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

On 29/10/2020 at 07:03, Fergie62 said:

Hi Everyone !

I am just about to purchase a Sky Watcher 200 PDS EQ5 Telescope and was wondering if this is a good beginners telescope to buy ?.......I am also looking for some advice as I wish to connect my Nikon D5200 to the telescope via a T- Ring. would this work ?

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice.   am a SPONGE !

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

20 hours ago, AstroMuni said:

Is there a reason for the red filter?

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

On 06/03/2011 at 00:49, Bizibilder said:

The problem you have is quite straightforward: The telescopes focal point has not changed by you swapping the focuser to a low profile type. So you need to compensate, as you have done, by using an extension tube (to make the focuser "high profile" again!!). It is likely that the extension tube that you have is not long enough to allow the use of the Barlow or your webcam. Solution - buy a second extension tube!!

After a while you will have quite a collection - just like the rest of us

Had same issue with my10'' flex Dob when using 2'' focuser

I brought a slide extendable tube, and problem fixed

John