DaveL59
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Posts posted by DaveL59
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I came across an adaptor for Minolta AF lenses the other day so decided to hit the button:
Surprised how bright the image is in even poor daylight. No idea how it'll be at night but could be an interesting experiment. I've a couple long-ish lenses I can try at some stage, the minolta AF 100-300 & 400, Tamron 18-300 and 150-600mm tho these would be f6.7 at full zoom, also a Hoya M42 75-260 F4 and big Zeiss M42 180mm F2.8. Only the big tamron and the Zeiss have tripod mounts in-built but I do have a Manfrotto carrier that might be adaptable to assist the other zooms if needed.
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yep that's what I'd read also but ya never know. Good to see its finally happening tho, been a while since the original story about the launch a few months back. Was amusing hearing the angry astronaut waxing on about how massive the plane is etc, its a 747, been around for decades and there's much bigger these days, but I guess maybe not so often seen around Cornwall on a relatively small airstrip.
Having the folks viewing from so close to the stand was "interesting", not much the pilot could do to caution the blast from the engines as he maneuvered, but not as bad as a certain beach
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3 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:
I have a few mobile phone power banks, well a lot actually to power LED stick thingies and keep my phone working and a camping gas stove so all set 😀
Alan
ack I forgot to order some gas cans for the portable single ring cullman or whatever it is in the shed. Guess it'll be a case of wrap in foil, pop it under the bonnet and go for a drive to heat something up for dinner for me then 🤷♂️
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21 minutes ago, Mandy D said:
My generator has now gone into the garage to be serviced, so hopefully by the time the generator house is erected it will be ready. Just need to get some cables and a manual transfer switch installed. Maybe some chains and a big padlock would be a good idea, too! 😉
or an electrified fence 😉
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oops, malfunctioned on lift off and splashed into the sea
First Skyrora space launch ditches in the sea off Iceland - BBC News
@yuklop perhaps they could launch your section up for a short peek at a target 😉
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Reports are that DART did work and changed the path of the target
Nasa's Dart spacecraft 'changed path of asteroid' - BBC News
Now we just have to hope that if the big one heads our way that they spot it many years in advance so they can build and send something up to avert a collision...
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well the eagle has landed, or rather Cosmic Girl, this evening in Cornwall to prep for the launch next month. Still pending CAA clearance but I'm sure that''ll be a mere formality
Virgin jumbo arrives in Cornwall for UK space launch - BBC News
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That's interesting Ags, like most I also notice floaters esp when looking at bright areas like the sky in daytimes where I can see them, almost like gunk on a camera sensor. In fact that's what I thought I was seeing initially until I looked at some of the pics later on lol. I find with higher mag that I notice them more but I've not made any specific analysis on the types of scope and if they're more/less noticeable. Then again I don't have a MAK/SCT and can't say I'd noticed much difference between the fracs and newts I do have, will have to look more next time.
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24 minutes ago, Gfamily said:
It is possible that the need to re-focus is exacerbated for astronomical observations because the iris is wider at when you are making nighttime observations compared to your iris size when birding during the day.
Have you tried using the Travelscope at night, to see if the 'no need to refocus' applies there as well?
It is also possible that for some reason when you use the Travelscope for birding, you are automatically putting the final image at a virtual position that is within the accommodation distance for your uncorrected vision.
that was my thoughts also, in brighter light your pupil will close and as with a camera that'll increase the depth of field of you eye. Hence you may find more accommodation when daytime viewing. If you used the scope on the moon which is quite bright then again your pupils will close a little and you may find no need to adjust focus but on the planets/stars you may need to adjust.
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Will be interesting to hear the plans, attaching a booster or giving it a bump would at least delay the inevitable drop into atmosphere, but if they can also swap out the failed gyros that'd really give it a good working extension. Let's hope he can afford it now he's pretty much forced into buying that social media platform.
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I got some from Amazon that I've used, As an example:
Used it in the focus drawtube on the LT70 to improve the operation and elsewhere. You may be able to get thinner if that's what you need, also try an electronics supplier, perhaps.
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also worth mentioning, do not spray cleaner onto the lens directly, esp the eyepiece end else the liquid can and will find its way around the edge and onto the elements below, carrying potential detritus with it. Then you'll be looking at the fun job of dismantling to clean things up properly. Always best to blow debris away then apply the cleaning fluid to a cloth but don't saturate it and then wipe gently over the glass.
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23 minutes ago, DaveS said:
Too many artsy types in the meeja, probably gave up science before GCSE.
Check out the broadcast channels, chock full of worthless Drama, Stupid people being stupid while screaming threats at each other and committing GBH. Or is that just "Eastenders"?
not to mention the seemingly endless run of 'reality' and 'talent' shows like that's the only idea any of the channel controllers have re what the public want to watch. Leads to a generation of skoolies who's ambition isn't to achieve something worthwhile but to be 'famous' on some such show.
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wow so little info coming in on this one but it seems a window opens from 29-Oct so we could see some mainstream news interest later this month. Or not as mostly seems the case lately, not making a big enough splash, or is that explosion...
Spaceport Cornwall expecting first launch within weeks - Cornwall Live
I suppose a big 747 with a rocket on its wing isn't all that exciting huh 😞
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A jump starter does have the bonus of being able to serve double duty should you ever need to boost start the car tho 😉
Also the LiPo type are compact and lightweight compared to the big heavy lead battery type and don't suffer volt droop as lead does as capacity is used up, not to mention you can use far more of the rated capacity where lead batteries are pretty much done at 50%. If you do go for a lead battery, bear in mind that if you don't keep them topped up then lead batteries are toast in no time and you'd need to replace the internal battery. Never leave a lead battery that's flat, but likewise if storing the LiPo type, best to leave them at say 40-60% than fully charged.
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Ahh depends on the pack, mine came with it included
tho you can buy them separately
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For sure, I figure with these things being so sensitive it'd be better to protect than to risk even a very brief over-volt. I did also place a fuse in the line, I'd posted in another thread about power supplies ages back as I got this sometime in 2019 IIRC.
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be worth saying what you hope to drive with it and for how long so folks have an idea of the loading you'd be pulling.
I have a LiPo brick I got off Amazon when they were doing a discount deal and that seems OK. 12v ciggy socket that plugs in using a 2-pin connector that seems fairly standard on these sort of units. Yaber branded. Only thing I noted was it puts out 16v no-load when charged so I use a 12v 5A buck converter in-line to limit the voltage to the EQ5 synscan system for which the manual recommends 15v max. I don't run dew heaters or other stuff off it tho since I don't use those.
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8 minutes ago, malc-c said:
I agree.. But sadly that's the way things are going... Synta would much rather you buy a new handset than a $20 spare part.
yeah I think for most manufacturers is that they don't want to end up being stuck with the user support rabbit hole when supplying replacement parts, can understand that in many ways too. User breaks the part they've been sent and wants a free replacement etc, happens with car parts too tho typically those buying them have a reasonable idea of what they're doing. Not suggesting that's not the case here btw, but I've seen many not follow ESD precautions when touching electronics and then blame the part they were fitting for either not working or destroying the main board,
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3 hours ago, Astro_Dad said:
It’s a good question @Giles_B . Noting there hasn’t been a response on this since you posted I thought I’d contact Celestron directly to get their “official” advice.
Celestron have confirmed that the mirror doesn’t have the optical fidelity of a secondary mirror as we assumed, but noted that it should not be scratched! They suggest treating it as you would a good camera lens - blow off any dust with a “canned air” blower, use a lens brush and if smudged apply an alcohol cleaner with soft lint-free cloth.
makes me happy I went with a prism in my adapted setup, no issues f it needs to be popped out for a clean down the road. I'd have thought that with care and not immersing the entire cradle you could use water and detergent applied with a cotton swap. If it is a first surface mirror with no coatings then wouldn't alcohol potentially start to strip the surface silvering over time?
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You'll also find that the supplied eyepieces aren't all that good, I have the same scope bought as it was offered for £10 and never used. A couple of reasonable Plossl's will do much better but you're always going to struggle to track as it doesn't move well on its mountings. I flocked the inside of the OTA and did some tweaks to the focuser but there's a limit to how much you can improve these, you can't collimate well as the primary mirror isn't adjustable, for example. Still, as a starter it works and if you reach a stage you want something better give a shout here for some advice 😉
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Now this would be great if they can pull it off
Nasa, SpaceX study Hubble telescope re-boost mission - BBC News
Getting hubble back to a higher orbit and maybe patched up so it can last another 20-30 years given how well it has already done. Would be a bit more of a challenge tho compared to shuttle days.
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Nikon is usually very good glass and pretty well regarded. Wonder if @BinocularSky is around to comment as it is one he recommends IIRC and that model has been suggested on other threads so you're pretty safe I'd think.
Virgin's Cosmic Girl on its way over to Cornwall for Sept satellite launch
in The Astro Lounge
Posted
The report on the rocket section arriving below
Virgin Orbit rocket arrives for first space launch from UK - BBC News