Mike_S

1 minute ago, Stu said:

I think the one on there should be pretty good Mike, not sure it is worth the expense of upgrading. As I recall they are pretty similar to the Baader Steeltrack focusers, very nice. I think John's had a single speed one on it so more worthwhile upgrading.

Ah right okay. Yes I was hoping I could just get a longer tube for it but not sure I can?

21 hours ago, John said:

As above for the finder adjustment. You want the X hairs to match as closely as possible with the centre of the view through the scope, at high power if possible. Precision with this will make finding things more precise. Once aligned, the finder should generally hold it's position but you may need to check it and re-adjust from time to time.

I found that I needed a 50mm extension tube to get my eyepieces to focus. Orion Optics supply one (I see it in your focuser) but the one I had was a bit crude so I swapped to one with a compression ring fitting.

I've now moved to a Moonlite focuser which stands further off the scope tube so no extension tube needed.

The Orion Optics dobs are quite a lot lighter than the Chinese alternatives. The aluminum tube of the Orion Optics saves weight and those MDF Chinese dob mounts weigh a lot !

Are the Moonlites a straight swap John with no drilling? 

I think my Orion Optics VX12L is actually lighter than my Synta made Orion XT10 Classic. Certainly easier to carry. 

By the way it is lighter than my old Orion XT10 Classic due to the much lighter dob mount. It’s actually easier to carry. Here is comparison 

Yes I’m very happy thank you  could see Jupiter’s cloud bands a bit clearer. Will have to wait until the weekend for DSO hunting. 

By the way two quick questions.

the middle of the cross hair on the finder is not where I have to be to line things up, more like bottom left. Is there an adjustment or do you just live with that? My old finder never had a cross hair.

Also, so glad I finally have a dual speed focuser after my old rack and pinion. However I need an extension tube for my 20mm eyepiece. Which one do you go for?

Well I’ve been dreaming about one of these VX12L’s but couldn’t afford one new. When one came up for sale 22 miles away I just had to snap it up 😁 1/10 wave as well apparently! (Though I can’t really interpret the test results?) Just need a right angled finder for it I think. Over the moon lol. 

Has anyone found a focul length too short and say went from an F4 to an F5 for ease of collimation and eyepiece choice?

10 minutes ago, Stu said:

That should be enough. I guess it is not that dark at the moment so it will show up more when we get back to astro darkness. Can you get your scope somewhere darker?

Yes my wife is going away tomorrow so i have a week on my own and can disappear during the weekend if I like. I don’t fancy driving for hours but maybe an hour or so further out. I’m on the edge of a bortle 6 so can get to a bortle 5 in 10 minutes and perhaps a 4 in half an hour. 

1 hour ago, Stu said:

Good stuff Mike. Did you stick some power on on it? A 10" should be able to resolve stars a long way into the core, and show you the Propeller shape within it. Take some time observing and using averted vision to see what you can see.

I just went to X 133. It was a quite faint and felt if I zoomed more it would go too dark to see. 

Found my second ever DSO tonight! (First was Orions Nebula in March). M13. Followed instructions online with how to find it. It was smaller than I thought! Made up though. Now I want a bigger scope to resolve more stars in it haha. What’s the next easiest to find? It takes me about two hours to find one for the first time. 

Got the bands to show up on my phone camera for the first time tonight. Was clearer in real life. Getting better : 

You’re welcome. I need to buy one of these right angles finders. I’m hopeless at finding stuff. 

I use the same one as John. Haven’t needed to add weights to it yet as the strip alone balanced my dob perfectly with Telrad and 100 degree eyepieces. 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-magnetic-tool-holder-black-380mm/6951J?tc=FA6&ds_kid=92700022061884434&gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1244072&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3uboBRDCARIsAO2XcYDBMt5XcuTYJUlqaCoU48hgu0Z4GzhTmOh-KU66IuFVYFOhlo8c6mIaAtBkEALw_web

I attached it with this and it’s solid 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gorilla-Glue-3044101-Heavy-Duty-Mounting/dp/B01FMXKIOM/ref=asc_df_B01FMXKIOM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=208288929966&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5531030991886386610&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007092&hvtargid=pla-422678532716&psc=1

Got a link to the finder you bought please?

How do you find all these targets 😂 that’s my biggest struggle at the moment. Well done!

Watched this today. Amazing

Yes I had my best view on Friday too which gave me more confidence it was more the conditions than me 

29 minutes ago, John said:

On Friday night I was getting this type of view with my 100mm refractor at 140x:

 

On Thursday night and last night the view was not as good with the same scope. On Friday the seeing was much more settled. 

What eyepiece John? That’s amazing. Was this when it was at its highest in the sky that night?

14 minutes ago, Stu said:

Have you checked your Telrad alignment? One concern I have is that you should be able to find some of these easier ones just with the Telrad. Just put Eta Herculis towards the edge of the Telrad circles along the line to Zeta and M13 will be fairly centred.

What app is this? 

Great I will give that a try. I gave up using the Telrad but will get using it again. 

Yes I have a good star chart too. I didnt realise my finder scope was giving an inverted image to my scope lol. Learn something new every day. I have the Turn left at Orion book that helped me find Orion’s nebula. Will read it again tonight whilst it’s cloudy. 

12 minutes ago, John said:

The seeing last night was not as steady as it was the night before. The night before that it was really poor.

The variable seeing conditions are what dictates what we see and the clarity with which we see it and they are a constant feature of observing in the UK.

One of the reasons that you will see recommendations to observe a target for some time is that the conditions can be constantly changing. Observing over time gives your eye the chance to make the most of fleeting moments of good seeing which is when the detail pops out and your scope shows what it can really do. These moments are what we observe for

This is interesting. I dont know what causes the difference. I got lots of enthusiasm from better conditions the orher night. Observing is more of an acquired skill than I realised which makes it all the more interesting. I dont have interest in processing images so I’m glad I can get better at observing.

Yes I have never heard of a Raci Finder. I have a Telrad but prefer the finder scope. Will look into the Raci now. 

I have a Telrad but prefer the standard finder scope. I have never heard of a RACI finder?

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