cletrac1922

Stephen I have SW ED80 on a EQ5pro mount I only ever use 1.25" eyepieces ED80 came with adapter from 2" to 1.25" eyepieces, which slides into the diagonal With respect to eyepieces, I find 17mm very versatile for visual viewing Lot of people say small is better, when gets down to under 10mm, loose a lot of contrast, with a higher value eyepiece, can always use a barlow John PS Early next year, NASA is sending another Rover to Mars The attached link, will enable you to register, and download Boarding Pass, to have your name included on the Rover https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-public-to-submit-names-to-fly-aboard-next-mars-rover

With our club LX90 loan scope, one of our members years made a wooden box, with lift out tray Problem is the box weighs just as much as the scope, when include all the accessories The box is foam lined John

I have ED80 on EQ5pro mount Find it easy to transport, and store I have not tried lunar filter on Jupiter, have used red and yellow, and both bring out the red spot, The attached pic taken at recent solar day with my club Was setup park, foreshore, and invited members of the public, to view as well, who were walking pass John

Hi Andrew Welcome from Land Down Under You travel the universe in this forum John PS Early next year, NASA is sending another Rover to Mars The attached link, will enable you to register online, and print out Boarding Pass, to have your name included on the Rover https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8440/nasa-invites-public-to-submit-names-to-fly-aboard-next-mars-rover/

The non removable plastic cap, is designed to hold the removable one For solar viewing, sticky tape some visual baader solar film, underside of small hole in cap Remember to leave off finderscope John

Chris What you see posted in magazines, is not what you see through a scope Even looking at the Orion Nebula, through a bigger scope, the Orion Nebula, will still appear mono, due to human eye not been able to pick up detail Was a bit of a forum on this, last week, and a good explanation limitation human eye to colour was posted John

Can also download APP The Sun Now Only use AIA304 and AIA193

Can remember 2012 Solar Eclipse Where I was, we only had 80% eclipse Was set up on foreshore, with a college, as well as students from Bond Uni, to view the eclipse Lot of club members, went 1800kms north to Cairns Was partly clouded out up there Same year, we also had the transit of Venus, and about 20 club members, were setup, park adjacent to Sea World, Goldcoast For the transit, left my ED80 visual, and lot of members, were imaging Members of the public walking pass, had a view, and were amazed Next solar eclipse east coast Australia, not until 2028 https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/australia.html John

Mark Welcome from Land Down Under You travel the universe in this forum John PS Next year, NASA is sending another Rover to Mars The attached link, able to register your name, and download Boarding Pass, for the Rover https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8440/nasa-invites-public-to-submit-names-to-fly-aboard-next-mars-rover/

First thing I got when purchased my Dob We have also upgraded the 3 club 10" flex Dobs to right angle finderscope as well Saves having to lay on the ground, to use When out with my club doing presentation schools/scout groups, just a quick glimpse finderscope, to determined if planets or other DSO still in view John

Redcat51 seems interesting piece of kit Use on its own, or attached ZWO ASI290 John

Has always been a point of contention

piff The attached link might help explain lot of things with respect to Zodiacs and the Sun Just over 12 months ago, was in India, and visited Jantra Mantra site in Jaipur Considering was constructed in the early 1700's, site of scientific astronomical instruments Has a 62ft high sun dial, and the face is carved out of marble, faces towards Polaris, and even today is accurate to 2 seconds Another feature, was the zodiacs, and how the sun passes over each one, during the day Has two dishes set in the ground, with constellations marked on it One when sun is in northern hemisphere, other when sun is in southern hemisphere Has a cross wire, with a small circular disc in the centre As the sun or moon pass over, shadow is reflected, on the constellations The attached pic of sloping sundial, is double sided depending in which hemisphere sun is located Has a small steel rod, to cast shadow https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1338 There were actually four sites built northern India, and three still survive today John

It just sits in the mount, with roller mechanism With Skywatcher mount, has locking handles either side to secure mount to the scope, to stop movement Not sure can put a small counter weight, primary mirror end, small bag of sand to counter balance John

Loki Better off aligning finderscope daylight Pick an object in distance, like mobile phone tower, then adjust the two small screws, so finderscope, has same object as camera or eyepiece

I have 10" Flextube, and find easy to transport and store I am out a couple of times per month with my club, doing presentations school/scout groups Attached pic was taken at a recent Saturn in the Park public night John

Rick Welcome from across the ditch, Pacific Ocean John

Nerf Welcome from Australia Considering Hong Kong is closer to the equator, than most of people in here from northern Europe/UK A lot of DSO's will appear overhead, rather than low on the horizon Currently, been south of you, just after sunset have Jupiter just above the horizon, Saturn following not long after Something like SkySafari or Stellarium be good starting point for finding DSO's I also use HeavensAbove With HeavensAbove, save your GPS location, prior to added to favorites on Google Chrome, or what ever other browser you are using You should also have a nice view of Scorpio, and the nebula's contained within currently Most important, what is your light pollution level, as this will determined what you able to observe John

I agree with Allan I tend to use my 10" Flextube Dob as first weapon of choice I am out a couple of times per month with my club doing presentations primary schools/scout groups With the Dob, easy 5 minute set-up, when have 10+ 7-9yo's asking can they see With my ED80, takes longer Set up tripod, southern hemisphere, north leg faces south Use compass to align tripod Then have to wait until dark, to do 2 star alignment, using SynScan Controller Never worry about Dob cooling, as even in winter, average temp does not go below 10 deg C at night Recently had to do school presentation mid week Rushed home from work, pack scopes and eyepiece case into car When got there, realised had left jump start battery pack at home, to power my EQ5 Trusty DOB, got me out of trouble With Dob, easy to jump from one object to another Saturn, Jupiter, Jewel Box in CRUX, Orion Nebula John

Welcome from Land Down Under John

For a 12yo, and first scope, I would go for it Down the track, if interest still there, and wants to expand into AP, then get something like ED120 on HEQ5 mount I have had my 10" flextube Dob now over 10 years, and I am also out couple times per month with my club doing presentations in primary schools/scout groups The attached pics are my Dob, and ED80 With the Dob, there is also a small detachable cap, hard cover lid If you sticky tape some baader visual solar film underside hard cover, then be able to do solar viewing Make sure leave finder scope off With respect to finder scope, you will find better to have right angle, rather than straight through, as saves having to lay on the ground, to view through As the base is also only chipboard, I also put down a small waterproof tarp, to protect the base from ground moisture John PS Something for him and his friends Early next year, NASA is sending another Rover to Mars The attached link will enable you to register, and have your name included on the Rover, and can also download Boarding Pass https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8440/nasa-invites-public-to-submit-names-to-fly-aboard-next-mars-rover/

Hi Nikki Welcome from Land Down Under You travel the universe in this forum Recommend going along to a club, before rushing out and buying anything Members only too happy to show you equipment they have The club I belong to also do a couple of public viewing nights during the year I am also out couple times per month as well, doing presentation primary schools/scout groups John PS Early next year, NASA is sending another Rover to Mars The attached link will enable you to register, and have your name on the Rover, and also download Boarding Pass https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8440/nasa-invites-public-to-submit-names-to-fly-aboard-next-mars-rover/

I have ED80 on EQ5pro mount Does everything I want to do Recently also got the WiFi adapter Simple to use with SynScan App The App automatically sets your GPS location, date/time from your mobile device John

Hi Guys Just picked up on this thread Seems to be same in Australia Down here average house is detached, on a 600 sq meter block, houses around 32 squares, with entertaining areas, pools, off street double car accommodation Most houses built last 30 years, also have 4 bedrooms, and average size of bedrooms are 4 metres by 4 meters, and incorporates built in wardrobes Where I am, we live on a 2000 sq meter block, with frontage 60 meters, and 120 metres in depth The equivalent of 20 terrace houses in the UK Even though marginally below Tropic of Capricorn, had light pollution free skies as well This morning when leaving home for work around 4-30am, had Jupiter on western horizon, Saturn was trailing behind, and quarter moon, all most overhead Currently Jupiter is visible above eastern horizon, after sunset, and Saturn rises about an hour later Around midnight, both overhead I have 10" Dob, as well as ED80 on EQ5 mount, which store inside house without a problem John

For me was about 12 years ago, when got my 10" Dob Joined a club Since then out couple of times per month doing presentation schools/scout groups Nothing like the verbal expressions from 7-9yo's, when show them Saturn This morning when leaving home for work around 4-30am Jupiter was setting western horizon, Saturn was trailing behind, and quarter moon as well almost over head Have viewing cat of 4 where we are, and sky was clear, with CRUX, Scorpio overhead as well John