DaveL59

looks interesting, wonder if it can handle a switchable IR-Cut filter if you swap the CS lens holder out with one that has it and drive that via a switchable output line? I'd be almost tempted to move my skycam2 from the 5MP CCTV module to one of these if the sensor suits the existing CS lenses I have, tho I'd have to learn PI from scratch. I assume it'll be easy to access via LAN ?

hmmm so inspecting those baked parts further in daylight, the paint has set very hard. very! Brass wire brush in dremel-a-like hardly makes any impression at all. So I've decided that after going over the latitude markings with the brush (hopefully improve the relief a bit) to just try giving it an overspray with fresh white and see how it takes. If that works then at least I know there's a good hard layer under the white to help with chipping down the road once its back in use. If this works then it just might be worth trying the same on the pier posts to give them some improved durability but an unsure, one to mull over later I think. Besides which, I'll have to figure a way to lay them in the oven on wires to get that idea to fly. Just as well I live alone huh Checking on the feet they came out OK, still show brush tracks to a degree, but being hung they developed a drip on the end as the paint settled while drying, figured that'd happen. Plan is to let them cure a while and then clean up and lightly sand the long flat surfaces and add a second coat. Again a durability thing since these are the bit that sit on the damp ground so will scuff most. The brush on paint does at least seem to have cured faster than the spray even with the lower temps we're currently experiencing.

hmmm not sure if this really was the colour I'd have chosen, certainly the oven browned things, quite a contrast to the colour it went in if I do the whole thing I'll have a TAL-M in that 80's PC Beige!

ok so I decided to take a peek, all cooled down and paint nice and hard now I'd say a slight colour shift too, I guess we could call that oven browned Fair result though, wonder if I could do the same with the pier tubes, might look at how to suspend those tomorrow. For sure the OTA won't fit though.

there's something about the older gear, a little agricultural in look compared to modern gear, but build quality is just so good, made to last a lifetime and then some. I'd love to acquire a telementor one day but fund's way too limited for that lol, but am quite happy with the 100RS, 1 and M that I do have

very nice Stu, wondering what the TAL is on the other side? Doesn't look like an M, an Alcor perhaps or am I a galaxy or 3 wide of the mark there?

not all DSLR models will give you a live view over USB, same for bridge cameras, so you'll need to do your research on the model you decide you like. As mentioned too, live view won't show you much and will be lower resolution than the image the camera is capable of. You might be able to with a proper astro camera looped into stacking software so you can live stack the images and gradually get an improving image to look at "live" but I've no experience of doing this so can't advise here. I know its an expensive option and not for everyone but the thing that does what you're after in a pre-built package is one of these https://www.gumtree.com/p/telescopes/unistellar-evscope/1371166651 There's a section on the forum that discusses it.

Home baking??? mmmmm decided that after >24h the knuckle parts are still a bit soft and tacky, so thought I'd give this a go. Will see how they come out tomorrow after a 30 mins bake at gas mark 1...

I'd get the opinions of those that do image Sam, I was just suggesting a way the EQ5 might be able to work as a cheaper option. A lot will depend on how much you are loading the mount and what you want to image, esp as this could mean long exposures where accurate tracking will be critical. I've 2 EQ5's one manual and the other SynScan goto, the goto is easier viewing as I don't need to adjust anything it just follows the target so I can relax and enjoy. The other needs an overhaul as its sticky on the axes having been unused in a long time before I acquired it. You can always add the full goto rig on a manual EQ5 later on if you want to, but they're £200+ on top. Depending on how soon you want to be jumping in, certainly worth keeping an eye on the used market, you might be able to get one (HEQ5/6) that way at less cost.

so with things having slowed a little waiting on paint to dry and wet weather, not to mention a couple kind spiders who decided to sacrifice themselves making patterns in the wet paint of the knuckle I'd not long sprayed, decided I'd do the feet. A couple bits where the paint had been scraped/chipped showed some usual ally scabbing so all sanded down and prepped the other day waiting on the other bits to dry. Of course the feet will have to cope with being in contact with the ground so I've reconsidered spraying these and I've decided to hand painted in black hammered effect hammerite, hope this turns out well and proves durable and those brush marks flatten a bit. So having brought the poles and other parts indoors I carefully placed them inside the box for safe-keeping. Not carefully enough tho as I nicked the middle of one pole on the screw post that the braces fit onto Oh well I'll touch that back up later... doh! Can see I'll need to find a solution to those interior fixings in the TAL wood box or all this repainting ain't gonna last long.

this may provide a few ideas Carole https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/637235-moveable-weights-on-telescope-tubes/ I've seen weights advertised for vixen dovetails, tho they are quite expensive but I guess that's paid back in terms of improved capability of the kit.

not being in the imaging game, but would not the EQ5 with an RA motor provide a low-entry level starting point? That way the scope would track once you've manually acquired the target of interest, albeit not as accurately as a guided rig but then you're looking at lots more kit and cost. You could get the dual-motor non-goto kit and that'd be able to slew the scope but that's not so important. You would need to get levelling and polar alignment as accurate as you can though but that seems pretty much a basic requirement for imaging anyway.

sounds like some internal reflection or possibly a chip in the prism, if you look through the objective end do you get a clear image? Also try shining a torch and inspecting the internals, you should find clean smooth glass surfaces, any irregularity and that could cause an optical aberration especially viewing a bright target at night such as Venus or the moon. The first effect I'd expect to see in lower cost roof prisms but not in a porro format.

I've not had that problem so far with the domes on the side of the shed at roof-line, tho I do get insects wander about on them occasionally. Mind I do have 2 cats so birds rarely land in the garden but if they do... they soon scoot off when a pointy-eared prowler gets interested 😉

ah neat, never bothered to download it before but thought I'd see what it says too Est quality 19.5 Class 5 Bortle - tho I don't get the brightness info

same here John, flat grey and rain all day. And just to improve my day a spider decided one of my freshly painted parts was something to go crawl over grrr

nice experiment Roger, what's the longer term plan for it? Ideally you'd want it cased with a dome so its weatherproof and mounted higher to get a better view, so long as you're able to data-link to it of course.

as a test lash-up, how about a small plastic drinks bottle secured with a ratchet strap low on the OTA? You can then try differing amounts of water to fine-tune the weight you need before going out to get one

Hi Neil, hopefully you mean on the OTA rather than in? Wouldn't be good for one to drop onto the mirror if it got a bump...

I'll often just rough align and use the SynScan as a tracking mount rather than star align and slew around. Just that little lot weight around 50+KG so a lot more effort to lift and shift. Same for the SW130, tho lighter still too unwieldy to safely get through the conservatory door directly up steps unless I dismount the OTA. Don't really want to be breaking large glass panels lol

you'd need an erecting eyepiece but they do come with downsides for astro use, loss of resolution and very limited range of magnification

ahh I always felt tripod mounted makes it look like a proper scope rather than a box with a mirror in it.... I'll get me coat and run and hide now

Always the way when new glass is pointed at the skies Tho since am in the process of restoring one of mine could've been my fault too

I thought I'd have got the TAL100RS out more, but it hasn't moved from its resting place so far. Was playing instead with the TAL-M and TAL-1, easier to pick up and carry up the step and set up, well no setup as I can move those ready rigged being pier pedestals rather than tripod bases. While I love the views with the 100RS, the EQ5 and SynScan make it more effort as I need to de-mount the OTA to move the EQ5 out and then align and then load the OTA back on, as well as hook up power etc. From now tho the TAL-M is out of the picture as it's in bits being restored so I could well be getting back to the 100RS tho if it gets windy the choices I have are all 1M OTA's which will be "fun"

ya jinxed it being new and keen Sadly looks like the run of good weather has paused for breath so as ever its a case of fickle UK skies and see what you can when you can Same here tho, all cloud, pity as it'd have been something to distract while we lost power in the area. Didn't make an iota of difference to sky darkness of course even with several street lights off. Still, having UPS meant computer and TV still carried on regardless but looks like new battery required in the kitty smart-door as the boys were stuck outside till I left the door open for them. Hoping little hedgehog didn't sneak in under cover of darkness like he did once before