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doublevodka

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Everything posted by doublevodka

  1. Compare the colour order in the two plugs, if they look the same then you should be fine with any of these for example - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rj12+coiled+cable&crid=2AYX8QW1HMVG2&sprefix=rj12+coiled+cable%2Caps%2C149&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 With the connector being pulled off, there could be damage to the cables inside so probably better to just replace the cable
  2. Looks like a 40/32mm plossl at a guess? I would also recommend getting one of these - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-optics-cleaning-protection/jumbo-silicone-hurricane-blower.html to clear the bigger bits before cleaning It may also be easier for you to remove the eyecup first to give a bit more room to work The pens are ok if you are not too fussy and have cheap eyepieces, but you still need to go carefully
  3. Grabbed from the manual - https://inter-static.skywatcher.com/downloads/Synscan_V4_Hand_Control_Manual_SSHCV4-F-161208V1-EN.pdf Geographic Coordinates The LCD screen will display “Set Longitude” or “Set Latitude“ on the first line, and display the longitude and latitude on the second line. • Press the numeric keys at the cursor position to fill in the longitude or latitude digits. • Use the scroll keys to change east/west longitude or north/south latitude when the cursor blinks on the corresponding characters (E/W for longitude, N/S for latitude). • Use the Left and Right direction keys to move the cursor. • Press the ENTER key to confirm the input and proceed to the next step. • Press the ESC key to return to the previous step. However, I had some weirdness with the Celestron version some time back so I feel your pain! You could also get a wifi adapter for your scope, using the app the scope would automatically grab the details from your phones GPS, it's an option 🤷‍♂️
  4. Think you've hit the nail on the head there, test the market first with a little teaser, then launch a "pro" or similar From various threads I've seen, something with a swappable camera and filters would be good Still haven't seen anything about EQ mode yet, but it's small and light enough that it should be easily possible...
  5. There's a reason I stopped going on there, I have to say the Celestron section was very useful when I had my Nexstar 4SE though, but they really like a strong opinion over there! In SeeStar related news, some more info on the Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/seestar?sorting_setting=CHRONOLOGICAL it seems to be quite active and ZWO reps posting in there which is good. The only thing I'm confused about, why isn't the SeeStar red? 😂
  6. There is certainly a subset of elitists when it comes to astronomy where it's their way or no way, thankfully most don't find their way here from the other forum 😂 Honestly I feel a little sorry for them, you'd think being into astronomy and it being a slightly scientific discipline they would be a little more open minded to new ideas. Thankfully over here on SGL there are a lot of helpful and like minded people who understand the benefits a new product like this could bring to the hobby, and also a bunch of great mods and admins who keep things in check
  7. Save yourself the brain ache - http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/
  8. They are a bit of a one-trick pony, but they do that trick very, very well! A member of my local astro club has a RASA 11 and the pictures are really something else A 9.25 though, f/10 standard, f/2.2 hyperstar, 0.7 reducer for f/7, 2x barlow for f/20 on planets really can be a bit of a Swiss army knife, albeit an expensive one once you add all those accessories, but there are lots of them around so the used market is ok and well supported with accessories etc. so maybe a little easier overall than an exotic newt?
  9. 2.8 to 3.5 seems to be quite exotic, had a quick search myself and no results in the size range so far, but I suspect they would be very expensive and niggly to collimate to say the least An 8 inch Quattro would fit the length limit though - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-quattro-f4/skywatcher-quattro-f4-imaging-newtonian.html and there are dedicated coma correctors Alternatively the StellarLyra - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-8-f-4-m-lrn-newtonian-reflector-with-2-focuser.html (slightly cheaper on the coma corrector side too) I know you ruled them out, but with a bit of digging on the used market, you may be able to get a hyperstar based setup in the same ballpark, they do occasionally come on the market Even an 8 inch F/3.2 is £3,199 - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sharpstar-telescopes/sharpstar-2032pnt-f3-2-paraboloid-newtonian-reflecting-astrograph-telescope.html, can't imagine what a 10 inch would be, an 8 inch RASA is cheaper for referrence - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/celestron-8-rowe-ackermann-schmidt-astrograph-rasa-ota.html
  10. There is now a more official Facebook group here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/seestar Some interesting info coming out, definitely worth bearing in mind that this is a new product, and features will be added over time, for example An interesting product that is already causing excitement and arguments around the globe, I quite fancy one myself but waiting to see some more videos of it actually live and in use ZWO seem keen to listen to feedback and implement new features so I think this could be interesting, and maybe lead to a whole product line of Seestars in various sizes, the purists will still hate them but there is certainly a market there for ZWO to cash in on
  11. Defo follow the astro baby guide above, it is very good. Manual for what looks like your scope attached which may help a little, specifically page 16. 6a779054279e1f0d788601fa8aba78ec.pdf To my eye, it looks like the secondary vanes are very slightly off too, may be worth measuring from the screws marked in red, to the center marked in green. Alternatively, there are quite a few astro clubs in the area, worth joining one and maybe there is a member that could help if you are really struggling with it? http://www.astronomyclubs.co.uk/Clubs/Default.aspx?CountyId=55
  12. The peg works, I've stuck with it as in the garden there is a useful supply of spares, otherwise known as the clothes line 😂 As for printing, you don't have to dig far to find people have already provided the relevant files e.g. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5006844 Personally, I get on fine with the AA batteries, I know many recommend against it, but the AZ-GTi mount is a lot less fussy about voltage than other mounts that can be AA powered, like the Celestron ones, if it gets you out using it then go for it 👍 This thread is also full of useful info, although it's a pretty long read these days, started by @AstroNebulee who's posted above 👍 -
  13. In theory with this stuff you don't have to stick it down so maybe an option? - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescope-flocking-material/protostar-flockboard-flocking-board-10cm-increments-custom-cut.html
  14. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motion-sickness/#:~:text=Motion sickness is feeling sick,it or relieve the symptoms. That would be my guess, a lovely throwback to part of our early evolution as I understand it, the brain can't interpret the signals coming from our eyes so figures it's been poisoned and tries to get the poison out of your system. The perils of high-end eyepieces I guess? With a wide view and no frame of reference it seems the easiest explanation at least
  15. How's your French? https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65067013/f233 You can find almost anything if you dig hard enough 😂
  16. Ah the old debate... Truth is, everyone has their own preference and you're not going to know your own until you try some scopes out. Nearly everyone here has bought something, then bought another to compliment or upgrade and so on. I think it's fair to say we're all striving for own own version of perfection on our own budgets, and that's hard! Hell just look at people's signatures on their posts, not many have just one scope, if at all possible, get to a star party and try some stuff, chromatic aberration might bother you, it might not, but there's only one way to find your own preference, look through some scopes 👍 I still don't know what my ideal scope is, and not sure I ever will 🤷‍♂️
  17. More info here on the Facebook group if that helps - A Second Look: Reusing Old Lenses for Astronomy
  18. A quick Google image search dug up this old thread with some very similar-looking bins, so I suspect like the ones in that thread they are around 12x60 For free they are a bargain in my book 👍
  19. Worth you having a look at this thread - It does require buying a whole starsense telescope such as https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-starsense-explorer-series/celestron-starsense-explorer-lt-70-az-refractor-telescope.html as for some reason Celestron haven't had the idea to release it stand alone, but at that price, it's cheaper than most push to kits anyway, certainly worth a look 👍
  20. Had a read online and can't find any guide for taking the cell apart itself so I don't think many have tried. However, it does look like the whole cell can be removed in one piece so you can at least get to the rear of it without affecting collimation, pinching the optics etc. The dew shield is friction fit, the cell itself unscrews from the tube, it may be tight, and be careful not to cross thread whilst reassembling. Decent guide on cleaning here - https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/clean-a-refractor/ The primary piece of advice, slowly and carefully! and if in any doubt send it to a specialist for cleaning
  21. Really like Ed's videos and as usual a balanced view although he should definitely be on TeleVue's payroll 😂 While I don't have anything green and black in my collection, 2 eyepieces and a Barlow are what work for me for a general observing session so there's a lot of sense to what he's saying. Using anything more just ends up frustrating, and more to pack away afterwards 😂
  22. I think you are onto a winner for us all there, camouflage! 😂 "No darling, its' not another telescope, it's a water heater/recycling bin/hazardous material container"
  23. I'm sure they will love it, it was my daughter that got me back into it, now she tells me it's too cold and I'm the daft one outside in the icy weather 😂 she's a fair weather astronomer
  24. I suspect as Peter said the cross piece will come off as there is a definite separation there. On my old eq3-2 it was similar and held in place by some tiny grub screws which needed loosening first, check for these and if none there grab hold of the main bod with one hand and try turning the cross piece with the other. When you've got that off, tighten the nut (but not too tight as the axis may not move) and then test it behaves itself.
  25. Not a bad little gift you've received there 👍 Here's a link for the manual in case it helps - https://manualsbrain.com/en/manuals/1165168/ Looks like someone has gotten rid of the original shaky tripod and fitted it with a wooden one which should give you a bit more stability 🤞 If you are starting at this new, I'd recommend a couple of things, firstly, read the manual it will help you understand what's what. Secondly make sure to have a little practice in the daytime so you know how to set it all up (it's easier to understand it all in the daylight) DO NOT POINT IT ANYWHERE NEAR THE SUN! - can't emphasise that enough, it can, and will do serious damage! Lastly to start off use the lowest powered eyepiece, this is the one with the highest number on it, so from the pictures it is 25mm, many beginners will try to use the highest power one first. I helped out someone recently with a 70mm refractor and couldn't see anything, when I got there, he had a 3X barlow and 4mm eyepiece in the scope, minutes later we were looking at the moon with much more sensible power. Last of all, enjoy it! Those first few objects through the scope will stick with you for a long time 👍
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