Kdiveruk

11 hours ago, Tiny Clanger said:

Hi Kyle,

In case you didn't get the original manual along with the scope, you can get it online here

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/116323/Orion-Skyquest-Intelliscope-Xt10.html#manual

No I didn't thank you very much 

14 hours ago, Mand1 said:

Probably the laser collimator is not true.

Pu it on a flat surface and roll it whilst projecting against a wall. Watch if the projected dot stays level or moves up and down like a shallow sine wave . It dot moves the collimator needs collimating.  

OK thanks I'll have a look 👍

Ok well that's that sorted thanks guys 👍 I have just looked at satern and jupiter I could see the rings and moons of jupiter. Pritty cool to see for the first time! I just need to try and focus them better. I did notice something whilst collimating . If I rotate  the laser tool whilst it's in the focoser the red dot  goes out of center on the main mirror is this normal? Is it normal to have to collimate ever time? 

Okay so I think your rite straight away! Here are the pictures you requested. 

Thanks Kyle 

Okay so I have purchased a new second hand scope after a bit of research. It is a orion xt10i. I tried to do my due dilegence before buying and hopfully its not a lemon! It was a good price with some nice extras. 

Anyway it came with clouds and I have only just got it out tonight. My 1st target was the moon and my god it was bright! So I played around with the 4 filters that I got with the scope and that helped but It was out of focus. Nothing I did made it better. I tried a 24mm and I also tried my 14mm and a 6mm. I could see Mars and I targeted that also. I tried all my eyepieces but it was out of focus. As soon as I adjusted the focuser out I could see the secondary. It's like I couldn't adjust the eyepiece in towards the scope enough. 

The scope came with a laser collimator and I think i have done this correctly but I am not 100 percent. 

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thank you in advance 

Kyle 

Oh yeah it's my 1st scope 😁

On 19/10/2020 at 00:20, Soloula said:

Hi first post so hope this is in the right board.... My neighbour has just had four big spotlight dusk till dawn lights installed in the eaves of his house. It's like floodlights and I nearly cried when I saw them as the light pollution from them is terrible. They're not budging on switching them off when we're out. Is there anything we can do? Will the council deal with this as light pollution affecting the enjoyment of our property? Can I buy something to sit in/put out to block it out, although they're so high up and cover the full length of their garden that I don't know if this is possible? 

I was due to get my dad's 6" refractor telescope this year but now it feels like theres no point. Its not exactly portable to jump in the car and take it elsewhere as my lovely neighbour suggested My kids will be gutted too. We often sit out with some hot chocolate and binoculars stargazing. 

Any advice to a newbie would be much appreciated. 

Hi soloula

I have been thinking about your problem. Although it is a bad situation I think that you should not get downtrodden. like many have said you will still be able to view alot of things in your garden.

You mentioned that you would be doing observing with your kids. One of my fondest memories I can rember with my  farther is going out on an adventure and stargazing with him camping or a night out. Going out in the middle of nowhere with some supplies and being under the stars. I don't think a 6"would be to much trouble to take out on one of those special clear dark nights. It makes the whole thing a bit more special in my eyes! 🔥🌌

Glass half empty and all that!

Kind regards Kyle 

What a complete Bottom this neighbour is! I think I would struggle to be as nice as you. Have you considered asking him what he wants? It's a crap thing to have to do but maybe there is something he wants they say everyone has a price! 

Also what about this gezebo as an idea maybe you could make the roof to open up? I hope you get it sorted. 

 https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4648059

Just a quick update! 

I have just purchased myself a pair old 7x50 binoculars for around £15. I have just been out north of gothenberg sweeden in I reckon about a bortle 4 and I am blown away by how much I can see😁 I just about made out the globular cluster in hurcules I can't wait to look through my telescope.

I also looked at a group of stars I think is hyades. I have always seen them faint with the naked eye looking like a small blue ursa major but tonight it was amazing. Bright electric blue really spectacular and through a set of £15 second hand binos! I am really glad I joined SGL I would never have thought to get binoculars. 

What a great website and what a great night I have had. Off to bed one happy chappy. 

Thank you for all the advice 

Kind regards Kyle 

9 hours ago, scarp15 said:

Yes as mentioned by others, a Unihedron Sky Quality Meter L model is a very worth while investment, if you plan on pursuing dark sky trips.

Actually finding a place that becomes a reassuring bolthole as mentioned, takes a bit of consideration, trial and trickerlation. My advice would be to avoid large parking areas, country parks, ect. The more out of the way the better. Through experience you may get to encounter all manner of nocturnal human types., Except for a werewolf, I think that I have pretty much had them all, including a bunch of poachers and avoid all those places. A good place and you will only get like minded people such as photographers or even another astronomer, or blissfully no one. Just get to know your countryside and its potential little niches they do exist. I have three very dependable locations within an hour's drive from home to choose from, but yep takes a bit of time to establish - worth it though. 

It's all quite exciting this isn't it! 😁 I'm a bit country man and just love the outdoors! I know one thing the your advice in country parks is spot on! I'm hoping to sweet talk a farmer or two. 

25 minutes ago, Waddensky said:

This looks like a VIIRS map to me. This measures the light emission from artificial light sources as seen from space, not the effect it has on sky brightness. As far as I know, 2015 is the first and only time the data has been reworked to show real darkness.

I see I would never have thought of that it's completely in reverse. We are trying to see up and the satellite is looking down 2 completely different perspectives 😂 doh 

That sqm is cheep😁 I'm getting one 👍. okay so I read the price wrong ill have to wait for one! 

3 minutes ago, Waddensky said:

This website shows the darkness of the night sky calculated from artificial light emission measured by satellites. It's good to get a rough idea of the darkness, but keep in mind that the data is from 2015 and a lot (a LED 😏) has changed since then. Here in The Netherlands, there are a few websites and forums where you can find and share dark sites that are easily accessible - including recent darkness measurements. Not sure about the UK.

The SQM is a well-known device to measure darkness yourself, allowing easy comparison with other sites and other observers. I have one - it's very convenient and a good investment in my opinion.

Hi waddensky that looks like a great site i also stumbled across this one just now. It looks quite detailed but I'm not sure how upto date it is. 

Hi uplooker 

No I have not joined any society I'm not sure I want to yet. Im trying to find somewhere that's my own little escape ☺️. Maybe in time I will want to

Just a quick update! I tried some of the things suggested above but to no avail. So I gave up in the end. I shall just buy a new set when I am home. 

Hi this is my second post on SGL and I am new to astronomy. As my post suggests I am looking for a dark sky map/website ect. I have found some but I wondered if there is a really good one that has a lot of detail.

I live in Hampshire and I'm trying to find the perfect spot to jump in the car to. I obviously have some places in mind but want to compare them.

Actually just writing this has gave me an idea and another question! Maybe try some of my spots out with a light meter. Has anyone else done this? Is it worth it? Okay 2 new questions! 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Ps I just brought my first scope and it was cloudy 🙄

Kind regards Kyle 

That sounds like it's also worth a try peter 👍thanks 

11 minutes ago, Bruce Leeroy said:

Sometimes your eyes will deceive you so if the double image is from collimation ( 1 side higher in the left eyepiece - _ than the right eyepiece for example ) you should rotate the whole binocular so your left eye is looking in the right eyepiece and see if the difference is the same - _  or _- as when you viewed them normally. Hope I'm clear enough 😛

Okay worth a try I didn't notice if one side was higher or not I'll have look tonight if it's clear 👍

Ships and stars yes I think they have had a hard life to be fair!

so im off to look for some new ones as I think it's a worthy investment I can see a set will go well alongside my new scope star hopping with my wife! I was going to get a goto but I have changed my mind I think I'll just get a push to as I'm loving learning the sky. 

I figured extraterrestrial was space 👽😂 so I just removed the alien. 

I keep reading 10x50 for what I want? 

1 hour ago, Starwatcher2001 said:

That's a new one on me. I've never seen a pair of bins with fixed focus. The adjustment on one eyepiece is so you can get correct focus in both eyes, even if one of your eyes is weaker than the other.

Oh sorry, welcome aboard Kyle!

Yeah they confused me a bit! And thanks glad to be aboard 😊

7 hours ago, Ships and Stars said:

Is there a central focus wheel for the bins, or is each eyepiece adjustable for focus? Is there a model or make on them? And a number like 7x35 or 10x50?

If they are ships binoculars, they might be some non-adjustable focus type for easier use and they may have taken a knock during rough seas or handling which will put them out of 'collimation' and give double images.

Sounds like they've take a knock perhaps, but there is one more thing to try - that's flex the bins in and out on the central hinge so the eyepieces line up with your eyes perfectly (inter pupilary distance or IPD I believe). 

All else fails, tell the Captain any real ship would only use Fujinons and borrow those! But only when he's in a good mood 

Hi ships and stars thank you for your reply. The brand is eagle eye and they are 7x50. I think that they are only cheap from looking online. I can only find adjustment on the right eyepiece and it only turns a very small amount. I think they are fixed. Maybe they are out of collimation but they are okay to use on terestrial objects. I believe terestrial is the rite word there! 

Ps thanks for the other replies. 

Hello SGL I'm Kyle. This is my first post! 

Firstly I would like to say thank you for having me and secondly that I am a complete novice and I stumbled on this great site on my quest for knowledge to get me out there amongst the stars. 

I am working my way towards a scope but first I have borrowed some binoculars from work (ships binoculars). I am enjoying some dark skys in sweeden at the moment and trying to star hop and I have to say loving it! I have always star gazed but never tried to put it in order I have always just been in awe. 

But as the title states I am geting a double image when I look up. The binoculars don't have any focus on them I believe. Not that I can find anyway!  Is this the problem? I would really like to know what causes it. 

Thank you in advance as I know someone will know the answer as I have  been digging through the vast amount posts on here and there is a wealth of collective knowledge on SGL! 

Kyle Harper 

Southampton 

Uk