Pixies

I'll be going to Astocamp, too. I've not seen cajen2's new van, but it won't be as rusty as mine!

So as this camera has 2um pixels, I'd be best with an f8 scope for planetary? My options are an F6 200mm newt or an F10 105mm achro. Perhaps I'll need to rethink and get something with 2.5um or 3um pixels (F10 or F6 with x2 barlow)?

Sorry to jump in. @vlaiv, does the above apply to a mono camera only? What about OSC? You see, I was thinking about a ASI678MC for EEVA/EAA with an F5 400mm scope. But if I wanted to use it for planetary, what focal ratio would I need (assuming a different scope with larger aperture)

I saw the Veil a few nights ago for the first time. Using an 8" dob with a couple of wide-angle 2" EPs. One was 40mm 72deg (2.36deg FOV) and the other a 28mm 82deg (1.8deg FOV). I could only get the west or east parts separately, not both together. It was clearer with an Oiii filter, the east part especially. Once I had seen them with the filter, I could just make them out without, since I knew what I was looking for. This is a Bortle-6 sky.

Well - I'm saying 2 on the night. As I don't want to be left out!

Saw the Veil properly for the first time tonight! 🥳 Have been playing with some of the big 2" EPs that I picked up this week. I found a Baader 2" Oiii filter in the treasure box too! I used the SWAN 40mm 72° and the Nirvana 28mm 82°. Both showed the veil without filter but with it, the view was quite impressive. The exit pupils were 6.7mm and 4.7mm respectively, which is good for the filter, I guess. The skies were brightening with the rising moon and the neighbour's lights were on, so I was hardly fully dark adapted. The contrast appeared better in the Nirvana, which is a nicer eyepiece all together. I tried the Celestron Axiom LX 19mm 82°, but the contrast was poorer. At some points however, I was having problems with the view through the filtered Nirvana. I eventually realised that I was seeing the reflection of my eye being thrown back at me by the mirrored surface of the filter!

Yep - agree about north level alignment. I usually start with Polaris as the first star, then 2 more roughly at right angles. At the moment that's Alpheratz and then Altair. So you've aligned on N, E and S. After that, it's great. Check your mount/tripod interface though. There should be no flex! What tripod are you using?

Oooo! Is that a single thumb screw or does it have a compression ring?

Here goes.... I saw an advert in local facebook - someone was selling what hey thought was photography gear that they had inherited, but not sure of the value. It was mainly astro stuff though, and some people were taking the mick with offers. I contacted him, not because I wanted it - there was no way I could afford it - but to tell him what they were and how much they were worth! He thanked me, then kindly offered it to me for a price I could not refuse! It arrived today: Yes - that's a TeleVue Ethos. I think that's an off-axis guider? Well. That's the weather ruined for a few months!

It's not the best scope for planetary viewing, but it's more than capable of showing Saturn's rings, plus Jupiter with cloud belts and moons. 120x is a bit high for that scope, in my opinion. You will get chromatic aberration and a lot of vibration. I usually stick to 80x max (100x at a push). Others may disagree.

You need to get the triangular tray. It helps with stability too.

Wot Priesters said (B142 and B143)

The OP said it was a HERITAGE 150p. The OTA without dob base is 3.5kg - according to Telescop-Express Which should be no problem for the AZ5 But that tripod that comes with the AZ5 has a payload capacity of 3.5kg (according to some sites). The AZ5 is 2.3kg, so the OTA and mount are 5.8kg together! The OP doesn't say which tripod they use with the mount.

The grub screw will adjust the load on the worm gear. Too tight, and the slo-mo will be tight, too loose and you will have backlash. It shouldn't affect the action of the clutch. With the clutch loose, you should be able to rotate around the Az axis easily, although it's not so loose it will spin around our anything like that. It does sound like it's quite tight. This means the clutch has a lot of friction to act against, which is why you have to tighten it a lot to get the slo-mo to work. Try loosening the clutch and spend a while just rotating the mount around the Az axis. See if that loosens it off a little.

Hi all As C mentioned, I'm the other one going. This'll also be my second. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Cloudy here tonight. Brief views of some brighter stars. However, saving myself for the rest of the week which looks like it's going to be clear. Until 12th! Cloudy at the peak or Perseids meteor shower! 🙄

Just sayin':

You and me both!

I'm out with @Franklin's old Vixen A105M on the SP mount! Transparency isn't great and seeing a little ropey too. Couldn't split the doubles of epsilon Lyrae at x100. Having trouble with the RA motor driver too tonight. It appears to have settled down now after an hour of intermittent tracking. However, once working, I could see more high clouds rolling in. Managed to observe Albireo and the double-cluster; trying out different eyepieces. But have come in for a beer and wait a while. The forecast says clearing up in an hour. Saturn should be above the rooftops by then, A frustrating night so far.

Perhaps the fact that one can't find many Heritage dobs on the used market says something about how well liked they are?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-05/french-scientist-apologises-for-chorizo-star-joke/101305334

Another for the collection. From UK ABS this time

I wonder if the same technique will work for Orion filter threads?

And import duty/tax/fees! I get stung 50% of the time. You can save shipping by having multiple items packaged up together, but then you are more likely to get charged. A single eyepiece normally gets through, depending on which shipping option / company you take. It can feed one's collecting OCD! I get most of my Vixen purchases from there. Or directly from Vixen's main UK reseller - @Franklin!