Steve Clay

Thanks for your comments. I've decided to keep my current setup as there appears to be too much risk in going lighter and keeping aperture. I'm going to look at a small garden tool shed to keep the mount in by my observing spot in the garden. That way it won't need carrying. Steve

How heavy are the Taks?

Hi, arthritis getting worse and lugging the skytee, 2 inch tripod and eq5 extension then Ed120 will eventually become too difficult. I'm thinking of downsizing to a 102 edr on an az5 with either steel or berlebach 312 tripod. I already have the mount and tripods. Anybody using a similar scope mounted like this. Weight of scope v mount payload looks fine on paper? Cheers Steve

Hi, arthritis getting worse and lugging the skytee, 2 inch tripod and eq5 extension then Ed120 will eventually become too difficult. I'm thinking of downsizing to a 102 edr on an az5 with either steel or berlebach 312 tripod. I already have the mount and tripods. Anybody using a similar scope mounted like this. Weight of scope v mount payload looks fine on paper? Cheers Steve

Amazing. Can't remember last time I saw the sun in Cornwall...

Totall. It really is amazing.

What a awesome sight. Been watching the live feed. Like something out of thunderbirds.

I have the Hyperflex zoom and for the price it is really good. Steve

When I had the 127 Mak I found a 32mm plossil a great tool for getting on target. I then used the exact same combo of starguiders as you. For the cost of converting to 2 inch you would be better off looking for something like a used Ed 80 then you have a nice wide field and a lunar/ planetary set-up Steve

Hi, welcome. I used to live in Summerlin North Vegas. As you can imagine not very dark skies. However, I worked at Creech AFB, 60 miles north of Vegas on the I95. Amazing skies out in the desert. Steve

I have a greenhouse tubular heater and dehumidifier in my shed where I keep all my astro and modeling tools and equipment. The heater is on permanently at the moment and the dehumidifier is on a timer 2hrs on 4 hrs off. The RH is kept in the region of 50-60% the heater keep the inside roughly 8deg above outside. Its also insulated with the foil backed bubble wrap stuff from screwfix It's also ventilated. 4 soffit vents in each corner of the floor and 2 small vents in adjacent walls. Always feels fairly warm in there and never feels damp. I also keep 35mm film cannisters with r

If strength and rigidity is required then use a reasonable quality PLA. As said above infill density will add to strength.

I print some high detail parts with an Ender 3 for model rockets. No problem at all.

If you already have a good refractor how about a quark. I have the chromosphere with an Ed80. Works really well. Steve

You could buy the az 4 or 5 with steel tripod. Both manual mounts. The 5 has slow motion controls. Neither are dobsonian bases. The 150p is designed to be attached to a vixen type mount head. Steve