CraigB86

I’m an idiot. I was trying to gain focus by turning only the base of the lens & didn’t realise the end could be turned for more precise focus! 🤪

just need to wait for another cloud free night so I can try again!

thanks to everyone for your advice!

I’ve looked for that (or something similar) but can’t find it anywhere on my lenses unfortunately!

Thanks both. I’ve not got an infinity setting on either of my lenses. I’ll have a look at a Bahtinov mask and I think I’ll also try autofocusing on something far away to get focus then switching back to manual before I shoot. 
 

fingers crossed!

Hi all.

I recently invested in a star adventurer and finally had clear skies tonight to try and get some imaging done. Or at least that was the plan! I couldn’t gain focus at all. I tried everything (I think). Used live view, manual focus. I tried using two different lenses - the stock 18-55 lens and 75-300 lens. It almost seemed as if when I was trying to zoom out to gain focus the lenses reached their limit before focus could be attained. 
 

im using a canon eos4000d with stock lenses. I’ve attached images of what the live view was showing when trying to focus on Vega and my results when shooting.
 

many thanks!

On 21/03/2020 at 11:36, Waldemar said:

There should even be three tiny grub screws to fasten that ring which purpose is to get the right camera angle...

With a picture, things would be a lot clearer, though.

That sorted it, thank you!!

I have been trying to attach my DSLR to my telescope via a T-Ring. The T-Ring appears to be made up of a wider ring which clips into the camera and an inner ring which screws into the telescope focuser. 
 

The problem I’ve found is that the inner ring just spins with absolutely no resistance, so when I attach it to the telescope, the camera swings with the adapter. The inner ring also has a bad habit of falling out of the outer ring, risking the camera falling to the floor and suffering damage! 
 
Am I doing something wrong? Have I been unlucky enough to buy a faulty T-Ring? Thanks for your help!

Nice clear night for it tonight, get out there and look for the double cluster.. absolutely incredible! 😮

Thank you both; good suggestions! I guess it will be a case of trial and error and see which works best! 

Morning all,

I recently upgraded the stock finderscope on my skyliner 150p dob to a 9x50 right angle finderscope. 
 

the problem is when I tighten the screw to secure the finderscope, the attachment doesn’t feel as secure and the scope easily slips out of the attachment.

am I doing something wrong or are there any tips for improving the attachment?

thanks in advance! 

Welcome from England! Not sure whether you can mention them on here... the name sounds like a bad omen!

Another vote for turn left at Orion. I also bought David Chandler’s planisphere to accompany it. It’s been a huge help as a beginner.

Welcome from Durham! Clear skies!

Seeing your first planet is so motivating. I couldn’t believe how amazing it was to see Jupiter for the first time.
 

If you haven’t already, check out the Orion Nebula. That was even better than seeing my first planet!

clear skies!

Welcome! I absolutely love Barcelona. I’ve spent many great nights at Harlem Jazz Club!!

Welcome! Clear skies!

Welcome from a Durham newbie! 
 

Welcome. Good luck with choosing your first telescope, though I can certainly vouch for the advice given by this community when my wife was choosing my first scope!

Welcome. Those images are incredible!!

Thank you all! 🙂

Thank you both! I can’t pretend it was my first attempt though... more like 100th! 😄

Hello, about a year ago my wife visited this forum looking for advice about what telescope would be a good starter for me as a wedding present. As a result I am the proud owner of a skywatcher 150p dobsonian, so thank you all so much for the advice you gave her!

I’m still learning my way around the night sky and how to use the telescope. I’m also getting to grips with astrophotography. I have some very blurry images of the Orion Nebula! 
 

I will no doubt be hassling you all for advice from here on out, so apologies in advance!

Anyway, here is a photo I’ve taken with my DSLR through my telescope of the Orion Nebula. I clearly have a long way to go!