Pixies

I'm saying that , because from that picture, they look like threaded holes. However, look at this one below. I need to take it out to get a good look at it.

OK - that looks like it (although I haven't removed mine yet). How the flip does that work? I can't see how you could rotate the holder?

Very strange. I noticed the same thing around 01:30 in Hercules, too! Like a stationary iridium flare. Magnitude was brighter than your sighting. Easily 0 with the naked eye. I wondered if it was a meteorite "heading straight for us". Or to be a little more paranoid, the X-37B? 🕵️‍♂️

Thanks John. I've already ordered some stainless steel ones (same size). Wanted black, but that was a minimum order of 100!

Fingers crossed. I'll email FLO and see what they say. If the holder has 3 recesses, that would explain why the holder rotates back to the same (slightly off) position when I tension the screws. Seems a strange design.

Nope. This was as it came. I've only tried to adjust it, not remove it yet. I know there are some differences with the latest models, mainly the fittings. How long have you had yours?

I'm afraid I've made a bit of a boo-boo! It looks like I've been a bit cack-handed with the screwdriver when trying to adjust the secondary mirror of my new Bresser 8" dob. The mirror holder is made of cheese (apparently), and I've managed to dig the screws into it! (see pic below) It has always 'turned' as I tightened down the screws, and now I've really dug into it. I didn't think I was using a lot of force, but it's hard to tell using a screwdriver. I noticed some tiny swarf lying on the inside of the tube (it was horizontal) stopped and panicked! Eventually saw what was happening by taking some photos. Anyway - I have learnt my lesson the hard way. Now I have to fix it. I intend to remove the secondary, add a steel washer (countersinking for the new 3 machine screws with rounded ends). I'll also make sure the face of the holder is smooth and add a plastic (milk carton) washer to the surface between metal washer and secondary holder. However, I'm paranoid that I don't do any (further) damage - esp to the mirror itself. Can you recommend a safe way to protect the mirror? Is it worthwhile wrapping it in a freezer bag, say, or a clean lint-free cloth with elastic bands, etc. Any suggestions on this or other considerations very welcome.

M4, M5 - going to have to take one out and double-check. Thanks John

Hi, My recently purchased 8" Dob has 3 small philips-type screws to adjust the secondary mirror. I am aware that some similar models (like the 10") have knurled knobs instead. In fact, the diagram on the cover of the manual for the 8" Dobsonian has them too. (See below) FLO have confirmed that they cannot source these as spares. I have spoken to Bresser who say they do not supply them either. Bresser UK (Telescope House) confirmed this but say they are M4 screws. Before I take one out to measure and try and find an alternative, has anyone here done this and can they suggest a suitable alternative?

I keep my binoculars in a cupboard (near the back door) where we used to have a box of Indian Dalit candles. The candles were only lit once (smelt nice in shop, but not alight). They were thrown out years ago, but the binoculars still smell of them!

Is it just me (or my new scope), but when I take off the dust cap, there is a very distinctive solvent-like smell? It's a Bresser 8" dob. It could be paint, glue, lubricant, or a mixture. Anyway - I quite like it. I guess it will wear off pretty soon.

I Enjoy Astro Biscuit's videos. this one is particularly funny when his wife overhears him say how much his telescope really cost!

John, Do you still have the original Celestron mount that it came in?

I also had a look at the Explorer Scientific RACI, but it's a polar scope and has an engraved pole star finder diagram as the reticule, which is a bit of a bummer! It would fit the current bracket though. It's surprising that none of the Bresser 'group' has a RACI finder to fit their own bracket.

Blimey guys, thanks very much! I've got a lot of things to decide on now - I'll look at total costs, delivery times, etc. One thing though. The finder bracket on my Bresser 8" looks a little different to most others. It's the full sized one, rather than the one with only 2 bolts (see below). Can anyone confirm that the Baader bracket will fit this?

Hi, Does anyone here have a Celestron Illuminated RACI Finder Scope? I'm looking for a RACI finder for my Bresser 8" Dob (illuminated if possible), but can't see what type of fitting this has, and work out whether I can find a way to fit it to the Bresser. Cheers

Don't panic about collimation. There's so much apparently conflicting advice out there, it seems a bit daunting. But as long as you have a little mechanical ability it's pretty straightforward, once you see it in the flesh and you can get your head around what it is you are trying to do. Don't rush down the path of buying all the expensive collimation accessories at first. I've managed to get it done with just a basic £9 collimation cap. After you have tried a few times, you will know better what extras you will need. Lot's of good advice available on SGL. And ask the owner what they use - and will they be supplying it with the scope? Do you know what eyepieces it comes with?

Hmm - had crossed my mind. Sitting there with a red lamp, too! 😳

Thinking about later in the year when we MIGHT be able to get out and about to dark skies. I'm in Edinburgh, so the lockdown is a little stricter, now; but when the nights are darker, in Autumn, hopefully we'll be able to travel for skywatching. Anyway, I'm in a Bortle-6 area with some local light pollution. However, I can get to Bortle-3 in 40 minutes. I'ts the Lammermuir hills which I've become slightly more familiar with during the last few years with a cycle club. However, I've never driven out there overnight. I know what the Borders night skies can be like, regularly stopping when passing Kielder to have a look, but this was before I had a scope. So, once things have returned to normality, I'd quite fancy heading over to the Lammermuirs in the car with the scope. However, I'm a complete noob and I'm wondering how this usually works for you when trying to observe in public areas? The roads I'm thinking of are very rural, with hardly any car parking and side roads lead mainly to farms. Is anyone familar with the area or somewhere similar? Is it do-oable with a biggish scope (8" dob) and what is your advice for public observing? Or should I be looking for a less-farming area with perhaps more suitable locations like nature reserve car-parks? Cheers Pix

Morning!

OK - so as they say, "a picture paints a thousand words":

If they did, I'd consider it.

Is that with a star test when out in the dark?

Sorry to hijack. But as a newbie, I'm unsure of how frequently collimation is required (and what type). Most of us will be moving our scopes each viewing session - and in my case I have to move it depending on my target, since the back garden is surrounded by various obstructions. Are you saying we should be thinking about re-collimating each time? And are you talking about just collimating the primary, as the secondary (as I understand it) needs collimation much less frequently? Thanks

OK - update of tonight session - Sunday 10 May. Don't worry, I'm not going to do this every night! This is just a follow-up. As the viewing is pretty limited just now, especially from my back garden, I started by hunting the same easterly targets as last time. Mainly in Hercules and Lyra. M13 (Hercules Cluster), M57 (Ring Nebula) and Double-Double were successful again. I managed to split both of the latter this time, although it felt like I was climbing inside the 6mm Plossl. I'm not a fan of it - I bought it from a seller on here (the 18mm Starguider I got from the same seller is much nicer). I need to think about a different higher-powered EP. However, I had more success in finding M92 this time. Smaller than M13, when using the 6mm EP it's framed better and its slightly sparser nature makes the brightest stars stand out more. After Whistlin Bob's suggestion, I tried M81/M82. I'm getting the hang of the 6x30 finderscope and managed to land on M82 first go. I was down on my knees at the time - so thinking a RACI finderscope will be an imminent purchase. In the 18mm EP I could get both in the one view, but I think they looked better as a pair in the 25mm. Faint - but more obvious than the Whirlpool; M82 is more 'concentrated' than M81, I think. Pleased with myself again, I saw in Sky Safari that NGC 3077 was close by and thought I'd have a shot at it. It was small and faint, but I definitely found it - not that I would have noticed it unless I knew it was there. 12 million light years, blimey!