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Kev There is a fairly new SynScan WiFi adapter Down load the SynScan App, I have Android device The App automatically sets GPS, date/time from mobile device Takes guess work out of everything John

I use a car jump start pack to power my EQ5 mount You primarily using at home, or remote location, dark sky site Found when attending astrofests, the jump pack lasts about a week, without need to recharge, continual operation Pic shows jump start pack with my ED80 on EQ5 mount John

How cold does it get where you are? Where I am, in winter, gets down to around 10 deg C, summer gets down to around 20 deg C Last night was out with my club doing presentation for cubs group, local scout group, and used my 10" Dob almost straight up John

If going for an EQ mount Better off getting one with SynScan Go-To Can then use for tracking There is now also a SynScan WiFi adapter available, and works from your Android mobile device App Pic taken recent solar field day with my club, showing my ED80 on EQ5 Pro mount In background another ED80 on a HEQ5 mount

My mount fits on back seat, along with my Dob, my SUV I just use bit light rope to secure dob to seat belt mount, to stop rolling off back seat John

I have a metal carry case, with clip out sponge Shown attached pic of my ED80 Pic taken solar viewing day with club

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

Fully agree Geoff I have a SW 10" collapsible dob, which use for visual viewing, and transport to school, scout/guide groups with my club to do presentation, as quick and easy to set up For AP, I have a SW ED80 on a EQ5 Pro mount The EQ5 mount also supports my Coronado SolarMax 11 scope, solar observing Pic of dob, take at public viewing night with my club Pic of ED80, taken at a solar viewing day with my club

Welcome from Land Down Under You travel the universe in this forum, and make friends on the way John PS No such thing as a stupid question Before rushing out and buying a new scope Ask yourself What I want to do Just observe moon, and other deep sky objects, or venture into AP If AP, then going to need a scope with tracks

Tearaway Sounds like a good purchase You can now also get a WiFi adapter for SynScan controller and download the SynScan APP Been using for a while now, and takes the guess work out of setting up SynScan Controller, as GPS location, Date/time, automatically loaded from your Android mobile device You can also use SkySafari 6 with the APP https://skywatcheraustralia.com.au/product/wifi-adapter/ John

Miguel Welcome from land down under You travel the universe in this forum, and make friends along the way John

Try having a look at Heaven Above App as well Contains a wealth of information John

Hi Guys Going to throw a spanner in the works here Correct mounting of the scope Possible with a Dob, to have 180deg other way around Have attached pic of my ED80 on EQ5 mount, which should very which way to mount the dob I also use a car battery jump start battery pack to power the EQ5, as do most of my club members using EQ or Meade mounts Been in the southern hemisphere, do not have a star light Polaris, to align to I align the north leg, facing south, and using a compass, align the mount, allowing for magnetic variation, where I am is 11deg east I also use a right angle spotting scope

Welcome Theodor From land Down Under John

Welcome from Land Down Under John

Robin I work at West End, and rail out of Helensvale around 4-50 every morning, to South Brisbane station Other morning when leaving home around 4-30am, we had the conjunction of Venus with quarter crescent moon Tried to capture it with my mobile phone Unfortunately, even in PRO mode Samsung Android phones do not like poor lighting conditions Attached shot, the moon turned out a blurry blob The other object above Venus is Jupiter Even though just breaking daylight, still gives indication eastern horizon that hour of the morning When left home this morning, CRUX and Scorpio were directly over head My next door neighbours currently have her parents visiting from England Dragged out the 10" Dob, and gave them a bit of a laser show Had CRUX and Orion First hop was Jewel Box Second hop was Omega Centauri Next hop was to Orion Nebula Mars was setting just after sunset, over Tamborine, very hard to make out When was with SAS, found the Dob was quicker and easier to set up than the ED80 on EQ5 mount, doing presentation schools, scout/guide groups When have bunch of 5 - 7 yo's lined up to view, and doing 2 star alignment with the EQ mount, they do not have the patience The pic of the ED80 was taken a SAS field day at Paradise Point New counter weight, just drop and see Pete, Myer Centre Tell him I sent you He will charge you double, and I get half ? He will look after you He used to be adjacent to cop shop opposite Garden City Drop me a PM anytime John

Hi Robin Welcome from another Queenslander Read with interest you keep scope under couple of plastic bags In our climate, with high humidity, see that as a bit of an issue, with condensation forming under the plastic Quick look at your set-up, noticed rust forming on the counter weights For many years was committee member of Southern Astronomy Society, gave them away just prior to Xmas due to personal reasons Which side of Brissy you live? I am out in Goldcoast Hinterland, and the hills behind my place, shield me from light pollution from the Goldcoast, and South East to South West fairly unpolluted skies Do have a bit of an issue if trying to observe northerly direction, due to light pollution from Logan and Brisbane John

I do live under fairly skies Only have to venture 10kms from home, and perfect unpolluted clear skies Captured the attached when leaving home for work around 4-30 the other morning Unfortunately Samsung Android phone cameras do not like dark environment when imaging The attached pic was a small crescent moon, and conjunction with Venus Jupiter is just above Venus The moon turned out a blurry blob, due to phone camera Coming into our winter, sun starting to rise later This morning when leaving home Looked up, and perfectly clear skies No light pollution or cloud cover Had Southern Cross and Scorpio directly overhead My next door neighbours currently have her parents visiting from England Last saturday night dug out the 10" Dob, and they come over My neighbours also very interested, what over head, and he teaches science at local high school Used laser pointer to show Southern Cross, located on eastern horizon, and Orion was overhead Mars was just setting western horizon above the ranges near my place First up went to Jewel Box, Southern Cross Next hop was Omega Centauri, which is adjacent to South Cross Next hop was to Orion Nebula Final hop was to Pleiades Both Orion and Pleiades hold significant significance in Australian Indigenous dreamtime, and men and women's business have own stories, which dates back over 40,000 years John

Welcome from Land Down Under You travel the universe and make friends on the way in this forum You will gets lots of advise on type of new scope to purchase If want to venture into AP, then a SW ED80 on a HEQ5 mount, not go far wrong Some of the latest Celestron's worth a look at as well, and come with WiFi compatible Down load the SkyPortal App for the Celestron The Skywatcher also now has availble a WiFi adapter, and recently purchased for mine EQ5 mount Down load the App as well Both Apps compatible with Sky Safari Before rushing out and purchasing a new scope and mount, rock up to your local astronomy club, and members there only too happy to show you their set-up John

A lot of people get over anxious with collimation Unless you are transporting your Dob, like I do, out couple times per month, doing presentations in primary schools, scout/guide groups, and club meet once a month as well, then will never need to touch the collimation Even the attach pic in initial article, can be caused by parallax error, angle holding camera If able to observe DSO clearly, then just leave alone Only time need to collimate, if unable to focus clearly I use laser collimator John

Antares and Rho Ophiuchi In Australian Indigenous Dream-time, there is a story about how Antares was formed Men's Business A man stole another man's wife The man and women hid in a tree The man who was betrayed found them hiding in the tree, and set fire to the tree The Rainbow Serpent came down and picked up the man and women and formed Antares Indigenous men, know every time they see Antares, they not to steal another man's wife This morning when leaving home around 4-30am, both Scorpio and Crux were overhead Red star Antares also know as the heart of Scorpio Saturn was also adjacent to Antares, with Venus and quarter moon just above the eastern horizon Have not looked for Rho Ophiuchi John

Perhaps rock up to local astronomy club one night with your set-up Members there only too happy to assist I have 2" barlow for my 10" Dob, and initially when tried to use it, was not able to focus, 1.25" barlow worked like a treat Had to get a 2'' slide extension tube to focus, using an adapter for 1.25" eyepiece I also have EQ5 mount, which use ED80 Recently purchased the WiFi adapter for SynScan controller Download SynScan App The App sets GPS, date/Time

Neil I use a EQ5 for my ED80 Easy to transport I leave the head on the tripod when transporting and storing John

Greg Which scope you going to put on the mount I started out with a 10" Dob, and later got a SW ED80 on a EQ5 mount Obvious choice would be either a HEQ5, or 6, depending on weight of the scope intending to mount on it You can now also get a WiFi adaptor for the EQ mounts, as a SynScan Controller Down load the SynScan App Pic of ED80 and EQ5 mount In background, is another ED80 on a HEQ5 mount Pic taken solar viewing field day with my club John

Louis Have a couple of theme parks close to where I live Movie World and Dreamworld Movie World also has a WB movie lot as well, and when do releases of new movies, or other functions at the complex, have large search light panning the skies We live directly overhead flight path in Brisbane Airport Never thought about laser shows and aircraft Know our local council has had complaints about light pollution been admitted from local theme parks, and response from local council, is exempt under State Government permits One rule for one, different rule for the rest How life in Texas Make it down this way, look me up John