Nigella Bryant

This is my worry too, I want to know what's going on in the dome, but also for security with the dome open.

Yep, the f20 is beautiful and brilliant. I hope I can get images like that this coming Mars season. Well done. Played with your image a bit.

Thanks MCinAZ. I have ASCOM installed but couldn't find anything in sharpcap that launches the filter wheel. Found it under settings, apparently you can add focuser, filter wheel and mount control. I've added filter wheel and mount control set up now but can't seem to add the hire astro V2 focuser control. I've added ascom control for the focuser but won't recognise it. I'll have to continue using the hitec astro focuser control sofeware. Just thought it'd be more convenient having control completely through Sharp cap. Still, two out of three ain't bad, lol.

That's brilliant, lol

Got to be tested, lol. Works fine.

"The Phoenix Complex" signage, the finishing touch to the rising from the ashes of my dome referb, repair and relocation. This has become my logo, lol. Thanks SGL for your time and input to this build and naming.

Signs for the new obsy complex, "The Phoenix Complex" as suggested by popular vote on SGL. Plus obligatory mug and mouse mat for the obsy arrived today. On a side note, orders being taken from today, lol. Premier Observatory complex in Devon, lol. Just fixed the sign to the obsy, looking brill and finishing touch to the rising from the ashes of my rebuild.

That's definitely my experience too, lol 🗜️🔧🔨⚒️⛏️⚙️

Are these the kind of things that would undo the securing plate. I use these myself on optical rings. You can get them from Amazon. A stainless Steel Lens Spanner Wrench Range Repair Tool

Good combination, same setup as me, but I use the Zwo ASI 178mm.

Hi, I use a c11 XLT, it is light enough to carry even by me, lol. Probably at the high end of portability. Gives great views. I two fans on the primary mirror which helps in cool down. I'd go for the biggest you can get and be portable. I no longer transport mine as it's observatory based. Great scope though. You'll need a focal reducer though for DSO's, it's more suited to planetary and lunar observation and imaging.

Welcome Chris, from a wet Devon 😭

All LED lighting around me, council was very understanding and shielded light's near my property and one further away goes out late evening. Also I find the LED interference is easier to deal with with a D2 filter than the old sodium lighting. Devon county council seem to be more enlightened about amature astronomer's lighting needs. I guess this needs to be more national than local experience.

Sorry for all the questions. Do you monitor the telescope and mount using a webcam so you can see what's happening in the dome? Or do you just let it do it's stuff blind?. If you use a webcam, what's the recommendation? I managed to get AnyDesk to control the telescope from the house this afternoon but I wasn't confident to do this without monitoring it with an old webcam which isn't brilliant in the lowlight of the closed dome. Many thanks Nigella.

Hi, I was thinking of getting a mini pc for the obs, are they easy to set up remotely?

Many thanks all, I'll give a go. Something to try while it's raining, lol.

Hi all, I've successfully used AnyDesk software to remote access my laptop and used it to remote sharpcap and ASC. I'm wondering if AnyDesk could control the laptop in my observatory and use this to control the telescope and associated equipment. All this can be done sitting in the dome with the laptop and I can't see any reason why this can't be done remotely from the house. Anyone used this method?

Welcome to SGL.

Hi all, just wondering if my Zwo ASI mini filter wheel can be controlled by sharpcap as I'm hoping to do LRGB imaging of Mars in a few weeks, weather permitting. I can't see anything that does this in the software unless I'm missing something. At the moment I can control the filter wheel through APT but that means running that in conjunction with sharpcap.

Welcome to the forum Jeff. Great forum and plenty of experienced people that are willing to help out where needed.

Lush green here as well Gina. Sunny Devon, where it rains eight days out of seven, lol. Except in a heat wave, lol. Good bortle 3/4 sky though when you see it, lol.

Yeah, I agree with the comments above, C8 is s very capable planetary and lunar scope. However in saying that I did have a Meade 8inch years ago on a wedge and those days used an off axis guider to visually guide for up to 45mins using slide film to great affect. These days I use a c11xlt and German equatorial mount, a Neq6.

Welcome Roger, you've found the best astro forum. Lot's of experienced astronomer's here so ask away.

Build is looking good, I love to see what others are building, well done.

Looking good, well done, I wondered what the gray boxes were on the pier, lol.