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.

21 hours ago, John said:

I don't think it is a real step up in optical quality from most of the BST Starguiders though and the apparent field of view at the 24mm end is narrower.

 

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.

Well done Wulfrun, here in Chester it has just been one cloudy sky after another, all my fault since fitting some tube rings to my 8" Dob about 2 weeks ago.

I am really chomping at the bit to get out and use the scope on the tripod and recently purchased Skytee 2 from Flo, fingers crossed.

So not a stupid question Noodles at all I have learnt something or at least started to gain some knowledge, Thanks to Vliav's explanation.

And all from the comfort of your own home, amazing what a fantastic hobby this is, well done.

As much as I liked my Dobsonian it was a pain trying to track anything, so I bought a set of 235mm Tube Rings, after removing the Dob from the cradle I fitted the tube rings, didn't take long to realise after pointed out by Vliav one of the cradle pads would have to go as it caught on the clamp.

Simple task to remove and put somewhere safe.

The Dob now sits nicely on my Skytee 2 mount with excellent fine adjustment and a better height for viewing, I had a spare Clamp from my Altair Sabre which fitted the Skytee perfectly and a Vixen bar so the whole deal only cost me £60, Thanks FLO.

I'm  chuffed with that, thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys.

Life and telescopes were never going to be easy, another problem looking for a solution🤔

All you guys on SGL are brilliant so much excellent advice, you have helped me on many occasions.

Mind you my wife did mention you are costing me a bloody fortune.....🤔

I love it.😜

I went shopping again and Flo sent these out to me, have to say well impressed with the Skytee mount.

Can anyone advise me if it's possible to fit my Sky Watcher 200P Dobsonian with a set of Tube Rings so I would be able to use it in my SkyTee mount rather than in the Dobsonian cradle.

Thanks.

1 hour ago, John said:

Do you mean better than the Hyperion fixed focal length eyepieces or the Hyperion zoom ?

They are quite different.

Hi John,

I'm just asking overall as it seems the Baader range from the £49 Plossl's through to the Morpheus including the zoom give excellent viewing optics, or rather they certainly work very well in my scopes.

I understand my 70yr old eyes are not at their best but as a beginner I found myself experiencing the wow factor whilst searching the terminator line on the moon last night using the Hyperion Zoom for the first time, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and all without constantly having to change EP's.

Perhaps when winter comes and I am looking at the Orion Nebula I might find the zoom lacking but currently I am on an exciting road of discovery.

 

 

 

Just a question to those that know, without doubt the Morpheus is an excellent EP, (I bought the 12.5 on the recommendations from this thread) I just wondered how much better it was than the Baader Hyperion considering the price difference.

I ask this as last night I used for the first time my newly purchased Baader Hyperion Zoom and have to say the viewing of the moon was very impressive at all settings, even when attached to the matching Barlow, this was in my Explorer 150PDS and also Sky Watcher Evostar 150Ed DS.