MikeWilson

Welcome, Ernie!

1 hour ago, Space Hopper said:

looks like you've captured Rigel 'B' in the middle image 🙂

Not sure that I did at 200mm but I’ll take your word for it 😛

First light of my new Canon R6 Mk II

Orion constellation - single frame at 105 f/5 45s ISO 3200. *Very light* processing - just a tiny curve and tiny levels. Lens: Canon 24-105mm F4.

M45 - 17 mins total of mostly 1 min subs as cloud was rolling in. Near zenith last night on a Skywatcher SkyAdventurer. I think f/5, ISO 3200. 200mm. Rather more processing and gradient extraction in Pixinsight 

All unguided.
 

I hope, one day to return

Stay safe everyone.

Good afternoon,

It's been a while (about a decade, give or take) since I've been involved in any 'proper' astro, and I'm slowly getting back in the saddle, again.

What have I missed?

-Mike

The good qualities of this country abounded in Patrick Moore (when I met him, he chastised me for calling him, 'Sir'). Generous, hospitable, humility and with a great sense of humour. Plus he loved cats too, which makes him all the more awesome.

Thank you, Patrick.

THANK YOU Martin!

I'm just about ready to get started with your guide to hand!

Sent from my mobile using TapaTalk (so please excuse bad grammar & spelling!) :-)

Has anyone ever used Mydriatic eye-drops to increase pupil dilation when out observing or is that just a bit too extreme?

!!!

I'm sure >SOMEONE< has done it!

I've never heard of scope tapping until now. I'll give it a go! Might be a good idea to try out my wobbly bino tripod :-)

A couple of weeks ago, I ordered a Gerd Nuemman Aurora EL flat panel. It was delivered the following day.

Later, I ordered a Bathinov mask. That was delivered the following day.

Two days ago I ordered a Skywatcher auto focuser and some solar film. That was delivered the following day too.

Clean, efficient service at a good price. Didn't have to speak to anyone to place or chase the order, and even if I did, I know that I'd get some good advice and service from them. Quite rare in this day and age!

I placed an order for a Baader 2" Ha 7nm filter from FLO a few weeks back. It was out of stock but I was happy to wait for them to get the order in.

When it did, James sent me an email to let me know when it was going to arrive and it was with me after a week.

FLO are a great outfit. I wish all small businesses took a leaf out of their book - it helps them too since happy customers probably chase them and bug them less which makes everyone happier all round.

Happy times.

I had an issue with my QHY5 that I purchased from Rother Valley Optics and Bern (from Modern Astronomy) called me promptly this morning for a chat to advise me.

Top bloke, knows his stuff and has given me some interesting ideas for using the QHY5 as a finderguider

Unfortunately I work during their open times

They've got an answering machine

Well at least someone has their stuff still no sign of my stuff, no replies to pm's or emails yet even ones from last week, I don't even know if my stuff is in stock yet order status stuck at "payment received"

^ Call them. They're really busy at the moment and if you call them you'll get through to someone who can help you, I'm almost sure of that.

Me = not affiliated with FLO.

I don't know if it's policy but every time I've used FLO it's been a FedEx overnight service.

And I totally forgot about the overnight service when I ordered a set of binoculars last week and had them arrive the following a day when I was out. Fortunately I came back home just in time to sign for the binoculars before I had to head out again (lucky me!).

Best,

Mike

^ Hig

Call them - they'll sort your order out.

Best,

Mike

Since starting this hobby last July I've gone with FLO for most things. Some things I have even found marginally cheaper elsewhere but while the service from FLO is maintained this good, I'll stick with them where I can.

Hi Trevor,

FLO are very good with sorting out these issues. The first Mak they sent me had dust inside the collector plate. They sent a new one out to me pretty quickly (within a few days). The mount they organised for collection next day. Fresh brand new OTA arrived after my holiday (I took the old one with me). I'm not sure what's going to happen now re: my mount, I guess it will be fixed and returned to me by the upstream distributor.

@AdeyG - thanks! Me too!

I'm hoping my issues are now resolved as FedEx came to collect it today. Hope the Synta distributor can reproduce the fault and fix it.

FLO delivered my Synguider, ST80, dovetail mount and clamp this morning by FedEx - collecting a dodgy Alt-Az mount head at the same time. Needless to say, I needed their expertise in getting the right clamp for the mount. I ordered over the weekend, hence this delivery was fast and reliable.

Another big thumbs up for FLO.

Interesting pictures. Where did you find the replacement washers? B&Q? (sorry, I'm a DIY dunce!).

FLO have arranged for the distributor to collect tomorrow, so my mount head is waiting for pick-up.

Since they've given me good service I've just placed an order for a new guidescope, mountings and standalone guide camera with them

I suppose mounts, bring a niche product, means that the manufacturers can get away with a lot more - on the basis that the customer is typically expected to do their own maintenance?

In any case, FLO are arranging for the distributor to collect. Not sure what happens next, fix or replace?

Thanks for the thread (and the tear down pics!).

The mount is around three months old, purchased from First Light Optics, so I guess so?

GU14

Hi Macavity,

Did you get a resolution to this issue? Only my mount has just started to exhibit a slight slowdown in the Az.