Stu1smartcookie

Honestly we do have a sun and every now and then it’s visible in this murky , wet , climate of ours . Photo taken with the DwarfLabs scope this morning in a surprisingly sunny Witchford , Cambs . ( it won’t last ) 

oh , HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL . 

Just to let everyone know that occasionally there are clear skies in the uk , I took this image with the dwarf this morning 

8 hours ago, Naughty Neal said:

My f11 frac stays tucked away in  the warm with the wind and cloud about.

Mine too 

I hope this evening will provide a clear patch of sky ..it rained and rained and rained last night and indeed has been cloudy for over a week . Well done to all those who had the chance to use their scopes .

1 hour ago, StevieDvd said:

There has been a release of the Dwarf app and a firmware update today, a bit piecemeal as not everyone was seeing the updates on Google Play and the Apple Appstore - based on comments on Facebook.

Android Version is now V2.0.0 B70

iOS is now V2.0.0 B18

Firmware version V2.0.06

iOS curves tool is still not as functional as the Android version, and in my opinion these updates are probably still Beta versions based on the version numbers.

As I'm not beta testing these now they have been released I can say that the curves on Android seems functional, except for the save option.  On iOS it still needs work on the curves. With little chance to test 'astro mode' due to lack of clear skies I can't say if the curves issues are useable to an acceptable degree on either OS. I raised the curves issue for iOS back in November, together with a host of inconsistencies between the user interfaces of Android & iOS (most of which I am pleased to see have been fixed).

But if you've been waiting for the updated catalogue of objects and the option to do 1x1 binning (4k) versus the 2x2 (2k)  and a better UI then you can update without worrying about buggy beta releases.

 

 

I didn’t get the update Steve  

Sometimes you just have to acknowledge how suppliers put themselves out for us in this hobby. 
Thursday I contacted FLO  via email telling them of a problem with the tripod I bought from them 

Saturday ( today ) a replacement arrived via DPD !!!!! In this busy time of the year I reckon that deserves praise . 
And , we know FLO are not alone . I can mention Widescreen Centre and RVO and  Altair Astro who have done themselves proud with exceptional service . 
Happy Christmas . 

Issues with my new tripod from FLO .. the centre shaft which connects the mount head to the tripod is faulty .. zzz I have made it work for now but they are sorting  out soon . In the meantime I put my newly acquired scopes on the newly acquired sabre v2  Just need to align the clamps . 

So , tonight I drove about 1000 miles ( that’s what the M25 does to you ) to collect a Sabre v2 mount from @Alan White. Good to see you again Alan , many thanks for your patience in waiting for me to finally pick it up … looks really good on the wooden tripod . 

We certainly are in a truly grim weather pattern at present … so in a fit of boredom, and to stop me falling asleep this evening ( which has nothing to do with going to bed at midnight and getting up at 5am everyday … or so I tell my wife ) I experimented with my Lyra on the new tripod with the fluid head . Disclaimer .. don’t try this at home folks ! 

1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

That looks very classy I must say. Is it light enough to pick up the whole lot to take outside?  I like the right angle finder. I bet that helps avoid neck ache. 

Absolutely light enough but also very sturdy . The fluid head has just the right tension and smoothness. Just need some clear skies now  

A lovely new tripod thanks to those peeps at FLO … the stellalyra (very solid ) tripod that makes my ED80 ultra stable . 

Damp dreary drizzly = disappointment. Zzzz

Its a real looker for sure ...  Its crazy sometimes where this hobby takes us , i was sure i wanted smaller scopes but i always gravitate to the more traditional larger ones . Something very satisfying looking through a scope like this . 

4 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Is that f11? Nice looking scope.

Hi Michael , Yes F11 ... the focuser is absolutely superb on it ( moonlite) .. I did once have a Red Starwave F11 and stupidly sold it , so i was more than delighted to be able to buy this one . 

The First light of my "new" Lyra 102 , which unfortunately didnt really go to plan . Firstly i was late setting up , so i was rushing to catch the window of clear sky . Polar alignment was a joke ( although not funny ), plus i forgot to align the finder with the scope zzz  and a real schoolboy error was when i didnt extend the tripod enough to compensate for the length of the scope . I did see a few objects though and was suitably impressed how sharp the stars were . This scope was made for planetary and luna and the next time i am rewarded with a clear sky , there will be NO rushing around . Lesson learnt ....AGAIN !!!

Whilst i would say the Nexstar 8SE is a great package , the cost is quite high . The mount , is at best , adequate , bordering on good . But imo the 8" scope when loaded with a weighty EP and possibly a better diagonal and a decent finder rather than the very poor RDF makes the scope quite a heavy beast for the single fork arm . The 6" scope is a much better fit for the mount . 

But , to counter what i wrote you will have some fantastic views of the planets and the moon though that scope . 

An 8" Dob , is a fine starter scope , especially the StellaLyra from FLO as you get a really nice dual speed focuser and a decent EP supplied as standard . And its cheaper than the SCT. 

Yes you have to find things yourself ... so, why not consider the Celestron Starsense Dobsonian ( 8" ) which will allow assistance in finding objects . 

A quick SeeStars session on the moon this morning … Two photos , one showing the lovely crescent phase and the second showing a bit of earthshine 

Just now, Dave scutt said:

Thanks stu.

Can't wait to try it out but of course it's raining.

Where i'm b ased the skies will be clear at ..... 6am , and Leo is high in the south at that time so i may get a chance to capture the leo triplet . 

I bought a batinov mask for the SS and a lens cover , but by far the best extra was buying a small power bank from Amazon for £10 so the seestars is always charged. 

Stu

22 minutes ago, Dave scutt said:

Happy 😊

Nice one Dave  

1 hour ago, Neil27 said:

😂 happy for you Steve, same here and it’s shocking for the next week! Apologies!

Neil I reckon you too are to blame mate … zzz although I was just outside having a Quick Look at Jupiter in the ED80 with blue filter … actually my best view so far. But it’s getting cloudy .

Glad the seestars are coming through now . Good luck with yours .. it’s an amazing bit of kit  

1 hour ago, StevieDvd said:

Another new owner of a Seestar S50 from today, now I can post on this thread as an owner and not an interested party.

Great News ,Steve . But you've also brought some very poor weather to us all  ( as from tomorrow ) 

Picked up a Sky-Watcher ED80… with a moonlite focuser which is absolutely superb … it came with the focus motor too . Perfectly balanced and weighted on my carbon fibre tripod . 

16 hours ago, Stonecutter said:

_{new firmware update with planetary mode.....watch this space}

 

_Chris

i watched a YT video this morning , Rooster , took some photos and videos of Jupiter ... although obviously small the images were ok .

10 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

I finally got out last night, which was my first proper session for several months on a number of counts:

- my first scope session since c. early September due to various factors, weather, family, holidays etc, even a bit of waning mojo to be honest.

- my first proper session with my Maxbright II binoviewers since I got them in the early part of this year..

The colder, clearer weather was forecast, so I prepared Trinity my FS128, installed the BVs, having  checked everything was properly connected (using a BV can be an exercise in frustration if you're not very organised!)..so, by 8.20pm I was ready to go, lined up on Jupiter🙂..with my R.A.drive keeping the planet in view with only minor corrections for over an hour.

The sky was very clear to begin with, but of course the high up waning moon was still very bright and washing out most stars of mag 2 or fainter. 

I did manage to position the scope behind a tree in the garden to block out much of the direct light. Jupiter was a picture, with the 4 main moons beautifully arranged, with one of them (Io, I think) close to Jupiter on the east side, and two more further out, also on the east, appearing almost vertically on top of each other. The higher magnification second shot was taken at 21.49pm, 48 minutes later than the first one at 21.01pm, and you can clearly see the change in the positions of the satellites in that time, especially Io, which was heading for a transit with Jupiter (please excuse the less than great mobile phone pics, I must get a phone holder!)..

By now there was a high milky haze which did start to dim key features and cause a bit of light scattering.

I could see 4 key bands, and hints of "roughness" along the band edges, but the conditions wouldn't support much over 100x without the sharpness diminishing..I did get long enough to try the Baader 1.7x OCS in the BBHS Zeiss prism diagonal..this gave 147x when coupled with a pair of Tak 12mm Abbe orthos, and I could tell that this will be a wonderful pairing in better skies.

Sadly, the skies began to cloud over by just after 10pm, just as my beloved Orion was gaining some altitude..all I had time to do was get a quick shot of the main stars with my phone..but it's fair to say that c 90 minutes of viewing Jupiter, and very briefly, at the last minute, a hazy rather light scattered waning Moon, has really been a tonic. I cant wait to get outside again!

PS: although it was bitterly cold, I felt very comfortable using a combination of double socks, Havers thermal long Johns under soft fabric tracksuit bottoms, fingerless Thinsulate gloves, two warm fleece lined jackets and a woollen Beanie!👍😊

Dave

lovely , Dave... as cold as it gets , when its nice and clear we are spoilt for the wonders we get to see in the early winter night sky 

Out with the 8" Newt for its first light . Set up before 5pm and waited a couple of hours before even attempting to see anything ... Using the AVX mount with the skyportal app i basically pointed the mount North ( ish) and pressed the connect button on the ipad . Slewed to Jupiter and it was remarkably accurate (just a bit out) but once centered the planet stayed in view for the next 90 minutes . The scope was well collimated and no adjustment necessary and whilst i didnt bump the mag up too much the views were exceptional . Decided to bring everything in at around 8;30 as the cold was biting . All in all though a great session .