Sunshine

9 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Not that cheap really but it is beautifully made. Got it from RotherValleyOptics.

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/search/for/Geoptik+adapter/page/1/

Thanks for the link, I guess I would have to buy a length of 3/8 threaded rod and some washers, the securing rod for my GP Mount is too big for the star Adventurer Mount.

34 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Skywatcher EQ6 tripod with 2” legs and a Geoptik HEQ5 Tripod Adaptor.

Oooh! I was going to make an adapter to mount my star Adventurer on my eq3 tripod but maybe that one will do the trick and, it looks smashing. Where did you get it? was it expensive?.

Excited about this, postman brought me a new Skywatcher Star Adventurer with all the trimmings. I’ll be digesting the manual over the next few days, always makes one feel like a kid again when you get something neat in the mail.

On 14/12/2017 at 18:51, wsg said:

Hello all.  Steve I took your advise and posted again.  I managed to get my exposure time with the Star Adventurer up to 120 seconds and shot 160 images of M42.  This is the result.

stock Canon 7D;  160 @80seconds  ISO 1600;  No flats, darks etc..

William Optics Zenith 61;  Star Adventurer

DSS Adobe Camera Raw; Photoshop CC

I think I pushed the brightness up a bit too much and added some noise.   But it was worth it for the nebulosity detail!!   One question I  have is what is everyone's experience in max exposure time with the Star Adventurer and a 200mm-400mm lens like mine?

 

 

 

 

 

This is an awe inspiring image of M42, absolutely stunning!.

That is an exciting target for sure, I have never attempted anything so distant. I will keep this in mind, sounds like one of those objects which takes some planning. I will follow this thread to see your progress, definitely something I would love to point my dob at sometime.

27 minutes ago, Klitwo said:

My homemade periscope-style off-set magnetic base all-plywood 40mm finder I use on my homemade all-plywood 10-inch f/4 Dob-Buster.

P.S.  The image also shows my all-plywood horizontal lead screw (two speed) sled focuser with my homemade 32mm PVC Erfle eyepiece.

Ok well that's a piece of art of a telescope if I ever saw one, I love it! how long did it take you to make that? hpw does a sled focuser work? that's cool as heck!

Look at the Baader Skysurfer V, you won’t look back again. I found the link to the FLO site there in the UK.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/baader-40mm-super-sky-surfer-v.html

I've heard talk of these but i can't confirm their existence on the ES website, they're somewhat of a myth it seems. I just purchased the 4.7mm 82 degree for my dob.

The skyliner 200P mentioned above is the quintessential beginners scope and, although goto sounds novel, it will only benefit you since you have binoculars to learn the sky using binoculars  in unison with the scope. Goto is nice but, you will find it very exciting to hunt down objects then point to them through the scope, the thrill of the hunt will be fruitful and really be rewarding. Goto is something you can grow into and benefit from once you feel you've conquered the sky and deserve a break, that manual 200p is a really great all purpose visual scope. It will also leave you with room for accessories which you will need like a good book and a planisphere to help you identify constellations, I wouldn't hesitate on that scope, of course if you can manage the got version then by all means treat yourself.

On 27/12/2017 at 17:10, DaveS said:

My 180 Mak set up to look at the moon. Note the 38mm Panoptic. Looks like a hand-grenade.

The moon must look smashing in a 180 Mak with panoptic.

On 29/10/2018 at 19:38, tooth_dr said:

Ok well i'm totally loving this room you have there, the strip lighting is awesome, looks like a control centre at the Keck Observatory lol.

On 15/12/2018 at 07:58, Tonynexevo925 said:

Is this a SW Mak? it looks longer than my 150 SW Mak, but otherwise it looks like one, smashing setup you have there and a nice photo to boot!

 I haven't seen the sky in two months. ☁️☁️

Hello Bryan, welcome to the lounge!

I've been watching the classifieds like a hawk for the last month or so, waiting for the right eyepieces to mate with my Starmaster, i needed a bottom end high power and a upper end low power to bookend my tiny collection. The high power is in the works but i did pounce on a great low power bit as soon as i saw it, an APM ultra flat field 18mm, from what i hear it should be a nice fit for my scope.

The clips should be tight enough so the mirror doesn’t flop around, yet not so tight as to pinch the mirror which deforms the light path. Use your best judgment when turning the screws, tighten them incrementally until they’re all just snug enough to prevent movement under normal use.

Oh it’s not only European shippers, when Fedex delivered my Lunt LS60 they not only left it on my doorstep for the taking the entire day till I got home, but the box was caved in and broken open proper on the one side. I just about threw a hissy fit!. 

On 26/05/2017 at 08:00, tooth_dr said:

I received these items today, in super quick time, perfectly wrapped.  Larger than they look on the photos, really nice quality feel to everything.  Thanks Jesper.

 

Adam. 

 

May i ask what sort of explosive you used to get through the wrapping? lol

Well done! A great night, and you can’t beat seeing Saturn for the first time!.

Gods what a monster! i am itching to hear what your impression will be on planetary and lunar, it certainly is a beautiful looking scope, a 6" frac is some serious bit of kit.

That’s a beautiful M31 there, id be happy as heck if I took it!

This post should be automatic reading for every beginner looking to buy their first scope.

That is one nice looking setup there!

2 minutes ago, John said:

Whether I'll get bitten by the BV bug I don't know but it was fun

From what they say, one look at the moon and you'll be hooked!

2 minutes ago, RiponJas said:

Hi, it's the 152..

Oh my gosh, a 152mm Frac, my Mak is 150, i can't imagine the view in a 152mm frac with no central obstruction, is it a triplet? now you've really aroused my curiosity, the possibilities are endless!