bluesilver

Thanks for the reply, i wasn't too sure if there were a certain weight restrictions that i was limited with in regards to the drive motors. Surely makes it easier than trying not to trip over cords and the like

Hi, i was interested to know how most people install their battery pack on their goto mounts Mainly on the Dobsonian goto mounts. Can you install the battery actually on the turntable itself, so that it actually goes around with the mount, or will it be too much weight for the mount to work properly? Or do i really have to have the battery sitting on the ground or separate from the mount all together? The unit i have is the 16 inch Dobsonian goto mount. I had the 10 inch version but had the battery separate from the mount due to room issues, with this 16 inch mount, i actually have room for a battery and got thinking it would be a lot neater and easier if it can be mounted and go around with the unit. I have done some looking around but yet to see any specs on the weight limit of the turntable mount. I have installed 3 fans on the primary mirror and made a larger eyepiece holder on the front to hold my other eyepieces, apart from that all else is as it is. Any recommendations or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Appreciate the replies and can understand what you are saying for sure. I was mainly interested to find out how large of an image you actually get in the 180 Mak eye piece of the planets to compare to say something like a 10 in dobsonian. I realise i am trying to compare two completely different scopes, but am i correct in saying that you would get a larger image in the 180 Mak? I am planing to do a bit of astrophotography latter on and the 180 Mak would be ideal for that. Sorry if all this seams like a pointless question, but really interested to know if i would get a larger cleared image through the eyepiece of the 180 Mak compared to the 10 inch dobsonian. Thanks again for the replies.

Hi, I am hoping this is not a silly question, but what i am trying to chase down is what sort of image can i expect to see of Jupiter or Saturn through the Skywatcher 180-2700 Mak. I have seen many images an the like on google, but they seam to vary quiet a bit and i am sure some are not as view through this scope. So basically what i was hoping to achieve is if anyone that has one of these scopes, is it at all possible to put up a photo of what the image that you see through the eyepiece looks like. I am working on a good about of magnification, i guess the highest magnification you can go without it starting to get blury/ fuzzy, just so i looks like a decent image viewed through the eye piece, Hope that makes sense. I am looking at getting one of these scopes, but if i can get a bit of an idea on what the image is going to look like first it will be a great help, either that or wait a bit longer a save a bit more and go for a Celestron C14.

Appreciate the replies, Sounds fairly easy and a good project to do. Think i am on the right track now and should be able to get a fairly good one made up if i take my time. Appreciated.

Hi, firstly i have to apologise as i think this a similar post that has been posted before, but for some reason i can no longer find that post to get the answers that i am chasing down. So basically i have a 16" Skywatcher GOTO Dobsonian and what i am looking to do it attach a camera to it for a go at doing some imaging. I was mainly going to start of with planetary imaging then possible do some imaging of nebulars and galaxies a bit latter. The thing is, i was fairly sure there was a post on here somewhere that someone was looking at doing the same thing but with a 12" Dobsonian. I think i remember that someone posted a link to a site that allowed you to put you telescope details in and camera details in and it tells you if the camera is suited of not to that scope and the imaging you wanted to do. The scope is rated at f 4.4, focal length of 1800mm, aperture of 406mm I think some did mention that you need a small sensor for planets and a large sensor of DSO, but could be wrong there. I was looking at something like the Atik Infinity Colour camera, but could be also wrong here again. But if anyone can point me in the right direction again it would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Thanks for the reply, yes they definitely look like a much better design and setup, appreciated. I haven't seen any of them around here in Australia, but will definitely get in contact with them.

Hi, I am sure many here have already done this, so i am hoping someone can help me out here. I am looking to put a fabric light shroud aorund a 16 inch Dobsonian. It is one of those Skywatcher collapsible Dobsonians which have the 3 truss tubes. I see that you can get some online, but after many phone calls to all the shops that have them listed, nothing will be in stock until after October. So i figured i could make one and would most likely be better than the ones you can by. I had one for a 10" which have about 3 or 4 poles sewn into the fabric, and after a while the fabric looses tension and sags in between the poles blocking some of the light. So was really interested to here and see what other members on here have used for a light shroud and how they went about it. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Peter.

I have the same scope as you have there, for me i went for the Tele Vue Delos 10mm A great eyepiece i found and give very good images, but again it is not the cheapest eyepiece.

Some good information there, not sure i would dismantle a new scope myself though. Was looking at the Tele Vue Star Diagonals Everbrite 1.25inch Seam to look like a reasonable Diagonal, but i am also guessing that you would need some sort of adaptor to get the two to connect together.

Thanks again for the reply, appreciated. I didn't see you thread the first time i read through the post, sorry about that. Found it now and answered the questions i re asked. Some very good information there, appreciated.

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Pretty much answered all questions in one go. Did you have to get the belt and the two belt cogs separate, or do they come with the kit? I was looking at this Skywatcher starsense unit, So to make this unit work i would also need a gps unit also? https://www.bintel.com.au/product/starsense-autoalign-skywatcher-telescopes/?v=6cc98ba2045f Appreciate all the replies.

Hi, sorry for yet another post in regards to this telescope ( SkyWatcher Black Diamond 180/2700 Mak-Cassegrain ) I am not far from making the jump at putting in an order for this Telescope. But firstly i have read that there are a few recommended assessors to replace on this scope. I have read that a lot of people are swapping out the original diagonal for a better unit and also the focuser. So i was hoping that someone that has got one of these SkyWatcher Black Diamond 180/2700 Mak-Cassegrains might be able to help out with a recommendations 1. What diagonal should i be looking at for this setup, i would like something fairly decent as i have read the optics are very good to start with. 2. What focuser should i be looking at, or is the original one fine? 3. What mount should i be looking at, AZ-EQ5 goto or AZ-EG6 goto 4. I have read that someone went with tube rings and handle for mounting the scope instead of the original mounts, is this a good idea and if so where do i get them from as i have yet been unable to find anything to suit this scope. 5. I have also read that you can get something called, Celestron Starsense Autoalign for Skywatcher and Saxon mounts, is this also a worth while thing to look into or not? Sorry again for all the questions, i am hoping i have asked all in this one first up. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. .

I have been struggling to find DSOs, it is just going to come down to practice i think as we don't really have any clubs of the sort anywhere close around here. I use the app, skysafari and seams to work ok for me so far.

Appreciate the replies and advice, I think the first step now after re reviewing the posts, is to get an artificial star and do a collimation test that way first. I think it is collimated pretty good, but think i will give one of these artificial star tests a go, at least it will be easier than in the dark to see if i am way off.

I am using the 10 mm eyepiece, i find that if i try to go higher with the 5 mm the planet gets a tad fuzzy, some thing with the powermate. I am not really changing the scope just to see the moons of Jupiter, but really chasing down a dedicated planetary scope, one specifically setup / designed for planetary viewing. I realise the 10 inch Dobsonian i a great telescope, but i am thinking they are more suited to deep space viewing instead. I really am looking to have two dedicated scopes at this stage, one for planetary viewing and one for deep space viewing. I figured that the SkyWatcher Black Diamond 180/2700 Mak-Cassegrain would be the best bet for planetary viewing. Sort of like if you went out and looked through the Dobsonian and the Cassegrain at Jupiter together, i am guessing the Cassegrain would give the best viewing image and detail? But if there is a better suited dedicated planetary scope, i am very interested to hear any advice, many say the Celestron C14 is way to big and heavy, so appreciate that advice also.

Appreciate the reply, The current eyepieces that i own are: Tele Vue Delos 10mm, Baader Hyperion 5mm Wide angle eyepiece Tele Vue 2.5X powermate, and the original 10mm and 25mm eyepieces that came with the scope. Collimation looks to be pretty good, can get a nice view of Jupiter and the bands, tried it out again last night as it was a good cloudless night here. Definitely can't make out any moons, just 4 bright stars. Bit of at a loss on what i can do to improve it to at least make out the moons as small disks. Seriously looking to move possibly into the SkyWatcher Black Diamond 180/2700 Mak-Cassegrain

Thanks for the replies, appreciated. Yes i am in Tasmania, absolutely no light pollution at all where i am as i am out in the country on a large bit of land. I can really only always make out 4 stars that are always around Jupiter when i am viewing it. I could be completely mistaking them for the moons around Jupiter and they are actually stars that i think are moons, but fairly sure that they the moons as they are always in different positions every time i observe Jupiter. I have been told that the run of the mill Skywatcher Dobsonian don't always have to best mirrors, so it could also come into play possibly.

Thaks again for the replies, appreciated. So if i am correct, most likely not, Would it best to say that i should instead be looking for something with a longer focal lenght rather that a larger aperture? Something like the SkyWatcher Black Diamond 180/2700 Mak-Cassegrain, where it has a focal lenght of 2700 mm ?

Thanks for all the replies, appreciated. Pretty much answered my questions and appreciate it. What i am seeing sounds pretty spot on to what it is suppose to be. Sounds like a good setup could be the 16 inch dobsonian and use aperture masks possibly, just to dull out the light if it is too bright. Cheers.

Thanks for the reply, appreciated. Yes very good seeing conditions for the planet here Sounds like i might have to tweak the collimation a tad, I thought it was fairly good. I do pick up 4 moons, they stand out very clearly, but only as bright stars, definitely no distinct shape or colour to say they are not moons. I thought the larger aperture would help bring them out more clearly.

Hi, I currently have the 10 inch Skywatcher Dobsonian. It is a fine scope, when i am viewing Jupiter and looking at Jupiter's moons, i can see them as tiny stars. I was interested to know, if i went up to say a 14 inch or 16 inch Dobsonian, would i be able to make out the moons as tiny coloured dots rather than as stars? I realise viewing conditions play a part in it, but i was interested to know with the larger aperture of the 14 or 16 inch, will this allow me to see more detail, or is it just not really possible to make out the moons as coloured dots. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry for the long delay in response, Thanks for the replies, appreciated. I might have answered this next question already myself, but just want to make sure i am thinking correctly here My Dobsonian is the collapsible version. I take it the aperture mask actually goes right up front of the dobsonian, not in front of the primary mirror, ( this is where my plastic dust cap is on my collapsible version). I am thinking that i am suppose to take this plastic dust cap aperture and place it right at the end of the scope in front of the spider vanes and secondary mirror. Is this correct? I am guessing it is very basic and now sounds like a silly question when comparing it to a solid tube version.

Hi, I am sure this is a basic question, but so far after doing some research i am still a little lost on them. From what i think i have understood, you can use a smaller hole in front of the primary mirror to basically make the viewing image of the planets stand out a little more and not be as bright, plus helps with the fuzzy haze a little also, is correct or am i way off? On my 10 inch skywatcher dobsonian, the primary mirror has a plastic cap, on this cap it has two round caps, one is moulded on and the other you can take the cap off revealing a smaller hole ( not very detailed explanation i know ) Can this small hole be used as an aperture mask? basically just put the plastic dust cap on and take of the small cap? I have heard of people making their own aperture masks by making up to 3 holes of different sizes, Is there an ideal size to make the holes for my 10 inch dobsonian? Very interesting to try this out, but just not sure where to start on hole sizes or even if that plastic dust cap is one. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi, just a basic question, but interested to hear and reviews or advice. I was looking at going with either a Saxon HEq5 Pro vs Saxon AZ-EQ6 GT mount. The telescope to be going onto it would be the Sky Rover ULT 115 ED Glass Triplet 115mm APO Refractor Telescope Plus also possibly the addition of a Canon SLR camera. Would both mounts be perfectly capable and well suited of this setup, or is one going to be better suited more than the other? I have done a bit of researching around on the two, the Saxon HEq5 Pro seams popular and is gear driven bu the Saxon AZ-EQ6 GT is belt driven but no so much review information on it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Peter.