Mick H

Might have been a Meteorite, but does not explain the ground shaking does it?

I have WO Binoviewers with my NexStar 8se and love using them, I have the two William Optics 20mm SWAN Super Wide Angle 72° 1.25" Eyepiece that cane with the Binoviewer. Also a pair of 32mm Omni Plossl's which are great on double/globular clusters.

I find it very relaxing sitting down and viewing with both eyes, and view a target for longer than I would if mono viewing.

You might have a problem reaching focus using the William optics zenithstar z73 ii but the supplied 1.6x barlow would help I think.

Hopefully some with a refractor can help better than me.

I agree with others about viewing Messier's around full moon.

A good book to buy is Turn Left At Orion, which will give you seasonal targets.

This was taken from the online source.

One of my favourites is M13 in Hercules, but not visible until late spring I think.

I use a Telrad on my 8se and it is quite large, you might be better off with a Rigel Quick Finder on your 6" scope.

18 minutes ago, wulfrun said:

It's just as well JC wasn't born in the UK. Imagine "sorry chaps, we'll have to camp for a few months coz the cloud's rolled in and we can't see the star now" 🙂

Gabriel said (who was from Yorkshire)

"There's a babby boy been booarn toneet, a reight special babby, who's liggin in a manger, wrapped up in swaddling bands, ovver in tut Leeds. God's own lad, Saviour o' World, Christ the Lord, the Messiah.

4 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

But when you got there, did you  wash your socks by night ?

Sooooooory, I read that in a Tiny Clanger voice.

11 minutes ago, shropshire lad said:

I;m pretty sure I read that they dont know what time of year Jesus was born, but religious institutions decided that winter was free of events so went for December.

 

I think the religious institutions stole it off the Pagan's, as they would drink fast quantities of alcohol and eat food have fun be merry, and then start arguing.

Move on too the present time it's the same as the Pagan's. 

10 minutes ago, Moonshed said:

It’s always puzzled me how it’s possible to “follow” a star across a country and then have it lead you one specific dwelling that it stops directly over.

I once tried it and followed it across the country from Norfolk to Wales, I ended up in a field full of sheep.

Not impressed.

"Baa"

39 minutes ago, geoflewis said:

There is nothing fancy about this image,

Might not be fancy Geof, but lovely all the same.

Well Done.

2 hours ago, And_yB said:

Nice boat.  A hobby or a home ? 

Still not getting anywhere.... disconnected home cameras, Alexas, Sonos speakers, wifi plugs and bulbs... yet still  'unable to join Celestron - D8D' is popping up.  I'm assuming I have to make this connection first before to WLAN access?

Well I live on her, but she is still a hobby. (you can't say that to all girls). 😉

Just a thought how are you powering the scope? 

Maybe the SkyPortal is broken, did you buy it from new?

4 hours ago, And_yB said:

I have managed to install the SkyPortal on the Mac, but without being able to connect to the Wifi on the dongle I'm at a bit of a loss.

Do you mean SkySafari? As SkyPortal app is not a Mac os x application.

9 minutes ago, And_yB said:

I'm reading lot about extracting files.... did you have to that, or did it simply launch the installation when you did as you said above?

Yep just launched CFM.

Edit: I did not get that CFM Jar file could not be launched.

Try downloading CFM again.

9 minutes ago, And_yB said:

As an aside, nice boat by the way, is it yours?. Spent many a holiday on the Broads, and Canals of UK, and sailing different places.

Yes it is mine, she is a 1948 converted R.N Lifeboat.

26 minutes ago, And_yB said:

Also Mick, I note that you are using the Wifi dongle and SkyPort.  Was set up of the Dongle trouble free for you?  When I power up my wifi adapter and reach for it on my phone or other devices, when I see it which is rare, it simply says ' unable to connect '

It took me awhile to get it working, but I got there in the end and only used Access Point Mode (connecting to home network).

A lot of problems with Direct Access Mode is other networks interfering.

I take it you are trying to get it to work in Direct Access Mode with the switch on the side pointing up on SkyPortal, Then open the settings for the WiFi networks on your iPhone/iPad and connect to the WiFi (Celestron-###).

You cannot use Access Point Mode until you have used Direct Access Mode, don't ask. 😡

But Access Point Mode is better when you are at home (more stable).

Andy, you need to double click on CFM.jar file in the downloaded CFM folder, it will probably say cannot open jar file as it is from unauthorised developer.

Then you will need to go into System Preferences and select Security & Privacy, unlock as seen in pick then choose open anyway when asked. 

Hi Andy, I think you need Java installed to run CFM.

I got it running on my MacBook Pro.

Hi Wibblefish, I'm also living in Norfolk.

Hope you enjoy it here.

7 minutes ago, gstallichet said:

In market for a good quality, reasonably priced long focal length 1.25 eyepiece to increase fov and help locate and view large objects. Celestron makes a 32mm for @$45.00. Is it any good? Price seems too good to be true. What are good quality/price options?

Celestron 32mm Omni Plossl is a good choice for your scope, I have a pair which I use with WO Binoviewers.

I have had good views of DSO's using it in mono and Binoviewers.

12 minutes ago, Freddie1510 said:

NexImage range of cameras

I think the ZWO ASI224mc might be a better choice than the Neximage cameras.

Others might help better than myself.

2 hours ago, And_yB said:

Mick, are these programs that are paid for much better than the free one.  Do you use one with a Mac and if so which one.  I also note in the Celestron documentation that it is possible to update the software of the hand controller through this USB connection.  Is that also possible through these programs. 

Apologies for asking so many questions... I guess I'm being a bit lazy, and I should just read a lot more

The paid programs are very good, I use Safari Pro on the Mac but also have Stellarium.

To be honest I find myself using Stellarium more, if I were you I would start with Stellarium first before paying out.

You can update the hand control firmware by downloading CFM (Celestron Firmware Manger) here:

https://www.celestron.com/pages/drivers-and-software

Be very careful what you are doing, a good resource on how to is found here by Mike Swanson:

https://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsNEnds/HCFirmwareUpgradeHowToNexStarPlus.htm

Edit: And no need for apologies, we all have to start somewhere with Astronomy.

5 hours ago, And_yB said:

I would also like to understand more regarding how I can interface with my computer.  I regularly use Apple equipment... MAC, iPhone and iPad, so compatibility with this would be welcome, but early reading seems to suggest that most of the support is aimed towards PC based equipment and software.

Hi Andy and welcome.

You can use Stellarium program with your Mac and its free:

http://stellarium.org

You will have to configure Stellarium for your scope.

Once you have aligned, plug in usb cable from hand control to computer. Then use Stellarium to click on target and scope will slew to it.

Other programs at cost are SkySafari plus or Pro found on Apple Store.

Try unplugging camera and Skysync Module, then power up then power down and try again.

Would help to know what mount you are using. 

I don't even use a finder for solar, just look down the diagonal without eyepiece.

Sun is dead centre in the eyepiece when viewing.

Also the Baader Continuum filter at the eye piece must be used with the Solar filter.

1 hour ago, Joe beaumont said:

What types of filters do I need for my celestron nexstar 4se to be able to look at the sun through the eyepiece 

Thank you 

As others have said be very careful.

I use the Astrozap Solar Filter with my 8se:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/astrozap-baader-solar-filter.html

Also use a Baader Continuum Filter at the eyepiece end:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baader-solar-continuum-filter.html

Which gives a green view as seen in the pic.

I have never done a polar alignment with my 8se.

 I level the tripod then have scope in home position and point it south, then StarSense does its thing and targets are centred in the I piece.

Once aligned it then tracks, and the HC says sidereal in the menu.

A factory reset might work, or maybe try it without using Skyportal WiFi.

Maybe your OTA is not balanced or you need to do some backlash settings.

I placed an order for this on November 8th:

Orion Monster Mount & 25x100 Binocular Kit, but now not shipping until December 29th.

I now have my doubts it will be shipped on that date.🙁

23 minutes ago, lw2689 said:

Focusing with an eye piece in is really easy to achieve but near impossible when using the planetary camera

Sorry I did not realise your problem is with the camera, hopefully the astrophotographers can help.

55 minutes ago, lw2689 said:

Endless nights spent trying to focus and still nothing.

Hi Lou, I find with my 8se that you need to turn the focus knob very slowly, I use a clothes peg

Try it out during the day (if you haven't already) using your 25mm Plossl on a chimney pot or something else.

Maybe others can help more.