of the scope for solar viewing Have also made up a tube, again using Baader film, for the spotting scope John

Chris Welcome from land down under John

Welcome back Chris from Land Down Under John

Hi Dario and welcome from Land Down Under You did not indicate where you were located You travel the universe in this forum John

Welcome from across the ditch Pacific Ocean John

Neil Welcome from Land Down Under You travel the universe in this forum John

I use a car jump start pack to power my EQ5pro mount Gives reliable power source, and mine also has USB and dual cigarette lighter outlets to power ASI Air and ASIZWO camera Pic of my ED80 on EQ5pro mount The ED80 on a HEQ5 mount in background, also shows external battery Had a issue a while ago with a club Meade mount, where internal batteries had not been removed, and corroded the battery compartment John

First of all welcome from Land Down Under I would go for a ED80, 100 or 120 on an EQ5pro mount Mainly due to the weight of the scope If you already have the 200PDS, then you are better off going for the HEQ5 mount There is also a conversion kit from gear to belt for the HEQ5 mount as well Have enclosed a pic of my ED80 on a EQ5pro mount taken at a club solar field day a while ago In background, is a second ED80 on a HEQ5 mount, with a Canon 600D attached using T-ring I also power my EQ5 mount using a car jump start battery, and the power pack has lasted over a week at astro festivals Hope have been of assistance John

Hi from Land Down Under I am in same boat with respect to AP Time is my main enemy with work and family to do AP Looking at getting a ASIZWO MC of some description to do AP John

Welcome from Land Down Under Hope you enjoy your stay with us John

Welcome back from Land Down Under, and another Skywatcher Dob owner Last night did presentation for local Cubs group, scout movement for 5-7yo's Looked at Jupiter, Saturn, Mars came up not long after sunset, and used laser pointer to highlight Scorpio, in all her glory John

Welcome back from Land Down Under John

John Welcome from Land Down Under Fellow John

Gil Welcome from across the ditch, Pacific Ocean John

Welcome from Land Down Under You do travel the universe in this forum Personally I would had waited to get Skywatcher 8" Flex Dob Attached pic is of my 10" flex Dob, taken at a club viewing night late last year, pre-Covid In background with shroud is a 8" Flex Dob John

Reduces the amount of white light been reflected back up the tube Why most observers also wear a red head lamp, or use red torch when observing, or doing AP White light also impacts on your night vision John

i'm using the middle screw to try and get this in line. but can never get it properly in line the top picture above is the best ive been able to get but when i then look through the chesire it looks compeltely out of line with the cross hairs so im getting confused. Any help greatly appreciated. I've spent last night and half of today trying to get it in line again. The middle screw is the locking screw for the secondary mirror The three outer screws are for alignment Just shine a torch with red filter into the focuser, without an eyepiece, then adjust the secondary so that the red beam is in the center of primary, then use your collimator from there final adjustment John

Welcome from Land Down Under I have not had the chance yet to venture into AP First thing is knowing how to drive my 600D in manual mode Looking at getting an ZWOASI 290MC John

Paul Welcome from Land Down Under John

Jack Welcome from Land Down Under We have two full moons in October, first was on the 1st October, the second been on the night of Halloween Couldn't resist the comment hence your profile name Hope you enjoy your new toys, and your time with us John

First of all welcome from Land Down Under I wear glasses for reading, following cataract surgery several years ago, I go without them when viewing EP have their own magnification, and your eyes adjust to them I have filters as well, which very rarely use At the moment you can use a red filter to observe the polar caps on Mars, as Mars will be closest to earth on the 6th October, than will be in the next 15 years Lunar filter will dull the brightness when observing the moon, and highlight lunar features John

Welcome from across the ditch, Pacific Ocean John

First of all welcome from Land Down Under With the 9mm eyepiece, and scope not tracking, then will go out of focus very quickly Did you do a two star alignment prior to going to Mars or the moon With the moon, your 25mm eyepiece is ideal, as will fit in the whole moon, where using your 9mm will only get partial view I use either a 15mm and 17mm for planets and other DSO with both my 10'' flex Dob, and ED80 on EQ5pro mount You can also use a lunar filter to bring out more detail of the moon, and a red filter to highlight the polar caps on Mars Mars is closest to earth on the 6th October, than it will be in the next 15 years John

Fil Welcome from Land Down Under, Australia You do travel the universe in this forum John

Had same issue with my10'' flex Dob when using 2'' focuser I brought a slide extendable tube, and problem fixed John