lguise

Many thanks Vlaiv, Stuart & Dave, that’s great information for me to pass on. It’s not my area of expertise but I’m sure he will be able to get to grips with it.

All the Best,

Linton

Many thanks for the suggestion Andrew.

I’ve had an enquiry from a local gent who uses remote data from a telescope in Tenerife. He wants a modern equivalent of a Blink Comparator, so I presume he is searching for Novae or minor planets etc.

I suggested that modern plate solving software has probably now replaced a mechanical comparator and the human eye, but I promised to ask on this forum for suggestions

Any thoughts I can go back to him with?

Many thanks,

Linton

And to complete the story the new owner now has a primary mirror for his telescope, it came to me for free and I have passed it on on the same terms. The amazing thing was he was only 14 miles away!

All good,

Linton

Hi Peter,

You we’re of course correct and I’ve now been in contact with John who has confirmed.

Many thanks,

Linton

Thanks both, I did contact Steve but he didn’t have the buyers contact details.

But no worries, thanks to another SGL member I now know who the new owner is!

All the best,

Linton

I’m hoping to contact the new owner of a 15” f4.5 classic Obsession that was sold recently by Steve at ENS. The telescope was missing its primary mirror. I’m sure many members will have seen it advertised.

If anyone knows the new owner would it be possible to pass on contact details. I may have something that could be of interest to him….yes a 15” f4.5 primary!

Many thanks,

Linton

I’m looking for information on a 15” primary from a Beacon Hill telescope. The focal length along with the initials JRN are engraved on the back. If anyone can add any information that would be helpful.

Many thanks,

Linton

For anyone searching for info on this I found Superlube worked very well on the bearing surfaces, but is far too light on the worm and gear.

Following the wisdom of Peter Drew and others Kilopoise is recommended but is no longer available. An alternative is sold by Newgate Simms called Tribosyn 320. I ordered the trial pack of 6 versions which was delivered the next day. I went with the Green version after leaving them in the fridge overnight to see what they were like at low temperature. It seems to have done an excellent job, I don’t think you could go wrong with either the Green or Blue versions.

Best wishes,

Linton

Some answers to questions I’ve sent seem ‘off’ to me despite the advert reading well, and seller has now gone silent. I think it’s one of several scam adverts out there at the moment which seem to feature Celestron scopes which are just a little bit too cheap. They seem to be lifting text and photos from genuine adverts so all seems good until you dig a little.

As always take extra care with anything you are not actually viewing in person.

Linton

Hi All

Trying to avoid a possible scam! This telescope was offered for sale recently on the Isle of Wight ( not on this site I must add) if you recognise the images or can do a better image search than I can please drop me a pm. (I have searched for a St Giles Church near Shanklin but can’t find one)

Thanks

Linton

I like Mike’s idea of a wooden collar. Just went to hold the Vixen in place to eyeball it and found that the thread on the top part of the shaft is also larger than a Vixen. Now somewhere I think I have a smaller spare that will still do the same job.

Linton

Priceless!

Standardisation, now that would be a great idea! I have a lifetimes collection of converters and adapters etc. I have even had scopes with Imperial and Metric fixings on the same tube!

Thanks for the link to the Geoptik adapter, hadn’t seen that before, if I can’t find a CG5 tripod I may go down that route.

Linton

Too small for an SE I think. Outer diameter of top plate is 140mm and the central deep well is about 30mm diameter. Has two positions for a North peg so I’m pretty sure it’s for an Equatorial. The chap that sold it to me says it didn’t fit is Celestron AVX so we can rule that one out. I still think the top looks like a Skywatcher EQ6?

All the Best,

Linton

Mark,

Thank you for your article, exactly the information I need. Is there a favourite from the Canon mirrorless range? Not the R6 it would seem. 

Best wishes,

Linton

Hi I have just bought a 2” stainless steel tripod supposedly for a CG5, but on opening it the tripod top is wrong. It looks more like an old black Skywatcher EQ6 tops but the leg clamps have a Celestron logo. 
it’s in great condition, but sadly doesn’t do the job I wanted it for.

I would like to know what is for, as I’m sure it will be perfect for someone. The paint is the ‘gritty’ finish black which in my experience stays on, rather than the Skywatcher white which flakes off very easily.

I’m still looking for a CG5 tripod to mount a Vixen GP should anyone have one.

Thank you,

Linton

Hi, I should have given more detail. Mostly I take wide field shots with camera lenses, but I have taken shots through a 4” refractor with the 700 D.

I am looking at a ZWO camera to take telescope imaging further, but I am also after a better DSLR or mirrorless.

Linton

I’m thinking of upgrading from my 700D and wondering whether it’s time to look at the mirrorless options.

Any thoughts and model suggestions with pros and cons welcome from users. I assume the mirrorless cameras can be astromodified if required.

I was thinking of a full frame sensor, low noise at high ISO when required. No amp glow on long exposures. Tilting/pivoting rear screen.

I don’t think I’m interested in shooting video, or at least I haven't used the 700D for this.

Many thanks,

Linton

Well it’s off! But not by me. Es Reid kindly took on the challenge and with extra hands managed to remove the dew shield from the lower bezel so that it would come off forwards over the lens cell. I gather it took quite an effort. The front end ring was impossible to shift.

He is going to clean and check the optics for me. These have a triplet objective and a flattener built into the focuser.

All the Best,

Linton

Thanks to all for the various suggestions. There is a rubber guard over the outer end of the dew shield and an internal thread just below to lock the dew shield in its shortest position. But this seems to all be part of the dew shield rather than a separate threaded piece. So I don’t think the shield is designed to go down past the cell.

I’m going to try some gentle heat to the back end and have another go. I’m sure part of the problem is the threads that lock the shield in the two positions are very fine so jam easily. If there is one between the shield and the bezel it will probably be similar.

I will report any progress!

Linton

Thank you, I will try again. I have used some grippy cloth and two people but no movement!

I need to remove the dew shield from my Vixen AX103s  to gain access to the lens cell. This scope has a threaded dew shield that slides. It can then be rotated to lock either fully extended or retracted. Other Vixen scopes may have the same design, but my ED102 is just a push on.

If anyone has been able to remove their dew shield I would love to hear how. It’s possible the dew shield tube can separate from the bevelled ring at its base?

Many thanks,

Linton

PM sent regarding contact details. I will post some photos of the Titan and Hercules mounts I used to own when I can get them off my old computer. 
Linton

Superscopes used to also make excellent observatories, here is a photo of Philip while we were putting together the observatory in my garden.

Linton