HollyHound

Same here, just taken the family outside and we’ve all seen it both with the naked eye and binoculars... amazing sight 😀

I’ve just seen it, as it’s starting to get dark here. Visible both by eye and also with my 8x56 binoculars... incredibly amazing sight 😀

10 hours ago, Captain Magenta said:

... don't forget the TV DeLite 18.2, by all accounts a match for the Delos 17.3. I have 3 Delos: 6, 10 and 3.5 so am aware of their quality. However on agiven night the DeLite 18.2 is generally the first eyepiece I put into the slot, I really like it.

M

Agree... The DeLite 18.2 is my second most used eyepiece after the Panoptic 24 👍

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I’m just a bit north of you in Thornbury.

Thats some good kit you have arriving, hopefully clear skies soon so you can start enjoying it.

Cheers

Gary

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I also started with binoculars (8x56) and still use them for quick wide views, so that was (of course) good advise from Sir Patrick 👍

Enjoy

Gary

7 minutes ago, John said:

Nice work Gary !

The Celestron version of the AZ-3 is called the "Heavy Duty Alt-Azimuth Mount", a title which caused me to smirk a bit I have to say

Good to see that it's tripod can be put to good use.

Thanks.

Yes, I am also mildly amused by that... those metal spreaders are not much thicker than paper and wobble dramatically, at least they stop the legs from splaying but that's about it 😂

I'm going to give it a fair go... I still do like the solidity (and look) of the whole mount/refractor combo on the Uni 28, but it's overkill for this mount, so a lighter wooden tripod might be the future solution... the Report 312 has been suggested by @JeremyS 🤔

On 08/07/2020 at 09:59, John said:

The AZ-3 mount and it's tripod hub are an integrated unit. You can change the tripod legs if you can find some which will fit but the hub really has to stay with the head which limits the options.

Thought I’d give this a go, and was able to easily remove the AZ3 head completely from the tripod, and then using the M10 to 3/8” adaptor I have, was actually able to easily fit the ScopeTech Zero onto the AZ3 tripod, using the large washer and an M10 threaded knob 😮

I’ve given this a quick terrestrial check with the StellaMira and it works surprisingly well. There is an increase in recovery time when doing the usual tap test... it takes about 2 to 3 seconds, but focusing and moving is quite usable.

I’ll try some more testing when there is a clear night, it may turn out to be an option 🤔

I believe there are two brands of AZ3, mine is the Celestron, but also there’s one from Skywatcher. They appear to have some subtle differences, so might explain how this head detaches easily. The spreader system on this Celestron is less substantial too.

Apologies, I forgot to photograph with the refractor onboard, but at least they show how the mount does work ok the AZ3 tripod.

Delivered this morning, in excellent condition as always, thanks to @johninderby 👍

Baader Hyperion 10mm to try out some DSLR afocal imaging 😊

On 08/07/2020 at 09:59, John said:

The AZ-3 mount and it's tripod hub are an integrated unit. You can change the tripod legs if you can find some which will fit but the hub really has to stay with the head which limits the options.

Thanks John, it does sound like a lot of trouble and not sure what the gain would be. I’ll likely keep the AZ3 as a simple terrestrial tripod for the C5, and investigate other options for the ScopeTech/StellaMira combo 👍

44 minutes ago, John said:

StellaMira Losmandy plate for use on my 130mm triplet refractor. Lovely quality item. It sits really nicely and securely in the ADM clamp on the T-Rex mount.

Just got to bolt it to the tube rings on the scope now.

Many thanks @HollyHound

More than welcome... That does indeed look smart and should provide a good solid support for your refractor 👍

Losmandy is overkill for my current needs, but I agree that @FLO own brand StellaMira is putting out some really well made stuff. I have their refractor of course, but also the 2" diagonal and it's lovely too 😀

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

Sounding very promising @HollyHound. Glad no further problems after the first one you had. 

Re lighter weight tripod. If you want to stick with Berlebach (and who wouldn't? 🙂 ), maybe the Report 312 at half the weight?

Thanks. No further repeat of that issue, so I'm thinking it was a one off. @FLO will be looking at the faulty unit, when they receive it back.

I do like the look and feel of the Berlebach tripods, and was aware they had lighter variants but there did seem an awful lot of choice. The Report 312 does seem to be ideal though and as you say, it's half the weight. I have also got the SW 1.75" 3/8th tripod too, which currently has the AZ5 on it, but that may well be going. I also remembered I have the AZ3, but not sure that the head is removable or even usable. I'll review options and see what works out best, but I think the goal will likely be the Berlebach 😃

2 hours ago, heliumstar said:

Unfortunately no luck last night again. Next try on Friday

That’s a shame ☹️

I setup two for testing last night, the ScopeTech Zero with StellaMira refractor and my new Mak 150 setup on the AZ Mount Pro. Left them a couple of hours (for the Mak to cool), unfortunately the sky never really cleared properly, just a few small patches of clear sky, but just enough to see a few groups of stars through. Unfortunately the moon, Jupiter and Saturn remained behind low cloud 😬

However, I did manage to spend 30mins using the ScopeTech, darting back and forth from gap to gap, and it proved its worth, as I was able to quickly move, get a star in the finder and then switch to the 24mm Panoptic in the StellaMira for some really very good views. 

I do like that one can move smoothly and freely, then switch to slow motion, without having to lock/unlock or adjust clutches, this makes it a great grab and go combination. It was the first time I’ve really been able to pan the scope around slowly without just using slow motion controls 👍

I noted that the azimuth slow motion was a little stiff, but note that @Stuhas made an adjustment to his which improves this, so will be doing the same 🤞

The mount is quite sensitive to balance in altitude, as most of these types seem to be, but this is quickly sorted by moving the scope in the saddle when going from heavy to light eyepieces, or indeed just keep the clutch moderately tight (not overtight!), as it can still be moved very smoothly like this.

In addition, I had made one small but very useful modification to the ScopeTech Zero... I’ve replaced the supplied screw saddle, with an ADM dual clamp saddle (as used for the SkyTee II), which attaches using 2xM6 bolts with a standard spacing of 35mm. This just feels better, makes balancing easier and won’t chew dovetails. Adds about 0.25 kg over the standard saddle, but I think it’s worth it. The mount could still be stored folded too. Should point out that the standard saddle is absolutely fine and strong, just personal preference.

Oh and as a bonus, I was able to star test the Mak 150, and its collimation is spot on 👍

Just need to figure out a replacement lighter weight tripod for the Uni 28, to make it truly grab and go 🤔

9 hours ago, Stu said:

One thing to note, I wasn’t happy with the stiffness of the Az control so I slightly backed off the locking nuts on one end of the worm gear, then locked them back together again. This has eased it nicely without creating any excessive backlash so was well worth doing. Highlighted in the last image.

Thank you for this useful bit of information. I had mine out briefly last night, and it behaved really smoothly, but noted that the azimuth feels a little stiffer than altitude. 

I will give this is a go, and then it will make the mount pretty much perfect for my grab and go requirement 😃

In my eagerness to get the new focusser attached to the SkyMax 150, I forgot to check out the rest of the bits it came with... Astrozap dew heater strip and dew shield, Sky-Watcher 2” diagonal and this Sky-Watcher 28mm 2” eyepiece 😃

Found a few reviews that suggest it’s very decent bit of kit, and fits nicely between my 24mm and 32mm eyepieces... Will give it a go when cloud clears 🤞

Not in the post, I collected it today (observing social distancing of course) from Lee a fellow SGL member.

SkyMax 150 😃

I’ve also fitted a Mak/SCT focuser, recently acquired from @johninderby too 👍

Can’t wait to give it a go very soon 🤞

1 minute ago, heliumstar said:

Unfortunately wind was playing up last night so couldn't properly test it. Looking clear today and hopefully a little calmer so wish me luck

Me too, wind and too much cloud. Hopefully better tonight... good luck 🤞

Hi,

Welcome to the SGL forum.

Cheers

Gary

4 hours ago, heliumstar said:

Opened the package today to get ready for tonight. Looks like it'll be clear for a few hours. The mount looks great. Smaller than Vamo and quicker to disassemble for travel. So far so good. Very easy to balance and smooth in operation. We'll see how it handles 120x tonight.

Looking good. Best of luck for tonight, I'm going to try an hour or so myself 🤞

Interesting to hear your views on the mount too, when you can...

25 minutes ago, John said:

Balance seems pretty important to the smooth operation of many alt-azimuth mounts. Of the ones I've owned (in that class of mount) the Skytee II and Vixen Porta I have been the least affected whereas the "T" style ones such as the Giro II and Ercole are more sensitive and benefit from counterweighting across the alt axis to get smooth motion.

 

Agree, I’ve found the SkyTee II seems to be pretty unaffected by any change in eyepiece (certainly any of mine). I do usually free move the scope and then lock the clutches before using slow motion controls. Same with the AZ5.

Worst ever (in my brief experience) was the AZ3... if you set the altitude lock nut too tight, you couldn’t move it at all, but then slightly looser and it would get to 60 degrees and just keep going!! I think it’s best suited to terrestrial observing, perhaps watching ships or birds 🤔

Ok, I've done a little indoors test, using the StellaMira 80mm f1/10 (OTA length 800mm) with WO 2" diagonal... all movement is relative to the objective end (as would be seen through the eyepiece).

Initially with a TeleVue DeLite 13mm inserted, starting by slightly loosening the altitude clutch, adjusted the scope until it feels well balanced, then tightened the clutch just enough so that it can move up and down with the slow motion controls and also moved freely and smoothly by hand. I then started switching eyepieces:

• Meade 16mm Plossl (lighter) - Scope position unaffected - Free movement unaffected - Slow motion controls unaffected.
• TeleVue Panoptic 24mm (heavier) - Scope position unaffected - Free movement unaffected - Slow motion movement downwards was affected very slightly (as if fighting the heaver weight at the eyepiece end), tightening the clutch a tiny amount and back to normal.
• OVL PanaView 32mm (even heavier) - Scope position started to rise - Free movement unaffected - Slow motion movement downwards was affected, but tightening the clutch a bit more arrested the motion and allowed slow motion controls.
• OVL PanaView 38mm (heaviest) - Scope position started to rise rapidly - Free movement ok, but more difficult to move downwards - Slow motion movement downwards was not possible and the clutch would have to be over-tightened (in my opinion, and noting the warning in the manual) in order to prevent un-commanded movement. Adjusting the scope forward slightly in the clamp, restored balance and all was fine again.

When balanced, the scope remains very smooth and controllable at all times, with just the lightest of finger touches, in both altitude and azimuth.

Conclusion... within normal usage limits there is no need to re-adjust the balance of the scope, but switching between very heavy and normal/light eyepieces, does require a slight re-balance of the scope (or I guess some sort of counterweight ?).

Presumably this kind of behaviour is fairly typical for this class of mount ?

Hope this helps

Gary

56 minutes ago, surfindogg said:

Now we just need Serge to make encoders for it and I am sold. [My light pollution is getting so bad we are thinking of moving!]

There are plenty of pre-drilled and tapped holes all over the mount of various sizes, so I imagine it will take something bolted on at some point 🤔🤞

19 hours ago, surfindogg said:

I forgot I started this thread!

Good to see FLO thought they were worth supplying and some great reviews/feedback.

My usual question - how sensitive is the Zero to eyepiece changes?

I will give this a try when I can. Heaviest I have is a PanaView 38, which should work.

Given that it does need the scope well balanced for slow motion controls to work up and down, I suspect there will be a some effect.

Bought from a fellow SGL forum member, and in excellent condition👍

Meade Series 3000 16mm Plossl x2

Meade Series 3000 40mm Plossl x2

These will be used for my binoviewer 😃

Thanks to all.

I'm glad it's not unusual to leave a long scope mounted and ready to go, as I was testing the new mount in the office today, I thought that it looked like it belonged in the corner rather than packed away in its case.

Actually, years ago when I started to learn to play guitar, I rented an office and was working long hours and some weekends. A friend suggested taking the guitar into the office and making sure it stayed out of its case, so that it would actually get played. I ended up with the acoustic and electric on wall stands, so that every few hours I'd just pick them up, play them and hang them back up again, as a result I learnt faster. Everyone that came into the office commented how good they looked on the walls too 😀

I have solved the problem of multiple telescopes and mounts... I gave up a section of my home office to sewing area, bought my partner a new sewing machine and then the room became a "craft" room... problem solved 🤣 Actually, she did comment positively about "the nice telescope on the wooden stand" earlier, so looks like it's staying 👍

No idea what she's going to say about the Mak 150 I've just bought... arriving next week 😬🤞🤣

This may seem a silly question, but now that I've decided to use my StellaMira 80mm f/10 on the ScopeTech Zero mount as a grab and go setup, is there any reason why I shouldn't leave it setup mounted in my office, with covers, a diagonal and an eyepiece in place, rather than put it back into it's storage case ?

I don't intend to actually carry it outside like this, so will remove and re-attach once moved, as I'm aware of the dangers of moving a long refractor and the potential for damage in transit. Although I have moved a lighter tripod, AZ5 and C5 in and out like this.

Thanks

Gary