Dark Vader

+1 for the RACI finder. Next most useful after a copy of Turn left at Orion, is one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Protractor-Waterproof-Backlight-Inclinometer-Magnetic/dp/B07PNHFMD7/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?c=ts&keywords=Inclinometers&qid=1643038049&s=diy&sr=1-10&ts_id=1939096031

Best thing to do IMHO is take it outside and practice setting it up and adjusting in daylight.

Couldn't resist the power of the dark side...

If you can't find a replacement cover, as a workaround try a collimation cap and put some tape over the hole. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/rigel-aline-collimation-cap.html Edit: a quick google came up with this: https://www.nipon-scope.com/lens-caps-covers/31.5mm-lens-cap-cover-for-telescopes-binoculars-monocular-and-eyepieces-b-31.5x8mm-b-.-plastic

I went for the Baader Hyperion IV zoom with matching 2.25x Barlow. Not cheap, but very good. Focal length goes 24-8mm, barlowed it goes 10.6-3.5mm. Probably my most used eyepiece until recently.

My first upgrade was the BST Starguiders. I got the 25, 15, & 5mm. I found the 25 is just better than the stock EPs but the 60° fov makes a difference. The 5 gave me some nice views of Mars at last opposition, and I'd concur the 15 is very good, to a point where I'd barlow that one over using the Hyperion IV zoom at 8mm.

I ordered the SW RACI at the same time as the scope. Money well spent - your neck and back will appreciate it.

Just a quick session for me last night once the moon had got to a decent altitude. Cooled the Dob for 30 mins, Pentax XW20, NeXYZ mount, bluetooth shutter release, Samsung A6 1/250 sec ISO 64. ND09 filter. Processed in Snapseed.

A nice bit of green and black...

I went out earlier just before 5pm to practice setting up the phone mount in daylight. For some reason it's been awkward to do in the dark recently. Got a few single shots off with the bluetooth shutter release. 200P, Samsung A6, Snapseed etc.

Yes, it will cause the focusing issue you describe. If you take the 2" one out and just use the top one like in my pic, then set up your finderscope accurately, you should be pretty much sorted. Set it during the day as Kon has described using a distant tv aerial or electricity pylon, then fine tune it at night using Polaris. That one hardly moves at all, so you can also star test your collimation afterwards.

Hi Craig, have you used both the 2" and 1.25" eyepiece adapters? Focusser should look like this for 1.25" eyepieces:

Snapseed is very good. Definitely my most used now.

I'd say you were off to a flying start with those. 2nd one in particular is excellent. With a phone mount and remote shutter control? Any processing?

Managed one last night. What do we think, Rabbit, Llama, Gert Big Snail with a pint, or just an opinion on security lighting? 😂

I managed to grab a quick session with the moon earlier. Was a bit windy but got off a few single shots handheld through the the SW 200P, Pentax XW20, with the Samsung A6. 1/125sec, ISO64. Quick process in Snapseed.

Thanks SSC, sounds good - it'll need to be easy if I'm to do it 😁

Gonna have to get busy with the blackout material... 😄

Good eye, Sir. Nearly - XW10 😄

This is the main source of my lack of dark adaptation. Generally comes on at least 6 or 7 times before midnight. His mate over the road had one for Christmas so there's now 3 of the things, a constantly lit conservatory and garden, and 2 trees in my Southerly view. I think a friendly word may be in order. I thought about doing some Shadow puppetry for a giggle but needed a hand to hold my phone camera... that could be a future SGL challenge - insecurity light shadow puppetry.

Thanks, mine is pretty basic and an upgrade is long overdue. Best start researching... My current limit is 1/10 sec @ ISO 1600 - shouldn't be hard to beat 😁 it will do starfield shots but need to process the life out of them. Taken by the scientific method of setting the longest possible exposure above, set the shutter timer, and drop the phone on a patio table before it goes off 😄. Then slide the curves top slider in Snapseed to the left until the stars appear.

^^^ What he said. I'd love to get something like that, but my phone camera won't do 1 sec let alone 21 😄

That one will be behind next doors trees for another hour yet. Been out 4 hours & getting very cold now... lightweight!! 🥶

Doesn't it ever...I've unpacked the XWs tonight and M42 is astonishingly good. Trapezium E&F faint but very steady.

I had an old set of Japanese Mirador 7x50 binoculars in the garage covered in layers of dust. For some reason I picked them up, cleaned off the muck under the garden tap (I knew no better then 😬), dried them with a paper towel... it was dark by then so I pointed them at the moon and that, as they say, was that. Totally got away with the running water thing... Started researching binoculars and the night sky, found this forum, researched a bit more, got some Olympus DPS1 10x50 and Celestron 15x70. Spent a year or so binocular observing then a neighbour announced his trees were coming down, opening up a lot of previously obstructed sky, making it worthwhile getting a scope. Went for the SW 200P Dobsonian as a starter scope and have not regretted it for a moment.