Stu1smartcookie

52 minutes ago, LaurenceT said:

Having now gone back to using my mount in EQ mode for sort of grab and go EAA I'm wondering whether my Mak 127 would be too heavy for the mount when used for remote lunar/planetary imaging. I know could strip the mount back to use as a right side mounted AZ mount but I'd rather leave it in EQ setup. I know I could use my EQ5 but the thought of literally moving the Az GTi and tripod out into the garden in one movement is very appealing.

Hi Laurence , i think the Mak127 will be fine on the AZ-Gti in EQmode , as long as its balanced well . I have used that set up before without any issues . I know its not the same but a guy on YouTube uses the mak127 with his StarAdventurer for luna photography and as both the SA and the AZ-Gti have the same weight capacity , i see no problems for you . 

Maybe other will comment differently but i can only speak from my own experience 

Stu

34 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Without these inexpensive mass produced scopes many people wouldn't have the opportunity to do astronomy at all.

Absolutely , i know it doesn't seem so to many but telescopes are relatively cheap now compared to years ago . And those mass produced scopes are good products . 

Hi Roog , 

So a few choices for you from the comments . If i can  maybe add... I currently have a lovely 60mm Horizon refractor which is fantastic for widefield visual and of course ( although i have yet to use it with a camera ) its great for photography , its a good compliment to your Dob , but , having owned an 80ed i would have to say i second Stu's suggestion that the 80 mm is a good choice as it gives extra apperture for visual and can still be a great tool for photography. Also the 150mm heritage dob gets a great write up . But , pinpoint stars in a refractor are a joy to behold . 

Welcome back ... we will be visiting your beautiful area next week . 

Yes I think that's the key , sky safari is basically the same as sky portal , the same program which bodes well . 

The kindles are so cheap and just big enough to make a difference over using the phone . Many thanks guys 

Hi , I am buying a kindle fire tablet which i know comes basically with the Amazon software and has to be modified to run google apps. i'm  downloading the Google play store to hopefully enable the Sky Portal app to run.

Has anyone any info regarding if the Sky Portal App has been used on the kindle platform ?

Stu

2 hours ago, wulfrun said:

Moved on to Jupiter and went back to the 9mm, which just got me all 4 of the galilean moons in the FOV with some spare framing. Banding was obvious but no sharp detail and no GRS around, sadly.I did try the 6mm but the view got worse so I stuck to the 9mm.

This mirrored my views of Jupiter , i've yet to see the GRS .

14 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:

Before I had even finished reading the "why isnt my starsense camera working" I thought lens cap 🙃

Good to hear you got some quality viewing in.

Thanks Steve , sometimes its even better when you do not expect to be able to use the scope and the clouds just melt away . Its apparently going to be clear here tonight  too 

So, after my rather annoying cloudy session the other evening , i woke up at 10pm ( that chair is so comfy) and had a quick peak outside ... wow.. clear .

Within 10mins i had the evolution mount set up with the 8se . First thing was "why isnt my starsense camera working" ( i'll come back to this later ) .. so i decided to do a three star alignment with sky portal , which worked a treat .

Like a kid with a new toy i was all over the sky , slewing here and there , Andromeda , M81, M82 , Saturn and a very bright Jupiter , almost too bright ! The only planet i hadn't previously seen was Neptune , but , as its quite close to Jupiter, in the sky at least , i viewed it for the first time last night . Absolutely thrilled to see this giant world even though it was a very small disc . Initially using a 25mm EP , then i 2x barlowed , and then dropped down to a 6mm which is abot 338x mag . All very viewable . The only trouble i had was the wifi on the mount dropped out a few times . But it was a great impromptu session of about 90minutes . 

So, back to the starsense Camera .... firstly ,  schoolboy error , Do Not leave the lens cap on your camera !!! DOH!!

Some wonderful images on here , this photo was taken hand held on my Sony 1 MK4  phone whilst our near neighbour was lowish in the south . Processing attempted using the phone software.

So , an EQ5 GOTO mount is a great starter mount , no , i correct myself , its a great mount ! 

Its opened up the field for you to choose from many small to medium sized scopes . The Mount is the key , a longer focal length scope needs a steady mount , so , choosing a long refractor or a Mak is definitely a distinct posibility . Both types of scopes can deal with high magnification , something which will interest you considering your subject ie planetary / Lunar . A refector will give you great views but as has ben mentioned the Eyepiece can get into all sorts of positions when the mount is slewing around , thus not comfortable for small chidren ( or adults , speaking with experience, who get frustrated easily . 

I would go for a long refractor (100mm -127 mm ) , either Evostar 100mm or the 120mm version  are really nice scopes , also bresser do a lovely 125 refractor that looks very impressive . Don't be put off by people mentioning CA ( chromatic abberation) , although they are right to mention it ,  as , honestly when you are looking at everything you will hardly notice it . 

A Mak will render CA obsolete ( mainly ) and are much more easy to handle being short tubes . But , whilst they are superb at what they do , please be aware of a narrow field of view and also slightly more dimmer view than that of a refractor as the light gets bounced around in the tube . 

I own a small refractor (60mm ) a Mak 127 and an 8" SCT and the little ED 60 refractor always gets a go . The other scopes are "cooling " down and the Refractor is ready to go almost straight away. Also , focussing with a refractor is  most satisying ...objects "snap" into focus . 

So ... Rob , what are you going for ?

I'm sure we are all interested to know   , whatever you decide will be the right decision for you and your family ... until you want that second scope... 🤣  but thats leave that alone for now . 

Stu

13 hours ago, Captain Scarlet said:

Set up early and ready for the first session, once again, in what seems like AGES.  My neighbours expressed an interest so I’ll be giving a tour of the greatest hits, with the LZOS at 21x and the 12” at 150x-ish.

Cheers, Magnus 

 

What a lovely scene ...  nice open surroundings , idealic. 

Sorry to put a downer on this but its what i didnt see last night ... I set up with my evolution mount and placed my little ed60 on it but celestron sky align was a complete disaster as clouds rolled in , the most annoying thing is , this morning was lovely and clear ... The manual alignment procedure failed three times . Not worth even trying the Starsense camera .  Tonights weather looks promising .... IF i want to stay up until 2am !!!! lol 🤣

Welcome to SGL ... The start of your astronomy journey . Also you will start to look at the weather forecasts a lot more too ! 

omg doesnt a photo like this make us all look a bit small and insignificant within the universe?

Brilliant write up Nik , i was very surpised to see such clear skies last night after the deluge of welcome rain during the day , alas a bit late for me to set up ,but always great to read positive reports . Enthuses me for the weekend   

As Steve writes , the "No Internet Connection " is perfectly normal 

So the postman was very busy 

A nice celestron 8se with mount , an evolution mount , Atik camera and a QHY cam, oh and a starsense camera 

What a lovely day 

Well done ... i really like seeing stuff like this , Pluto will as far as i am concerned always be the 9th planet , great capture . 

Stu

Really nice image Neil 

32 minutes ago, Scoobyroo said:

You've peaked my interest for sure (part of my fee with buying used, was not knowing how well looked after it had been... if you're here and taking the effort to post, that's good enough for me!) .  Would you prefer I dropped you a PM?... would definitely like to hear more about what you have there. 

yes please . 

Stu

11 minutes ago, SthBohemia said:

The Maksotov (look up telescope types) above is ideal for planets and moon. Maybe scour Ebay and other sources for used Maks (NOT amazon)... You could consider a long focal length refractor f10-f12, however few are available at that focal length within your budget and the older very high quality ones like Fullerscope are hard to find.

A magnification factor of 250x is generally the limit with any scope due to atmosphere etc etc etc.

Barlows, eyepieces- The mid range (priced) Chinese made items are much of a muchness as most are a stock item with various brand names on them. All will give reasonable/good results.

One mid yellow moon filter is sufficient and/or an 82a filter.

I am steering clear of the 'mounts' business end as have rather fixed opinions (especially a dislike for Dobsons) 🙂 

Not wishing to capitalise on here but  i do have a 127 Mak up for sale and its almost brand new at a good price , of course if interested . I second the Mak for planets and Moon , of course you lose a wide field of view, but that then opens up the "one scope is not enough " debate . 

1 hour ago, Mart29 said:

Honestly don't think you ever know the best starter scope , I wish I did a few years back ! I would have saved a small fortune.  But after going through 6 odd scopes to get me to the VX6L,  I still feel this is my starter scope and the rest were just mistakes building up to it. That said, I learnt the sky and focusing,  maintaining etc  so I wasted money at the beginning but learnt along the way.

I class the VX6L as my first scope cos its the first that really worked how I wanted it to and gave me results. The rest were just training tools 🙃

Now I'm not a novice but definitely still learning . 

I second the fact that you really don't know the best starter scope , it's all very well for people , I include myself , to spend others money by giving what we perceive is the best advice .. all well meaning of course but honestly one usually makes one's own mind up and makes a mistake or two ( or ten in my case) of what we want from this hobby . I would add that mistakes on purchases can be expensive so best to start with a budget and maybe if at all possible visit an astronomy outlet and physically see the scopes that fit the budget . The only problem there is looking at far more expensive stuff and getting aperture fever. 

Firstly , welcome back to stargazing

Cameras are a minefield as there are so many , but the zwo planetary cameras usually get a good write up . Take a look on the FLO website . There are more budget options around these days including a planetary cam from SVBony ... check out "Small Optics" you tube chanel as he has reiviewd it . To go "deep sky " opens up a host of cams that get very expensive very quickly , so much so that maybe your DSLR is a more attractive proposition , for now , maybe ?

I will be interested in the option you choose as i have just bought a similar scope . Personally i have a DSLR and a ZWO 120mini , but have yet to try them out with the new scope . 

Stu 

Just reading this thread with personal interest as i will be buying a nexstar 8se ( and actually getting an evolution 8hd mount , tomorrow ) . It looks like a great choice of scope and an even better choice of mount as the evo mount has built in power and wifi. As for EPs @DavieH you might want to consider the SvBony range which are really good for the price .