Liquid-sun

nm

So I take it any extension tube would be ok.

Would this one - https://www.astroshop.eu/extension-tubes/orion-extension-tube-1-25-extender/p,14075 - fit into the existing low profile 2" to 1.25" adapter?

11 minutes ago, John said:

Thats not normal. Normally an eyepiece is fully inserted and the focuser would be somewhere in the middle of it;s range of travel when the scope is at sharp focus on an astro target.

Not all eyepieces reach focus at the same place so you need some movement available to be able to use them.

 

 

 

Ok, thanks for another confirmation. Time to source the extension.

1 minute ago, Bruce Leeroy said:

Did the scope come with a barlow lens?

No, just the 10mm and 25mm

20 hours ago, Ricochet said:

Try astroboot. I would also query the seller in case they have the original part or there is some reason why it is not needed in this case.

With respect to your focusing issue, point the telescope at the moon. If you stand back from the telescope while it is pointed at the moon you should see a small, bright doughnut shape in the centre of the 25mm eyepiece. Bring your eye to the eyepiece so that this doughnut expands and fills your vision. This is the point that your eye needs to be to see the image. As I don't know the eye relief of these eyepieces I suggest you do it without glasses. Once you have your eye in the correct position, turn the focuser knob and you should see that the doughnut shrinks in one direction. Keep turning the focuser in that direction until the moon comes in to focus. It is likely that you will need to rack the focuser outwards. If you reach the end of focuser travel without reaching focus, or the doughnut starting to shrink, try to carefully withdraw the eyepiece whilst looking through it. If this brings the moon into focus, or starts to shrink the doughnut, then you definitely need the extension/adaptor.

 

The highlighted advice worked wonders last night! 

I racked the focuser fully outwards and then pulled the eyepiece as far as possible and the moon was in-focus with my eye in the correct position. I pushed it back in again and it was out of focus. So as you said it looks like I need the longer adapter - but at least I can start using it.

Is pulling the eyepiece out a 'normal' focussing technique?

Many thanks for everyone's help!

5 hours ago, wookie1965 said:

These have them,

Optique Unterlinden

 

5, rue Daguerre, 68000 Colmar, France

 

phone: + 33 389241605

fax: + 33 389293310

website: www.optique-unterlinden.com

email: info@optique-unterlinden.com

How did you find that? Your google skills are strong!

I can't even find it on there site - I'll contact them tomorrow!

1 minute ago, wookie1965 said:

Thats only if you pick the dearest option otherwise its £7.50 p&p, look on astroboot or UK astrobuysell

I'm located in France...

1 minute ago, wookie1965 said:

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-2-to-125-adaptor-explorer-models.html

Thanks but £35 for P&P takes the total price up to almost 50% of what I paid for the scope...

Thanks again, everyone!

I'm going to try and source one online (who deliver to France).

Edit: The seller actually showed me the old focuser and it looked like this - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-1252-rack-pinion-focuser.html - which doesn't appear to have the long adapter. So giving him the benefit of the doubt (seemed like a nice guy!) it looks like he swapped over the focuser and perhaps didn't test the new one?!

Hmm, the seller said he's replaced the "old rack & pinion focuser with a Crayford 2" with 1.25" adapter" - maybe he forgot to include it ...

Edit: It would make sense why I have to keep my eye at a distance if it is missing the long adapter. Damn!

Thanks everyone!

I assumed this was the adapter

It only came with the other super 10mm eyepiece

It looks like this:

Last night I tried my new (to me) skywatcher 8" dob on the moon.

The problem was I couldn't really get the standard 25mm eyepiece focussed on it. I extended the eyepiece focusser all the way out but I then had to keep my eye 10-20cm away from it and at an angle to actually see detail (which was very sharp but almost like looking through a pinhole).

Am I supposed to touch or nearly touch the eyepipece with my eye (glasses in my case)?

The finder scope seemed aligned as the EP pointed at exactly the same point.

The scope was outside for more than an hour before use.

The focusser lock was screwed in and the EP was actually moving in and out.

I tried with and without my glasses - it seemed better without and I could get closer, but with glasses I had to be more than 30cm away.

Is this normal? Do I need a different (LER?) EP? I assumed I would be able to put my eye close to the EP and have a good look at the entirety of the slowly moving moon and not get glimpses of portions of it by moving my head around at an odd angle to the EP?!

Hope you can shed some light on this!