Fraunhoffer

Catching up with these. Many thanks.

I started to get a bit stressy with my EQ mount altitude adjustment bolts when doing my polar alignment in the gloom. The long bolt would frequently seize up and the pressure have to released before continuing. I have a Bresser EXOS-2 mount and it looks very similar to the Vixen GP mount / LXD75, EQ5 pro and others of this style. The altitude is adjusted by 2 long bolts that push against a spur on the mount head altitude axis. The spur is at an angle depending on the latitude setting and this angled surface twists the end of the bolt down when pressure is applied. The bolt then jams in the screw threads making adjustment difficult. Ive added a sketch. My solution was to make a shaped block of a hard waxy plastic that would support the end of the bolt to prevent it twisting, and would also slide within the channel where the spur is located. I had hoped to use some PTFE but used a small block of HDPE plastic instead. This is a hard waxy and durable plastic that is actually used for plastic milk cartons. A hard waxy wood might also be used. I cut a card template for the shape of the channel and then transferred this to the plastic and cut and filed by hand, removing a little at a time until it fitted nicely in the channel. I checked the height in relation to the altitude bolts so that the top was the same height as the centre of the bolt (bolt removed for this). Be careful not to jam the block in the channel (if this happens a small hand drill or an awl might help dig it out). The final task was to use a round file and remove material to make a groove in the top at the same height and depth as the adjustment bolt to support the end; removing a little at a time and checking frequently. The result? A buttery smooth altitude adjustment bolt. I can finely adjust my polar alignment altitude without any bolt sticking or jerking or getting too stiff to turn easily. The first time I tried it I effortlessly managed to achieve 1’30” polar alignment error. My mount might not be the exactly the same as yours but I hope this may be useful to some. The usual waivers – you modify your own mount at your own risk. In retrospect this was such a simple fix to an irritation in an otherwise lovely mount. (PS. I have also made a thin large circular washer from a cut up HDPE milk carton that goes between the tripod and mount head - buttery azimuth bolts too). Happy Adjustment Bolts everyone 🙂 (PPS. I didn't use a metal block since I thought it would wear the threads at the end of the bolt, whereas a firm plastic would not damage the threads. I expected the bolt to bite into the plastic, but using a hard waxy substance would enable it to slide a sthe bolt was adjusted. It doesn't usually have to move very much anyway)

Haha. Await with interest.

The wire to the motor would be better facing down as well. The number of times I've nearly snagged the loop on a door handle as I carry the base out. It's now firmly strapped in place with some glued on cable ties.

I was out last night till around 1. Great views of the moon to start with. So clear, found the Areadeus Rille near the interesting rocky formations near crater Julia's Caesar. Then lots of clusters in Ophiuchus sweeping over to M13 and M57 ring nebula which is quite bright if small. Finally comet Panstarrs (again). Its been such a reliable comet. Unlike a couple of others I could mention. 😂 Might spend some time with double stars another evening. So many, for some reason.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Ive got 4 on my shortlist so far. 3 with fluid 2 way heads and one with az gears. decisions decisions.... Orion Tritech II weight 2.3 Kg load 6 kg length packed 69 cm length extended 153 cm + safety latch on shoe to prevent things falling out slotted shoe for sdjusting carry bag - might be a bit short when extended Celestron Trailseeker weight 1.81 Kg load 4 Kg length packed 48 cm length extended 178 cm + good for tall people legs can have different angles padded legs for shoulder carry compact when folded up - Horizon 8115 weight 3.58 Kg load unknown (binos upto 100mm dia) length packed 78cm length extended 180 cm + good for tall people - bit long when packed heavy ? Skywatcher AZ Pronto weight 3.8 Kg load 3 Kg length packed 78.5 cm length extended 150 cm + nice geared controls and locking t bars - £ need to add dovetail for camera and scope more expensive heavy ?

Nice sketch. One of my favourites.

I want to make up a nice hand portable rig using an ST80. (I have the OTA, nice diagonal and spare eps). So looking for a nice not expensive but steady tripod that could fit in a large backpack. I might add a tracker later in phase 2. Any recommendations for a tripod? I do some other photography so a photo tripod would be ok. The St80 rings I have include screw fitting anyway. Thanks

Such a useful post. Thank you. I've been looking for just this information. The numbers are very close to what I get in practice with a DSLR and 400mm Tele bolted on top of my scope when I look up the alignment error I've got. I'm limited by light pollution in the length of my subs. So if I can get 2mins unguided and keep things simple, I'm very happy.

Finally, I managed to see it last night on day 12 of current lunar. I needed to go to 240x to see it. Thanks for the tip.

As I sat outside looking at the stars with my jug of ale and binos last night, it appeared to me that Betelgeuse was considerably brighter than it has been recently. Whether it was my alcohol infused observing or the glowing horizon as Orion was dipping into the murk, I'm not sure. I could only judge that it was about the same brightness as nearby Procyon. Sorry to resurrect an old thread, with old news, but thought I would just comment that it does seem to be getting back to normal.

I think there is a setting for maximum and minimum altitude somewhere in the settings to try and avoid things directly overhead where the back of the scope can be very close to the tripod legs. A pier extension (as above) could be used and reduce the leg extension to keep the overall height the same but with less spread, but you will need to check if that is stable enough with your set up and it doesn't tip over.

Bit late sorting my photos and posting this, but it looked very nice. Bracketed exposures combined.

Picture from 8th. 45x45s Moonlight and shooting over a streetlight not the best conditions.

Thoroughly enjoyed it all. When's season 2? "Engage..." 😆

Hadley Rille Ive been trying to find this little crater (6km. dia.) and its 'rille' for about a year. Success. I was feeling a bit tired so had planned nothing in particular except enjoying the ride of another clear sky and getting lost on the lunar surface. Just plonked the tripod on the usual 'dots' and levelled it up. No polar alignment or finder (its that bright moon) set the tracking to lunar rate and looked. "The more you look the more you see" seems very apt for the moon. It wasnt long before I was captivated by another clear and steady view of craters, rilles, fault lines, different shades of basalt and enormous hills and mountains. The straight wall was visible again looking like someone had taken a pen and drawn across the lunar surface. As I edged around Mare Ibrium and the Apennine mountains the large flat floored Archimedes came into view with its terraced walls and smooth floor looking like a freshly painted wall. Running along the edge I noticed a few small creaters and then a brightly illuminated line. This turned out to be a corner of Hadley Rille which was just catching the light in the right direction. It is quite a small feature and needed the 5mm eyepiece in the c8 to get a decent view. Fortunatley the air was steady and the moon at a high altitude to be able to use this. I tried a few different filters, orange seeming to give the best view, although after a while i just returned to no filter and just looked. The more I looked the more I saw of the Hadley Rille and was able to follow it for some distance. Apollo 15 landed in the smooth patch just upper left of the crater in Palus Putredinis (marsh of decay). Strange name. It was approaching 9:30 and I needed to think about packing up and turning in was so pleased to see this after a year of waiting on such a short session.

Thanks Mike.

Just wondered if anyone has a better idea to locate the skywatcher handcontroller than the standard tripod clip they supply. I find the controller doesn't clip in very well without fiddling about in the dark and jogging the tripod and it always seems to be on the wrong leg for where I want to look. Yesterday the curley lead got caught under the clip when I pulled the thing out and the lead pulled out - easily put right but a but frustrating at the time. Maybe a hook and loop or something under the spreader plate ??

I've not seen the sky so clear and still for some time. 8 and 5mm on the c8 provided magnificent views of the lunar surface and I was spoilt for choice of interesting things to look at with so much detail visible. The straight wall appeared like a sharp edge to the terminator when I started so I looked at other things whilst waiting for the sun to rise. The Rima Ariadaeus rille was nicely lit along its whole length. It's huge, and runs over s small range of hills at one point which I guess must have been formed later. Then I stepped over to the area around Archimedes which is rich in fault and shrinkage features. My. Piton was huge and cast a massive Shadow. The sun had now risen over the straight wall and the shadow cast by the linear 250m drop was very clear. The crater Birt has a smaller crater in its run which allowed a beam of light to shine through and illuminate the opposite wall. Awesome. As the moon was beginning to set I went on to see some lovely double stars. A very enjoyable evening.

Fabulous report. Thank you.

I didn't stay out long because everything was being blown about on the gusty wind. The sky looked very clear and I had a great view of this area following several shrinkage fault lines. The Apollo 17 landing site it towards the upper right, not far from the chain of 4 mountains.

Just very slightly. I lazily left it in after Orion and M1. Sort of difference between, there's something there and there might be something there. The UHC-e is a bit wider than UHC and supposed to include the carbon emission line. I don't know if it's emitting any carbon, but it helped me find it. Nothing dramatic and not as different as when looking at a nebula.

Tracked it down eventually last night with a c8 and uhc-e filter. Not the best conditions and it was just a faint barely visible haze with a brighter centre, from the garden.

very nice collection of sketches.

Thank you for the compliment. I was wondering about that. The moon image was a mosaic so it might enlarge and print reasonably.