Greymouser

You, have a talent I envy. Please add colour to your bridge sketch if you can. 

15 hours ago, PeterStudz said:

@bosun21  garb-and-go setup. 

Please tell me this isn't fancy dress you need for a quick observing session? My imagination is running wild! 😉

13 hours ago, Captain Scarlet said:

You talking to me?

😁😁

 

Well, I suppose I might be...
Would you like to come and have a sleep on my bed? It's quite comfy and warm. He, says its his wife's bed, it's not, It's all mine!

There again, if not, it's all good. Soon back to sleep for a little nap, after all I am getting on, 16 in human years. My claws are ready though, if he thinks he can move me again!

OK, not what you expected and only tenuously linked to astronomy, but the joke would be less down there in the forum's nether regions!

Not much use to observe the heavens in it's current form either, but I just couldn't resist after the crystal discussion elsewhere here. Not near expensive as optical fluorite either, but quite pretty to look at! Not sure I want to lick it either! 

On 26/06/2024 at 14:23, JOC said:

 Whatever my beliefs I am well practiced in knowing when to nod sagely and not contradict their own beliefs

Oh I know this very well, but have at times failed to follow it. Not crystal ' magic, ' but Catholic ' magic. ' My father in law is a very devout Catholic and can be very intolerant at times, of other belief systems, ones even less esoteric than crystals! I once called him out on his comments about religion, only to nearly end up fighting him! How stupid am I?

23 hours ago, Captain Scarlet said:

Amongst other things my father was a jeweller and a geologist in his time, and he amassed a collection of minerals. My favourite was a huge lump of rose quartz which he used as a doorstop for his shop in Ascot in the 70s/80s. It now adorns my garden wall, here shown with a Nagler 31 for comparison. I think it weighs about 50kg.

Most people who visit assume it’s there to give the house good vibes.

Magnus 

Wow! That is one gorgeous specimen! The crystal, not the eyepiece, sorry! From what little I have seen, the crystal could be worth far, far more than the eyepiece too. Not that you would even consider it, selling that is, unless very hard times come, considering the link to your father. A bit heavy to steal too I guess. ( Don't worry it's safe from me, your furry friend, as I recall is more at risk! )

12 hours ago, Gfamily said:

One of my slides included this image - from an 'astrology friendly' website that 'explained' the solstices

Happily it raised a laugh from the lovely people

And was then explained on a more scientific basis

 

Well done. I imagine enlightened without mocking and everyone left with a smile on their face. A successful day I would say!

16 hours ago, niallk said:

I'm an electronic engineer with a low tolerance for mystical stuff, but I once delighted and thrilled someone mad into that stuff by describing how I've designed quartz crystal oscillators by exciting their energy resonance electro-mechanical properties to produce very pure frequencies 😁

Then I wowed by explaining that there was one pulsating 38.4 million times per second in her mobile handset... 🤣

This statement caught my curiosity. I am sure I am wrong, but feel the need to ask, with no offence intended: Do you have the same intolerance for those that go to church/temple/synagogue/mosque? Do you go to any of those yourself?

Which brought my rambling mind to the question: Is non belief, taken to a certain point, in fact a belief system? Richard Dawkins comes to mind.

Incidently, I have no intention or desire to start a debate on religion. Just maybe tolerance.

21 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Two of them, now, Alan? You’ll be joining a religious order next.

I would have to say, attempting amateur astronomy in the UK considering the weather, involves a lot of faith? The only question is: Who on this forum would be best to lead the new order? What would you call it? 😉

16 minutes ago, dweller25 said:

I think MrSpock has the CC 6” version ?

I had the same but it had an effective working aperture of 140mm which meant the secondary obstruction was 42% !

It was no match for my 4” F/8 refractor, which is a shame as I liked the form factor.

Completely agree. I have the TS version of the 6" CC, whilst very good, it is beaten in all ways by my F13.2  4" Bresser, which is also cheaper. Just as easy to mount as well, without any CA. I would even choose that over the 4" Starfield which I had for a while.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-ar-102l-1350-refractor-ota.html

On 21/04/2024 at 23:42, Louis D said:

That 38% linear secondary obstruction doesn't sound very conducive to good planetary contrast.

Finally found time to respond, my apologies for the lateness. 

Whilst I agree, any secondary obstruction can cause problems, this is the same as my TS optics 6" CC. I don't see too much of a problem there, neither do many other CC owners, it seems. That said, I am not sure I will be keeping that! 🤪

I guess it just triggered my curiosity when I saw it, I do like new things like this. I doubt I would get it at that price, but the only other easily portable solar system scope, I would guess would be a Mak. My CC holds collimation very well, as should this, so should be good for a backpack. 

Just noticed this new scope from GSO and TS optics, very interesting! 400mm long and weighing in at 2.17 KG, makes it a good travel scope, F12 will make it good on planets and the moon. The only thing to put me off is the price, around £343 and importing it from Germany. I just hope @FLO have noticed this, because I for one am interested and they have supplied TS stuff in the past. I have the TS optics 6" CC, which is good, but not really very portable, but this ticks several boxes. I live in hope...

https://www.teleskop-express.de/en/beginner-astronomy-and-gift-ideas-241/telescopes-for-astronomy-279/ts-optics-gso-114-mm-f-12-cassegrain-telescope-ota-17569

Thoughts anyone?

Done, but I doubt it will do much good, not least because looking a little deeper, they only appear to want to hear from locals, not visitors. I hope I am wrong...

3 hours ago, DirkSteele said:

Are you finding you are having balance issues with the mount? I have not encountered such issues but have only used a few times over the last couple of months.

No not at all. However two quick sessions with a 72 EDF and a C5 are hardly pushing it. My intentions are to push the mount a bit, just to see what it can do. I wish to make this as easy as possible. Now I just need to find the time... 

This arrived, just a short while ago, via DPD. He still had several more deliveries, very long day he has had and I do not envy him. Nice fella though.

Counterweight for my Sightron Alt Az mount. Now how far dare I push the mount, now balance should be less of a problem?  

Edit: From FLO: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-star-adventurer/skywatcher-star-adventurer-counterweight-kit.html

Thanks guys for the usual quick delivery.

52 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:

I should of packed it away when you said and sent it back too late now.

I am really sorry to read of this, a very bad advert for buying second hand at a distance.

I too would like to know where you got it from and if possible name and shame the miscreant who sold it without full disclosure. Very, very bad. Hindsight is a fine thing, but too easy, especially if you are so looking forward to something.

As my SS50 needs a tablet with 4 GB Ram and my Samsung has only 3, I thought I would splash out on a 4GB RAM A8! The added advantage of a second tablet means it can be mostly just for my SS50 and can be always charged. Now all I need is to get organised...

Then of course, I thought a new cover would be good idea, so here comes Star Cat!

6 hours ago, Sunshine said:

Nice image of the box but im afraid you’ve blown out the core.

Firstly:

That is all I have to say on that matter...

However, I have received another parcel, have attempted to photograph the contents, but appear to be still be having problems. Spacing? Tilt? Over exposure? I just don't know...

The moon map is for the wall, maybe learn a bit too, goodness knows I need to learn my Lunar geography! The double star book, by our very own @Ags is very good, but I meant to get the spiral bound version, but saw this on Amazon and it fell into the basket! Now I don't know if I should buy a second copy, this time spiral bound, or operate on the one and put in a spiral folder type of thing, with lots of little pockets. It just seem to be almost blasphemous, to take a book apart! I will get sent to literary hell!

Just ben out for a swift half hour, with my little grab and go:

Very light, no cool down needed, so out I went, even though there is high thin cloud. Still a decent, if short spell admiring the moon, never gets tiring. Dewed up by the end, but only had time for a quick session and it has been soooo long, since the last time out. Not the best view, nor particularly methodical, just wandering round looking. Shame this scope doesn't seem to like my Takahashi prism, perhaps the short focal length, but great in other scopes. All in all, it put a smile on my face and destresed a little.  

Am I the only one to do this? I bet I am not. I have been looking at my astro gear, thinking that I have too much, it needs rationalising. ( ) Looking back at the last few years, many things I have got have been impulse buys, with the best of intentions, but then see little use. Usually bought when life is getting difficult, partly for that buzz of the arrival of new great gear! I Partly blame the weather, ruining the few observing chances I get, forcing me to browse on astro suppliers websites! I wonder how long it will be until I run out the SeeStar?

As usual great service from the best astro suppliers. Lots of patience to with my seemingly never ending questions! Why buy anywhere else?

About 24 hrs from order to arrival!!

Got this from FLO a little while ago, only just now got the chance to post because so busy:

Not sure about the foam box, might have to upgrade that... Not sure how wise this purchase has been either, I am very spare time poor at the moment, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Also got a few little helpers too:

That's a dew shield; Bhatinov mask; dust cover and EQ5 tripod convertor, not sure it will work for the SS50, but I think it should. Fantastic delivery from FLO as usual too, thanks guys.

Having recently got one and seen how poor the manual is, can anyone tell me how to set it up with the clamp on the outside please? There used to be a pic on FLO showing that way with a counterweight, but it is gone. I have looked, but lack the time to search for too long, so I hope someone knows how to set it up that way. Thanks in advance.

Got this a few days ago, only posting now because I have been so busy.

F5 Newtonian, bought to test myself regarding collimation, as I have been considering going large! ( Aperture fever... ) I have had a F5 newt in the past, a Skywatcher 150p, but it came perfectly collimated and stayed that way, so I was never tested. I also got a Cheshire and a cap to aid things. I will probably be seeking advice, when I finally get to try it out!

Of course, my plans may now be changed, after seeing various peoples results with the Seestar!

Right it's on my list! Will have to shuffle want's around! Great pic that Paul!

Beginning to think I may have to get one of these... 🤔

Got these a while ago, but didn't post them up here, because I was just too busy. The mount has remained in it's box for a few weeks!!!

A Sightron mount, ( its tiny! ) three dew straps and an Oiii filter. Cant stand the  clamp that came with the mount, so instantly replaced by an Astro Essential one:

Can't stand marred vixen bars!

Edit: Now I just have to learn Japanese, cos the tiny manual is just in that and very small!