Dean Hale

Hello

Another test. I'm liking this phone.

The Orion Nebula. Do let me know if it isn't! There is a lot to look at and just a beginner.

The picture used the Pixel 5 astrophotography mode and was a 4 minute exposure. The only adjustment i have made is using the Blackpoint on the available phone photo tools.

I've added a video i recorded too so you can see the difference.

5:40am
Pixel 5
Bresser ar102/460xs
Televue Plossl 25mm

Thanks

Quick gap in the clouds last night and my first ever attempt at taking a photo and a recording. 
I'm quite pleased with this, looking forward to actually being outside to take a few photos to see the difference.

Pixel 5
Bresser 100/1400 Mak
Televue 25mm Plossl
Basic Smartphone adaptor

Yet another Hex key. 
A wood tray to store my eyepieces and odds and ends.
And thanks to @johninderbyfor the Bresser Mak 100/1400 and adaptor. 

28 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

Expensive road indeed. I won’t go there. Almost as expensive as collecting TV eyepieces 🤣 (I’m guilty of this too). 

I know, maybe a Delite at some point as the next step up. However I must use what I have and do them justice as they are more than adequate. No doubt one will appear to tonight in the SGL 'Book of dreams' wanted forum.

Two items from FLO - Televue 15mm Plossl to complete the set and a Baader 2" to 1.25 adaptor to replace the stock one supplied with the Bresser 102.

Annual phone upgrade time - so ditched the iPhone and went back to Android plus the Pixel apparently has a astrophotography mode and i'd like to try taking the odd photo of what i can see. Keeping well away from dedicated cameras as it seems that can be a very expensive road to go down.

Finally eyepatch v2.0 using a bit of electrician tape which will hopefully stop me scrunching my right eye.

A 1.5mm Wera Hex key to tighten the 4 screws on the diagonal as the eyepiece holder was starting to rattle.
£3.04 the least i've spent in a long time.

Surprised FLO don't sell something similar unless i'm looking in the wrong place. I'm starting to build up the set to replace the dozen or so IKEA keys i have.

I like the TVs they go well with the baaders. Some bought from here on the for sale page. Would love to try other eyepieces such as the OVL etc without breaking the bank. Hopefully soon when the societies start back up. 

2 hours ago, Rob said:

@Dean HaleGlad you have this fixed. I had (and still have an issue). I bought the 1:10 upgrade and it kinda works when it wants too. I now have that stuck on there due to the grub looking similar to yours.. I know what needs to be done, which is further grease needs to be applied in the 1:10 knob itself, but it also has a rounded grub in the black 1:10 knob, so I can't remove it!.. needless to say I've just ordered some allen drivers. 

I have had the focuser out expose the shaft (like you had done). Did you note the bearings that hold the shaft?.. I'm wondering if they will tap out?.. I want to remove the shaft fully to work with it on the bench. did you notice if this so?.

Thanks Rob

Hi Rob, Sorry i can't recall and couldn't advise on the bearing and tapping out. Hopefully the Grub screw is the issue that as been mentioned. Good luck.

Four items for me the past few weeks during Lockdownmas. 8mm and 25mm Televue plossl and today the Berlebach caster mount and a dual camera adapter as in this thread for a push to.

The eyepieces and mount items were sold by members of Stargazers lounge via the for sale section and must say everything arrives promptly, extremely well packaged and it shows how much care you lot have for items you use and eventually sell on. 

Must add some pics. Maybe not the ideal telescopes for the mount- however seems to be balanced very well. However one step at a time.

38 minutes ago, Hadoram said:

10mm Baader classic ortho is a great eyepiece for Skymax 127. It's great on the Moon, double stars and planets. Planets are a little small of course, but good for the money.

Agree with the baader recommendation. I have the 10mm and 18mm and I much prefer these to the BST’s and passed them on to someone who could appreciate them. Don’t know why, maybe I have dodgy eyes but they do the job for me.

Finally fixed.
Bresser customer services were excellent - free postage for the repair and it actually looks like they replaced the whole unit in addition to adding the 1:10 focuser. Silky smooth. Unfortunately Will be a few days though until any clear skies are forecast here.

Tried the new hex keys and no luck. One suggestion (not here) recommended removing the 4 bolts holding the barrel to the focuser  so I could get a better grip and seeing the bodge job when removed I emailed bresser for advice and they kindly offered to repair the focuser and install the gear set for free. Which is good news and great service. So hopefully a week or two and all will be well.

Does make me think though. I started this in March during lockdown with a skywatcher 130ps and umpteen purchases later - new mount, additional scope, several eyepieces and bits and bobs (I dare not add up how much). I was too tight to spend £20 on a set of Allen keys. 

Thanks all for the advice. I’ve ordered some wera keys. Hopefully these will work. 

21 minutes ago, MarkAR said:

Could be the hex key is a fraction undersize. Doesn't take much on the smaller sizes to be useless.

Hi I think you maybe right. Amazon seem to have lots of better quality hex keys for a few pounds. Will give that a go. Thank you

Hello

I've just purchased the Bresser Messier 1:10 Gear-set for Hex-Focuser (you can see this below) and i'm having major trouble trying to remove the knob using the supplied hex key. It just won't get a grip. I've attached a couple of poor quality photos (cannot get the camera to focus very well) in case anyone has one of these and has any tips on how to get the little devil out. 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-1-10-gear-set-for-hex-focuser.html

many thanks

16 hours ago, iPeace said:

Would like to read how you get on with this in due course.

Will add a review once the clouds lift probably around November at this rate.

16 hours ago, johninderby said:

The only problem with the Svbony finder is that I have read that it has to be used straight though only as it won’t come to focus with a diagonal. Are you going to try a diagonal? 🤔

Hi just had a quick try between golf and the pub and no luck with the diagonal.

2 new items to added to the scope i purchased a couple of weeks ago.
Replaced the plastic items with a StellaMira diagonal from FLO and thought i'd give the SVBony SV165 finder scope a try £50 from amazon. Looks the part. Cannot be any worse than what it replaced.

19 minutes ago, Alan White said:

That scope must be defective, no clouds, really?
Please take a close look in the lower section of the box will you, no scope comes without clouds  😉

Nice portable scope, enjoy and good luck with the clear sky.

Thank you looking forward to giving it a try. Checked definitely no clouds within the 40mph winds have scared them off.

Just started this hobby during lockdown and have a Skywatcher 130ps and thought i'd take a punt on a cheapish refractor when travelling. Pleasantly surprised it seems a solid unit. Plus clear skies tonight for a change.

Thank you. I loosened the screws ever so slightly (Hope I understood what you meant) The ones next to the spirit level in the image and now when I turn both of the screws  together the base now moves. 
 

I’ll be glad when this is over and I can join a society for some tips. I need them.

Thanks for the advice. I'll give that a try

Hi All

I've been reading this forum the past couple of weeks and have learnt so much around refractors, reflectors, eyepieces etc (thanks all)- however i ignored the advice to purchase a Dob and went for below

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az-eq-avant/sky-watcher-explorer-130ps-az-eq-avant.html

For a complete beginner it's fascinating what can be seen with it, so more than happy. 

I'm getting to grips with the mount and probably me being thick however i have one question - do you know what this knob is for in the attached image. In the basic instructions it says 'horizontal adjustment knob', however if i turn it nothing happens - it just unscrews? There is another on the opposite site, again exactly the same.

Many thanks