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robbymain

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  1. Very late update now but it got returned unfortunately. It was very shaky with my 10.5kg CT8 (worse than a GP-E) and wouldn't settle at all even at lowest magnification with significant lack of required stiffness in the vertical axis. I suspect the head would be better on a Berlebach tripod. I have heard some surprise at my experience from other AZ8 owners but it didn't work for me. It also taught me that a Newtonian on an altaz mount won't work due to the OTA completely blocking the azimuth slow motion control =( What a shame as its a nicely made mount.
  2. robbymain

    Moon Inverted

    Love this! I remember doing some inverted monochrome moon images when I was first experimenting with eyepiece projection using a lowly SW Explorer 130P and a 5MP Canon Powershot compact back in the mid 2000s - looks spectacular and otherworldly πŸ˜ƒ
  3. Hi John, I haven't had this issue occur to mine I'm afraid. Have you tried degreasing the mating surfaces with a suitable solvent? Cheers, Rob
  4. Hi All, Having discounted an AZ100 as a possible option for my OOUK CT8 reflector due to the OTA blocking the Azimuth control, what equatorial mounts can you suggest for nice solid visual use? My trusty GP-E isn't up to the job. I have a Wanted ad up for a GP-DX but am struggling to find sensible 'modern' alternatives. I really wanted an SX2 but is discontinued and rare as hen's teeth on the used market (ebay has one from an astro dealer in Japan at Β£1800 plus delivery, import taxes and the rest...) Not really interested in a Skywatcher mount - and not sure about iOptron. Load is about 11kg all up. Thanks friends, Rob
  5. These are really good - so natural and true to the visual observing experience!
  6. Hi there I'm in Callington just South of Launceston - moved here just a few weeks ago in fact! Were are you based? Cheers, Rob
  7. I have the same issue as you. I wanted an SX2 to mount an OOUK CT8 which is about 10.5kg all up. My GP-E groans under the weight and I like a really solid mount, even for visual lowish power work. The SX2 (Starbook One version) is out of production and to get one sent from an eBay shop in Japan will cost me Β£1900 once import duties and tax is added! So do I go for an SXD2 from a UK dealer which is way out of my budget - but the beautiful StarBook Ten and tracking performance (neither of which I really need), or do I give up on Vixen and get an iOptron GEM45, IF it has the real world capacity I'm looking for....?! Oh The agony of choice lol
  8. Another vote for Melotte 20 and the Double Cluster! Both absolutely spellbinding πŸ˜ƒ
  9. Hi All I've been planning a move to the Plymouth area from Bristol for some time now and probably would have already if it weren't for the pesky Covid-19!!! My wife's family are from down there and I did some looking for decent spots on Dartmoor. The best I found exploring from the Plymouth side was the 2 car parks on the Whiteworks road a couple of miles South of Princetown. I haven't visited at night so I don't know what the city skyglow will be like as it's about 9 miles NE of Plymouth. The further North and East you go, the better it will be I guess! Anyway once we sell our house here and do finally move (early in 2021 I hope!) I'll definitely be looking to meet up with more South Devon astronomy types πŸ˜ƒ Cheers, Rob
  10. Hi Brendan I've been through a similar thought process and recently ordered an AZ8 plus Weight System as an observing only setup for my OOUK CT8 which is about 10.5kg all up. At a future date I MAY add a Nexus DSC kit for stand-alone push-to πŸ˜ƒ I did consider the Skytee 2 very briefly but honestly I just wanted something better engineered, even if I didn't originally have Losmandy in mind! The AZ100 looks fabulous but higher capacity than I needed as @johninderby has said - it also costs a chunk more than an AZ8 once you add on a mounting plate, Berlebach tripod, counterweight setup etc. which is why I plumped for the AZ8.... Let me know how your thinking progresses, Rob
  11. Hi John! We have the same RACI πŸ˜ƒ although I have mounted a Skysurfer III onto mine for coarse pointing duties. Having now installed the new red CR2 focuser onto my CT8, I'm finding that even with the 1" + 0.5" thick mounting blocks, I am still 4-6mm away from being able to focus with some of my Radians. I guess the focal plane is just particularly far out from the tube axis as the CTs are primarily designed as imaging Newts? Anyhow, I have had to order up a 1.5" Moonlite extension tube from FLO which I am now waiting 4-6 weeks to come into stock =O Looking forward to catching up with you face to face again one day soon! All the best, Rob
  12. It’s arrived =O Hollywood General Machining’s finest engineering all the way from Burbank California! Just awaiting the Weight System now...
  13. Hi there Currently Bristol based but still intending to move to Plymouth area soon, Covid and career options dependent! Definitely interested in quality dark sky locations on Dartmoor and around πŸ˜ƒ
  14. I also took in Mars using a 150P and 10mm and 6mm Radians last night and despite it's obvious size, very little detail was visible (could just detect the dark southern regions, but not a hint of SPC). The seeing appeared to be quite poor indeed from suburban Bristol. Last week was definitely better with a clearly defined SPC. In fact achieving best focus was so tricky I might re-check collimation today... =( Also I wonder if I need to invest in a Contrast Booster of some kind...?! Well done to all the nice imaging results on here!
  15. Hi Charles I just PM'ed Richard in here about arranging a drink one evening to meet up and talk potential dark sky options so please do the same πŸ˜ƒ
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