Marvin Jenkins

Yes it is the javelin of fracs. It could not get more of an opposite to the newts I am used to. One of the clutch bolts has been broken off in the mount body. That is not an easy fix. I will post up a few pics tomorrow as most of the work is cosmetic but I know the challenge is going to be very enjoyable. Marv

As the title implies this is a frac at f15 which is an alien creature to me due to being a newt man. (Possible new super hero Newtman)😂 This Bushnells frac is not mine and will be returning to its owner, but it is need of a good clean and has some maintenance issues. It is a 60mm aperture with an fl of 900mm. Ian going to do everything I can to get it properly working. It comes with a few small eps and two of the most ridiculous barlows I have ever seen. I have never used a slow frac and the mix of rescuing a scope like this is balanced by wanting to point it at the moon. Marv

My current wish list is drawn up from a game of astronomy musical chairs. I need an EQ6 tripod adapter plate and mini pier so my EQ5 mount can go on a currently unused EQ6 tripod. The EQ5 tripod can then have my AZ5 mount and pillar taking out most of the wobble. Then I need a two channel dew controller with dslr power supply as I originally bought the one without. My dew controller without dslr power can then go on the AZ5. See what I mean about equipment musical chairs? Problem is the AZ5 is an early birthday present and asking for anything right now would get me killed☠️ Marv

Just realised why it is so wobbly! It only has two legs🤔

Sorry far too many high end francs on this thread. Someone needed to gate crash the party with a low end newt. The ota is my first scope an Orion USA 130 space probe (the name makes cringe) It has seen no use for over a year up until now, as I have just received an AZ5 mount kit. It doesn’t get much more simple than this, however the tripod is far too wobbly. I told my wife it is the perfect grab and go setup and it is true, as when I grabbed it I disappeared 🤣 Marv

Do you have a particular ‘best time’ for white light? I noticed a few references to first thing this morning, but this might just be work related. I have a white light solar filter for my 150pds, but I now have a grab and go set up at 130, which will be perfect for white light. I guess top and tail the day to see how things develop? I really like how WL is a great fit into astronomy, on a basic visual level. Marv

Imagination and memory are a key to this crazy game. I walked out the other night and within five seconds said “oh look Andromeda galaxy” no dark adaptation at all. Now I admit I have some quite dark skies and I could see it, but only down to the fact that I know where I am looking and what I am looking for. My Astro diary read differently at the beginning. I found M33 two whole weeks before stumbling across M31 by accident. I used that very same beginner 5 inch newt on Saturn a few nights back and it blew me away. I get the bit about the GRS being a challenge, but we have been rather spoiled by HST and flyby pictures. Just as a footnote I thought I would mention an entry in my diary about observing Jupiter last time it was around at night. This time with a six inch newt, but I noticed due to incredible stillness that there was something extra going on with one of the equatorial bands. #john who I have not seen for sometime posted up a report of a Barge, which is something I had never heard of before. So if you think you see something, you might actually be seeing something. Marv

I have an unused EQ6 tripod that I would like to buy the eq5 adapter for. That way the AP kit goes on the 6 tripod and the AZ5 goes on the steel EQ5 tripod.

AZ5 kit arrived today for my five inch Orion US newt. Much better quality than I was expecting. Now I have a proper grab and go setup. My wife did say that if anymore scopes appear in our living room then it is me that has to go.😂 Now I need some Baader solar film for white light and my Eq5 150pds can become a dedicated AP setup.

Good to have you aboard. This is a great place to be and the starting point of my day. 8” Dob! You are right there. Enjoy the view. Marvin

I think you are slightly mad and equally inspired. I am in awe of your venture into the triple OTA world, and when I first saw you post I was musing over the idea of one day building a huge pair of binoculars from twin achromatic refractors. At least my idea doesn’t have any wires😂 No idea how to mount such a thing. Your post brought back a memory of seeing a frac setup called the Dragonfly. I think it was eleven fracs on one mount, a Paramount I think. I have a pic somewhere but not on my phone sadly. I presume one was for guiding the other ten for capture, (just writing that sounds nuts). Ten scopes, ten cameras! And I think you have cable problems. Can you imagine the focus issues? Ten EAFs, ten filter wheels arrrhhhhh.

It’s a giant lovely mess that might work perfectly. I love it! Never tidy it up, something will stop working. M

I think what Ash is asking, is how he can be included in real time astronomy. I understand that Stellarium is a great bit of kit but a planetarium is not the real thing. With all the tech available now, there must be some avenues via the web where people who can’t lug a scope outside, can see a live view of the real thing in real time. Hence my suggestion about EEVA being a possible gate way for those less fortunate in mobility to have access. Ash, I hope we find something for you, this is a big forum so fingers crossed. Marv

Imagine having that in a laminated, spiral bound guide. Bravo Isreal.

I feel your pain. I nearly froze to death not seeing a Lunar eclipse. No joke an hour in sub zero, full body shakes and the moment there was anything noticeable full cloud front turned up. Marv

Cloudy for the first time in months🤬

This is my view 7am. Not missing that if clouds allow.

Just thought I would also say that in the background of your wild gesticulating picture there is an amazing old plane. Flying fortress perhaps? M

That looks like a brilliant event. Well done on showing so many so much. Marv

Hi Ash Sorry to say I can’t help you with the YouTube thing as I have not embraced that much of the modern world. However! It did get me thinking. Is there anyone out there in the EEVA group that has the ability with tech to allow you access to their live view as they are building an image. I maybe wrong ( probably) but I would imagine the EEVA capture might be done in a way Ash could view it via the internet in real time, in the comfort of his home. I don’t do EEVA right now so perhaps this is a reach too far? My question is if this possible is there anyone out there that can give Ash access via the web. Perhaps the mods could mirror my request in the EEVA section and see what they think? Marv

Sorry to hear that. It is really hard right now with so little proper darkness. I do count myself lucky that my back garden is in an elevated position and has no trees (used to be a wheat field). Book mark it, I am sure an opportunity will come along at some point. For me personally I would like to here your observing report to give me something to compare to. Very much on my own out in the dark. Marv

Wow

That is really good. I would use that image as a good example of what a comet looks like through the EP. I am not dising your image, I would be proud of taking that. I have shown a few non Astro people the night sky, and they are used to Hubble pictures off the web. Your stack is a genuine pictorial record of what I saw two weeks ago.👍Bravo. Marvin

Foot note Mag 9 Diam 2’ 20317n0714

Never seen this before but I was doing some goto alignment testing and chose this glob as it was ideally placed. Rather surprised by how obvious it was. When I mean obvious, not in the spotter scope but clearly visible in the EP of my 6” newt. I got the 8” Dob out on it the following night and there you go, right in your eye! hanging off the tail of Delphinus. I find it odd that it is not on the Hershel list. No complaints, the Herschel’s are like star gods to me, no idea how they did it all. For those with bigger aperture there is are galaxies either side a short distance away, 6944/6917. Anyone else have any luck with weather let me know how you did with this. Marvin