Soligor Rob

Sorry guys guys I just don't get this let's knock the program and Professor Cox, if you are are so far above this just hit the other channel button. I'm not a Henry Cole fan I had forgotten more about bikes than he will ever know by the time I was 16yrs but he gets motorcycling on to the TV which is good enough for me, Sam Lovegrove and Alan Millyard provide the technical details which make the program. Brian Cox is out there selling this wonderful hobby of ours to people that have either just bought a telescope or are going to buy one because they watched Mr Cox, that's good enough for me.

Hi Clare and as said by many others welcome to SGL, you can ask any questions here that you want and you will always get helpful information and be pointed in the right direction. When I joined I was a rank beginner but despite probably being asked 100's of time people on here are most patient and explain and offer excellent advice. I live in chester so possible not too far from you, one thing i would suggest is you download an App called Sky Safari Pro 7, it has a live view of the sky where you are and tons of info of everything that you want to look at. Good luck and enjoy your sky watching.

I can only speak from my own experience and I can say most certainly the Hyperion Zoom is a big improvement optically over my BST EP's, I do accept that the FOV at 24mm is 10' narrower but I have not found this a problem.

I would say the Baader Hyperion Zoom it covers all bases, just the one eyepiece, I'm really impressed with mine.

Ok only a baby 8" Dobsonian so a tad easier to handle, safe inside it's Oklop carrying bag, sits inside my boot along side the tripod and SkyTee mount. I find it easier to use this mount rather than the original plywood base, a far better height for my eyes and saves my ageing knees.

Hi Ian and welcome to SGL, this really is a fabulous place to find answers to any problems you might have, a real friendly bunch. We live just outside the city centre but are lucky enough to have only the Donkey between us and low light pollution sky.

I have just bought the Baader Hyperion zoom, can highly recommend it. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/baader-planetarium/baader-hyperion-zoom-eyepiece.html

As promised the nice delivery man was on time, actually 30mins earlier, (must have a faster van). So here is my new Starquest 102R travel Telescope from Flo. I have made a few changes in changing the standard fittings for a Badder Click Lock and adding a 2" Revalation Astro dielectric Diagnol. Also swapped the infrared finder for a 50mm right angled one, I'm thinking I will get some tube rings which will give me some flexibility on turning the tube all in all I'm well pleased with it. Thanks again to Alex and his Amigos at Flo for excellent service.

Well those guys at Flo don't hang around, I ordered this last night https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescopes-in-stock/sky-watcher-starquest-102r-f49-achromatic-refractor-telescope.htm received an email this morning that it's on the way and I will get it tomorrow, knowing the DHL delivery service (have I bought from FLO before?)🤔 it will be here before 10am. Happy days and thanks guys for all your words of wisdom.👍

Thanks guys for your response, I'm still at the head scratching stage, Alex from Flo suggested this as an option being as they have it in stock https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescopes-in-stock/sky-watcher-starquest-102r-f49-achromatic-refractor-telescope.html - ST102 refractor on Starquest EQ mount, optional tracking motor is nice all the others are on a 60-90 day wait. So I might just go with that. Thanks again.

We are looking for a telescope that we will be able to take away on holiday with us in our motorhome, something small enough that it is not too intrusive we have narrowed it down to two options. The Skywatcher Evostar-90/600 or the Startravel 102. We were thinking the matching them with the Sky Watcher AZ5 Deluxe Alt-Azimuth mount and tripod. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Not expected until Monday but hey a Txt from DHL this morning and then whilst reading it the nice delivery chap knocks on the door, not bad 30 mins earlier that the txt time, big box with three lovely padded bags to protect my scopes. Very happy with the snug fit of all three, thank you FLO for such prompt service.

I found myself with a spare Skytee clamping plate and thought I could make use of that, the only problem is I couldn't fix it to my 2001 Sky Scan EQ3. So with a few odd bits of Mild Steel, some Taps and Dies, my trusty welding set and some spray paint made a bracket that would suit my needs. Result is I can now easily fit and release my Helios 120 Refractor to the mount and tripod, well pleased with that.

Please don't use WD40, it's not a lubricant, the clue is in the name WD = Water Displacement, the 40 refers to how many times it was changed until the got it right. IF you want to use a lubricant of anything, door locks, rust preventative etc etc then get yourself some ACF50.

First thoughts are there threads in the holes? if so then the grub screws are simply missing. 2nd you might be able to just centre the laser if it's only a little way off by moving the secondary by hand, worth a try.