Stephenstargazer

passenger-lithium-battery.pdf No it's not a joke.

OK, now that my understanding is better thanks to @StevieDvd and @Astrowl I shall make some comment for @Astrowl . Please correct any misunderstandings! I have AZ and EQ mounts that track and go to sufficient for EAA. I am used to finding objects, or their location, even if hard to see. I would personally not benefit from plate solving or polar or telescope control, but want a focus aid . My main goal is to have better LiveViewing in deteriorating skies, without much in the way of connections. Portability and simplicity is very important to me, the less bits to join up or understand the better.🙂 If I need a mobile device for control , than the 4" screen has limitted value. Except for starting up (?) I would prefer to view on a bigger tablet provided that is reasonably fast to refresh. In fact for axial scopes (non Newtonian) the 4" screen position may be just too awkward. ( Note - I use a flip mirror for analogue video EAA, with a wider eyepiece on the diagonal for finding and centering., so the camera remains in the axial direction. Unless I use an expensive turret!) If I buy say, an ASiair device I am getting, for me, redundant features and display data, but with a wider choice of cameras. All at a cost. My battery power for the mounts has USB outlets so even the power distribution is unneccesary. I have absolutely no ambition to proper astro photography, but snaps are nice. So an ASiair is overkill. I have an aversion to lap tops by the scope, they just get in the way. So my ideal is a modern sensitive low noise CMOS camera with simplified controls (at least as an option), live stacking, rotation and built in (reliable) wifi to control and view on a mobile device of my choice. Which I can then hold or mount where it suits me. For me the less involvement with software the better, and the biggest image possible (full screen?) on my screen please, for sharing. Seems to me the Astrowl is headed about where I want to be ? Must check what my fovs will be with IIMX 462, and various focal reducers, or extenders, in my scopes. PS I have looked at the Evascope et al, but I have enough conventional kit already and believe different scopes are needed for different jobs.

Can see power wire now. USB power can be quite small. I said IT numpty, so what device needed to provide a web interface?

Congratulations! Just the kind of self contained EAA that could reach a big market, but having a small one is very good. Is the power source an internal rechargeable? No wires is so attractive. I have a Watec and video monitor but it still needs wires. May pm you about one, but I am rather IT unexpert. Is it simple?

I have taken 2 different scopes to NZ via varoius stop overs, so security checks in UK, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia as well as NZ. In each case the hand luggage was picked off by scan for opening. Once shown that it was a telescope and eyepieces it was waved through wthout issue. They are used to recognising camera kits and binoculars. It's not the airlines but the airport security who will check. Be prepared to turn on any electronic device and check what battery types can be carried either in hold or hand luggage. BTW a ZS66 was liked, but the Questar got a 'wow ' from security !

Especially the Met Office cloud cover map 😵‍ Which has now correctly forecast arrival of the grey plague here 😭. Game over for me, best for others.

Thanks for reminder, hope the high cloud gives us a chance here 🤞🏾 So rare to get multiple events at a comfortable time, with a planet at such a good altitude. Consulted 3 forecasts and seems possible will have broken cloud, but unstable. I'll give it a try 🤔

East Midlands: Clear for nearly whole eclipse but had to shift position, due to trees. Watched through wedge and 60mm scope. Set up outside the garden and view was shared with 2 neighbours and 5 walkers on the public footpath. Timed at 10.06 - 11.50am. 4 sunspot groups. Good show 🙂

I looked at the maps of cloud too today, and reckon it is quite useful for a local and regional overview. Usual caveat about timing applies. I use android app. May be less happy about rain radar as that has been my golf risk assesor!

Is that adjustable when changining eye pieces? Or say putting on a binoviewer?

Good news! But what was the fix?

The short handle is 220mm, the long ones are 350mm. However the lengths the weight can slide on are 140mm and 220mm, See Rowan website for pictures. They come with different brackets, to suit the 100/75 clamps, but am sure that Rowan will sell either combination if you request by e-mail. They are very helpful like this in my experience ! For information: the weight is 55mm long, so on the short handle it can move 140-55 = 85mm.

There are so many shapes and sizes of these RUB boxes that there is almost always one to store astro stuff

Sorry that you are having this problem, those damping times are what makes smaller mounts a pain to use. I'll put my thinking hat back on (and sure others will). It sounds like a resonance issue , but you have tried so many arrangements that they should not all do it. Do you have a different scope (or borrow one) to try as a baseline?

New parts arrived: short (AZ 75) Vixen clamp, with short handle + bracket, eyepiece weight. I wanted the short clamp so I can get the mounting bar/scope further forward for balance.I have put my existing long handle on the front of the clamp sloping downwards. The bracket fits and adjusts in various positions from horizontal. The weight slides nicely whilst holding the handle to feel the balance 🙂. The slope and low position adds vertical correction to balance 🙂. The short handle for panning is fitted on the opposite side of the mount (to keep it out the way) and fits underneath the counterbalance bar plate (requires some spacers). This slopes up slighly as I prefer. (Could also be done with another saddle, or fitted scope side, of course). My scopes gets to zenith, a bit tight on tripod, no issue on pier. All in all I reckon this will assist balance for both refractor and catadioptric configurations including focal extenders, bino viewers, eye piece turret and eyepiece changes. Rain prevents outdoor test today, let alone in the dark on the sky..😓

Observations: the legs are spread wider than normal, the riser wiil not help. I am sure the grips at the top of the legs are tight. Have you checked that the thread on the tripod hand knob is engaging fully with the thread on the mount base/riser? Should be 10 - 12 mm. (Mine was short).

I have one coming and intend to front mount. Will post pics when sorted how I like it. Have put a post below now.......

Good question! I have no experience with those loads but once you add all your peripherals you will be approaching the recommended 20 kg. Try searching this topic only with say ^ C 11^ and see what comes up? Welcome and good luck. Even rocks are not completely solid 🙂

Well you should consider the alternative of not getting old! That's no fun at all 😄

I got a cheap 12v drier at a truck stop. Pretty feeble gentle warmth and ~3A, doubt it would dry hair or crack anything. For eyepieces I find a big rubber air puffer (camera shop) works just as well though if they steam up when I come inside.

To do that with any accuracy you may need diamond core drills and then set the bolts with resin. Depends on the hardness of the aggregate in the concrete, which is what you will drill through. (Based on professional experience - it can be worth using a specialist contractor with the right gear. Or hiring it.) You might though get a cheap vertical impeller from a rotating chimney cowl??

Excellent job! Hope the beagle likes his own lampost - but not too much!!!😁 Very jealous of your sky and skyline too. Someone mentioned power - tractor battery and 12v wind generator? The AA/RAC roadside phone huts used to do that (with a fan belt and dynamo) and it fits the low cost approach ? Vetical shaft impeller and an alternator ??

Surely you have explained the FoV per Kilogram relationship? (Can anyone really understand the minds of eyepiece designers?)

i had a 90mm doublet of theirs (TS branded) which was optically excellent. The eyepiece specification seems similar to LVW. Will be interested to hear any comparison.

Is the Stella Lyra LER WA possibly a poor mans LVW ??🤫 I have had LVW 5, 13 for ages, will not part but went TV later. Also NLVW 30, which is quite different but OK for one not used much. Strange focus position, will get data*. Are any LVW really parfocal ? One thing that TV do well. *Focus position on NLVW 30: the starting point was an eyepiece with a known focal plane (eg 1 1/4" Televue on which the field stop is 1/4 " 6.3mm below the body). from this the LVW focal planes were measured to be: LVW 5 - 8mm below, LVW 13 - 15mm below, NLVW 30 - 16 mm above the body joint with barrel. (I measured these some time back) That is the NLVW 30 will require 31mm more infocus travel than say the LVW 13. Given that a 2" mirror diagonal will already have a long optical length, it's no wonder that some scopes may not come to focus with the NLVW 30. (But mine all do 🙂!!)