Dean Hale

Quite rare for me to stumble across a bargain. £43 from amazon warehouse. A couple of very small marks on the side. No doubt i shall shortly add my own when clambering around in the dark.

In no particular order. I only started this when the pubs shut so everything was unplanned. I may at the time have spent the odd pound or two in the pub so had a little spare cash.

Baader Classic Q 2.25x Barlow
Baader Morpheus eyepieces
Baader Ortho 10mm
Baader Ortho 18mm
Celestron Halloween 40mm plossl
BST StarGuider 25mm ED Eyepiece
BST StarGuider 15mm ED Eyepiece
Sky-Watcher Stainless Steel Tripod
Berlebach Report 312 Tripod
Rigel collimation cap
Sky-Watcher 130ps
Bresser 102/460
Berlbach U10 adapter
Scopetech Zero mount
Scopetech Zero mount adapter
Slow motion controls
Televue 25mm plossl
Televue 20mm plossl
Televue 15mm plossl
Televue 8mm plossl
Loads of Wera hex keys
Vixen SLVs
StellaLyra 20mm
StellaLyra Kitkaru 25mm
AZ-GTI
AZ-GTI counterbalance system
2KG counterweight
9x50 finderscope
9x30 finderscope
Red dot finder
Picatinny weaver rail
Talentcell power pack
A Bumbag
8x40 Binoculars
Colour filters
Baader Neodynium filter
Baader Natural Density Filter
Astonomik UHC filter
SVBony filters
Manfrotto tripod adapter
Astro Essentials moon filter
SVBony 8-24 Zoom
2 x ADM Clamps
1 x mini clamp
StellaMira 1.25 Diagonal
Takahashi 1.25 Diagonal
Explore Scientific 2" Diagonal
1:10 Gear set focuser
Baader 2" reducer
2" Aero ED eyepiece
Baader Semi APO Filter
StellaMira 80mm ED F/10
ZWO 120MC-S
AZ5 Mount
Variety of bolts
SVBony helical focuser
ASIAIR original
ASIAIR PRO
Lens spanner
Warm socks
Samsung tablet for ASIAIR
Micro SD cards
101mm Tube rings
Dovetal bar
Baader Quick Release Shoe
Red light torch
More Blue Pier
Pentax 8.5mm XF
Grease
Smartphone adapter mounts x2
Gloves
Nosecaps x2
Plug caps x2
Soft pastels
Sketch book
Pencils
Eye patch
Flip mirror
Foldable stool
USB cables
Zeiss Lens wipes
Wood storage boxes
Lots of books
Sky at Night magazine subscription
Geoptik Nadira chair (arriving on Friday)
Celestron Ultima Edge 10mm (arriving next week)

*above still less than a modest Takahashi telescope.

28 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

ScopeTech Mount Adapter.

Amazing how I get excited by a chunk of metal but it's solid isn't it. Just waiting on my M10 adaptor and should be good to go too. 

Most certainly yes and I've enjoyed every purchase whether it be new or second hand.

26 minutes ago, Stephenstargazer said:

optional cushions to take longer

Wish i'd bought a cushion. Not that comfy without.

2 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

To complete the Tak Trio... just arrived from @FLO(thanks👍)... a Takahashi FC-100DC.

Very tempting. However must buy my lovely wife a kitchen then maybe just maybe. Enjoy they all look superb.

Just stumbled across this and the steps to strengthen the connections between the Scopetech and the Report. Thank you. Well another £80 spent. Safety first and all that. 🙂

5 hours ago, Dantooine said:

I would be very interested to hear what you make of both those eyepieces. 

Will do. The next two nights are looking promising. Just had a little test during the day time and eye placement for the Pentax seems to be tricky. The StellaLyra is a handsome chap but it's the inside that i need to work - daytime pic seems ok from the StellaLyra. Many more knowledgable people here who may see issues - but i think it'll do nicely.

My monthly treat, A delivery from FLO and Amazon - earned after a testing few weeks at work or so i tell myself.

The book "a history of the Universe in 100 stars" thank you to the SGL member who mentioned this in an earlier post. Asiair Pro - surprised how much heavier this is than the original Asiair. Pentax XF 8.5 and the StellaLyra 25mm  - looking forward to trying both. Some caps always need more caps.

Affinity Photo.

Recolour, Levels, several Curves, Clarity, Noise reduction and Selective colour.

Second image same initial process then moved into Photoshop and then used Photokemi and Annies Actions - Space dust, star reduction, dust lanes and noise reduction.

11 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Not the biggest or most expensive, but it in my most humble opinion, deserves a place in the 'frac' thread...

 

Still a lovely telescope and on my list to buy.

2 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Ok so I have bought this bar and the weights .. what’s the final verdict because I can honestly see both viewpoints here ! 

Hi Stu, i think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you use it.

21 minutes ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Pleeeeease, can we see it folded - looks like magic! 😯

@Stephenstargazer It certainly is - multiple uses, also arrives with an indispensable carry bag. The music sold it for me.

A foldable stool. A few people have recommended them on SGL and it is actually quite nifty. 

+1 for Ventusky too. One of the few apps i've actually paid for.

9 minutes ago, jadcx said:

Is that the More Blue Carbon Fibre Half Pillar?  It looks great with that grey Report - I think I need one  

Yes it is. Can cope with 15kg apparently, so manages quite well with the StellaMira.

Mosaic of 12. Taken with the mighty ZWO-120mc. Processed in Astrosurface. A little washed out in places however the best i have managed so far.

2 hours ago, Telescope40 said:

Hello @Dean HaleBeen looking at that book for a while. May have to pull the trigger. Seems comprehensive ??!! 
John 

@Telescope40Picked it up from Amazon for £12.51 although the price has crept back up - just pop it in your basket and it'll notify you of any changes in price. Very comprehensive at over 500 pages, and of importance - it 's easy to understand.

The book - Astronomical wonders and a diagonal in a nice box. It's tiny. The only Takahashi product i shall own for the foreseeable future. Funds are due to be diverted to the hospitality sector as i wish to see Family and Friends and be merry.

Just a very simple photo on a pixel 5. Quick open of the door to let the cat inside. Always a quick look upwards, and the plough looking lovely.

Think i may look into recycling a chopping board.  🙂

@jock1958 The Scopetech Zero mount holds a StellaMira and vibrations are minimal - not sure if there is any noticeable difference between the DIY effort and the long cables apart from a usability point of view. I have tried this on my old Skywatcher Explorer 130p and Avant mount with a basic tripod which did like to shudder with any movement and this is much improved over the supplied knobs. Test is to try it in anger and see how it fares and if the grub screws continue to grip (but easy to fix) - maybe once the clouds disappear.

Hi @jock1958 interesting to learn how you overcame the problems you had - maybe a little too much DIY for me though.

One more little change. Rooting round 'my might come in useful someday box' i found a rubber spacer (from a washing machine i think) - slots onto the end so much easier to grip and turn now. Just need some decent weather to see if it holds up to constant use.

By the way. I do like the wooden eyepiece holder.

50 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Short of asking Rowan to make you up a short set of slo mo cables your solution looks OK to me. 👍🏻

Thanks John appreciate the 👍 up

Yes and light 140 grams for the one i have.

My skillset is definitely not DIY. But it seems to work. 

Impossible to find short slow motion control cables at the moment. The ones i have are too long and i'm constantly knocking them in the dark. I also need the control to be long enough to clear the ADM clamp so needed some kind of extension. Browsed amazon and purchased below.

2x 6mm to 6mm Bore Rigid Coupling Set Screw
2x Round Steel Rod 6mm HSS Lathe Bar Stock
2x Rigid Flange Coupling Motor Guide Shaft Coupler Motor Connectors - swapped one of these for a knob i had on a old avant mount.

I'm certain there are more convenient ways to do this - but for £12 not much to lose and a way to ease boredom - the prices seem so go up and down a few ££s every other day. If what i've done is a big no no do let me know.