Dean Hale

40 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

That's a lovely looking mount and quite an upgrade... enjoy 😀

Thank you. It feels solid. Would like to upgrade the saddle when back in stock but pleased. Really Don't get the controller (hopefully in time) like a throwback to the 80s. Classic Casio feeling.

Just now, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

+1 for the orange box. 😁

Got the idea from you from a post you added that I can no longer find. Cheers.

A new toy. I had the AZ-GTI and really enjoyed it but needed something which could hold slightly more payload. So a iOptron CEM26 mount and an orange box for the electrics to help with my health and safety when outside. Now on the hunt for a cr2032 battery for the controller.

A Buckeyestargazer ASIAir Pro/Plus Tripod leg bracket and a Lynx Astro cable for the AZ-GTI both from FLO.

1 hour ago, Ian Cass said:

Same here but I got it working. Seems there's an issue with location access. You need to either remove/reinstall the app or go into your Android settings & remove location access permissions for the Synscan app. You then need to start the Synscan app & go to settings/location and manually set your location. It's a pain but then it'll work ok.

That is good to know. Thank you

Just like when you point out a shape in the clouds to the kids. Googled it and learnt a new word Pareidolia. 

18 hours ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Finally to finish, M34. I think this was framed nicely in my Altair Flat Field 9mm. This looks to me like a footballer who's just wellied a ball?

 

I also thought that too when processing some mediocre images from last night. Something like this a la Cave painting style @ScouseSpaceCadet? Or was the ball elsewhere? Could be a game of spot the ball coming on. Glad you had a good night and a few for me to try from your list.

Casually browsing astronomy retailers and noticed the Asiair Plus is in stock at 365astronomy. Ordered yesterday afternoon at 2pm arrived today. Excellent service.

4 hours ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

My partner looked quite disturbed when I told her I was looking forward to Cox on Wednesday. Heaven knows why.

I've not long finished Universal: A Journey Through the Cosmos. Not being particularly great at maths and theoretical physics I needed a pencil and paper for some of the chapters! Dean that book looks a bit less technical?

 

Much more of a lighter read (not a slight) I guess to appeal to a wider audience - Although I'm sure something of interest within and something new to learn. I shall steal the Cox line very witty. 🙂

The Universe. Quite image heavy (but some striking ones within). If not aware the new series starts on the BBC this Wednesday.

On 28/05/2021 at 13:24, Stardaze said:

I’ve been ‘inspired’ by @faulksycamera bag idea. Looks to be perfect, now that I’ve added two new recent EP’s. Really only thinking of a couple of filters now this year and possibly an APM UFF 30 to add.

Me too, a £20 bargain. Never felt quite right stuffing items into my pockets. Wide enough to carry a 10" tablet too.

Amazon basics large camera bag. Good value for £20. To hold some other buys. Another Amazon purchase - A5 light pad. Samsung T7 1TB SSD drive to store my mediocre attempts at astrophotography, Optolong L-Pro filter and lucky for some a 13mm Tele Vue Nagler with thanks to @callisto.

Forgot about these. APM flat fields. Next on my list and reasonable prices and very good reviews

https://astrograph.net/epages/www_astrograph_net.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/www_astrograph_net/Categories/Shop/Eyepieces__Accessories/Binocular_Eyepieces

16 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

If you are thinking  just of a long focal length 'scope , and in 1.25" barrel, then had you considered the Celestron Luminos range ? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-eyepieces/celestron-luminos-eyepieces.html

I'd not read much reference to them, and only noticed when amazon suggested them to me ( with an instalment plan ! ) . I spent an evening searching out reviews , which in the end came down to 'nice in a long focal length mak , edge brightening on the 2" barrel ones, unfashionably large, a bit cheaper than ES . Not something I'll be buying, as it needs to work in the f5 dob as well as the mak. , but interesting.

I also got the same offer from Amazon in June. A good price at £105 (seems to fluctuate between £100 - £140) for the 15mm so went ahead and purchased. They are massive but the sliding action of the retractable eyecup is a delight. I find it rather good and haven't sold it on. Yes some edge brightness if viewing the moon but for the price i'm happy.

1 minute ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

a really good point about EPs that are better for longer focal length scopes and vice versa

at the limit of my knowledge now. I'll let the experts chip in. 🙂
 

6 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Thats an interesting thought , Dean ... i suppose my Mak would be ok with the hyperion . 

 

Should be. Some recent comments here. For my use it's fine and extremely well built and adaptable - although i've never taken advantage of this.

As you probably know FLO offer a discount on the BST's  when you purchase more than 1.

Hi Stu

Views from another amateur. I have the 17mm Hyperion. It's nice, although i view F8 and above and most reviews are not favourable towards the Hyperion's for fast scopes. It's heavy too at around 400 grams.

I don't wear glasses and do like my eyeballs pressed up as close as can be nor do i mind the limited field of view some eyepieces have - in some case i prefer this. I really like the Televue plossls - stupidly sold the set and probably will purchase again.  The 10mm and 18mm Baader Classics are superb and only £50. A little wider fov are the BST's. I also have the StellaMira 25mm - £89 and to my eyes - mighty fine. All seem to be in demand so you can sell on if needs be without considerable loss.

I have the 17.5mm morpheus and it's stupendous.

I'm loathe to shell out £300+ on an eyepiece without trying first and there are some excellent bargains in the Ad section. I've just picked up an excellent condition 13mm Tele Vue Nagler for a brilliant price. 
 

Don't update to android 12. It's completely kaput. Hopefully an update soon.

My word i struggled with this. Then again i've only just managed to start get decent results processing the moon. A nice way to spend several hours away from work.

Uploaded the .fits into Affinity Photo added recolour exported as .tif. Loaded the .tif into Siril and ran colour photometric colour calibration (really struggled to get any blue), ran histogram and a little play in Photoshop.

4 minutes ago, PeterCPC said:

You are on the slippery AP slope now. How are you getting focus?

I manually turn the focuser knob and judge it by eye which clearly is not working.

I guess i should try a bahtinov mask or something. Slippery slope indeed. I'm glad i got something to show for not too much expense - hoping i can push it a little more. I'm realistic and know at some point - probably as soon as next week i'll have to start and upgrade.  

Some very good images on this forum from beginners. I have some way to go.

These were taken over the past few nights between 4am and 6am over a streetlight. All are around 50x10 second exposures on an AZ-GTI mount, Bresser 102xs/460 and ZWO 485MC. Stacked in ASILIVE on a mac. Sloppy stars and mostly unnatural colour - i'll figure it out. Used Siril and Photoshop to try and get something resembling what is actually up there.

M45, M31, M42 and IC4576 Graff's Cluster

Any tips appreciated - and if not aghast happy to attach the .fits files if it helps.

I maybe one of the lucky ones. I emailed Monday and received a reply within the hour. Ordered and arrived the following day. Sure you have checked, but has it gone into the junk folder?

A perfect Takahashi Abbe Orthoscopic 12.5mm eyepiece courtesy of @callisto and i thought i'd try a Triband filter.

Looking at filter wheels on amazon and noticed this beauty with a free fog filter. Will it also see through clouds?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Format-Compartments-Several-Filters-Telescopes/dp/B08D6LQRFT/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=1.25+filter+wheel&qid=1632844687&sr=8-5

Thank you @WestCoastCannuck and @neil phillips. I applied the colour balance in Registax and seems much less jarring now. Still not quite right but i'll learn. Thanks again.