earth titan

The C11 is really big! That coloured my decision when I bought a C9.25.

Out of all the solvents mentioned, the most effective is Dichloromethane (DCM or Methylene Chloride). Not too much of a hassle to work with as long as you use small amounts in a well ventilated area and wear nitrile gloves. Used to be the base solvent in Nitromors paint stripper but has recently been banned for domestic / trade use.

Wow. Brilliant shots.

Typed by me on my fone, using fumms... Excuse eny speling errurs.

Interesting read. It was my understanding, although this is all rumour and speculation, was that the US scopes such as the older standard ones and the 'edge' are all hand finished.

When I purchased my C9.25 I did a lot if research and was repeatedly assured the US builds tended to perform better, because of the hand finishing and testing.

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Hi there.

To answer the best I can:

1) You'll need more than one eyepiece I'm afraid. They all provide different levels of magnification due to their various focal lengths.

2) I'm unsure about this but you will need a camera adaptor (T ring) to allow fitting the camera to the rear of the scope. I think, from what you're looking at that you'll just need the adaptor and a workpiece - this is what is shown in the pictures you've seen. Most of the adjustment will come from the focuser.

3) You'll need a star diagonal (90') unless you want to spend your life on your knees looking through the EP.

4) Should do but be aware: Kits often contain poorer quality kit than you can buy singly.

5) You'll possibly need a focal reducer for AP with a DSLR, cos at f8 the length of shutter duration to get a goodish signal to noise ratio may not be optimum. This thwn brings in the question of spacers etc.

As for alternatives, I would go for a C9.25 which is much more of an allrounder but you will need definitely need a focal reducer to allow AP work.

You may also want to go for an NEQ6 straight away if kit is difficult to come by, as you may soon find the HEQ5 is overloaded when you add finders, guiders etc.

Typed by me on my fone, using fumms... Excuse eny speling errurs.

Go on then....

Still a place for a 32mm TV plossls, when I find one

Typed by me on my fone, using fumms... Excuse eny speling errurs.

I have just finished building a few small grab-n-go boxes:

Enjoy,

Jaimo!

Oh thats nice. Gives me ideas.... which is always dangerous!

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Did anyone else catch the radio repeat this morning, of his performance with Zig and Zag? What a good sport!

Made me chuckle over my muesli.

Typed by me on my fone, using fumms... Excuse eny speling errurs.

He was the last surviving person who had met:

1. The first man to fly

2. The first man into space

3. The first man to orbit the earth

4. The first man to walk on the moon

Long may his memory live on.

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I'm still having issues setting up the GOTO mount, think I need to find someone locally to show me how to do it right ! If I follow the instructions I downloaded it takes half my viewing time setting it up.

And there is the issue!

I find GOTO a slow old process in a movable set up. I know others get on fine with it but I used to spend ages aligning and even then it isn't perfect. It has limitations.

A permanent pier / set up is a lot easier and makes goto brilliant. The best way is PC control through EQMOD.

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Very nice for a 1st attempt. It's better than most of mine - 18 months on!

Typed by me, using fumms...

I understand correctly, which I probably haven't, I think shorter site tubes are better for scopes with bigger secondaries as you can see more of it........

Someone else will perhaps put me right.

Love the Pleides. One of my favourites and major target for this winter.

Great first pics everyone. How are you focussing? Especially on M42 - all the images seem so clear and focussed. I seem to fall down there.

A bartinov (probably spelt wrong as I've just drunk home made elderberry port) mask.

Easy enough to make or you can buy.

Don't get me wrong, I think GOTO is utterly brilliant. But I know two people who bought GOTO as their 1st scope and found the learning curve too steep. What with polar alignment, knowing the constellations and then not finding the catalogued objects, they abandoned the hobby. Perhaps it's an age thing, but I'm glad I didn't start out with GOTO. I'm only just getting the hang of it all now.

Superb link. That will really help.

Thanks.

Perfect summary.

I think newbies often buy GOTO as the easy option.

It is good, but not for beginners...... and that catalogue of 1000s of items which are to dim to see, gets em every time.

Brillaint. Put my efforts to shame why don't you....

A dob is a newtonian scope on a 'dobsonian' mount. Named after the inventor / populariser - Mr. Dobson.

The subs were 60 seconds, unguided. I only managed 7 before the clouds rolled in.

M13 before the clouds rolled in.

Only got 7 minutes on it.... no subs, flats etc. as I was convinced nothing would come of it in DSS ..... But hey ...