stephec

8 hours ago, peanutcol said:

Ha ha ha. I know what the removed word is. That's the other carpark mate. The one they had to put a steel gate across 😂

The ones that I know are the car park on the left, opposite the school if you're heading from Horwich, and the ones at the barns. 

18 hours ago, peanutcol said:

I think the Forrest of bowland is classed as dark skies. Thinking of heading there or rivington one time.

One of the car parks at Rivington is highlighted on the Go Stargazing website, handy if you want to do a bit of [removed word] at the same time. 😂

I've been observing from my garden in the M28 postcode area for a couple of years with a Skywatcher 150/750 reflector, and am looking to broaden my horizons a bit. 

I'm looking for somewhere within half an hour from me where I won't be limited by streetlamps and neighbouring buildings, does such a place exist? 

As my first choice scope at home I have a Skywatcher 150/750 reflector, and I also have tucked away the Celestron Firstscope 76/300 that I originally started out with. 

I work away occasionally and have been thinking of taking the Firstscope with me, but comparing it to the Skywatcher shows up it's limitations. 

Near to me a Meade Infinity 90 has just come up for sale for £75. Considering that it will only get used once a month at most, and that's assuming good conditions wherever I'm staying, is the Meade much of an upgrade to the Firstscope? 

Thanks everyone, plenty for me to think about now. 

I live between Bolton and Manchester in what Clear Outside calls a bortle 6 area, built up and lots of street lighting. 

I was thinking of getting a filter so went on to FLO's website and searched for 'pollution filter' and now I'm more than a bit confused. 

A bit of advice then please, what do I go for in 1.25"?

It's a shame the weather didn't play ball on this tonight as the guys that did the talks put on a really good show, big thanks to them for what they did tonight. 

And as a real wind up, the moment we got out of the car when we got home there was the moon, clearly poking through a gap in the clouds. 😂

35 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

 

Be aware, also, that the dovetail rail should have stop bolts at both ends to stop it sliding through the dovetail clamp. This is a classic way to trash a telescope!

Olly

Why have I got the Benny Hill theme tune playing in my head? 😂

That does explain what the bolts in the end of the plate that I looked at earlier are for though. 

41 minutes ago, John said:

This is a company in the USA who market a dovetail clamp arrangement for EQ3 mounts that don't have one. I don't suggest you buy one but it might give you something that you could copy yourself:

ScopeStuff

I like that, at work we use a man made wood called trespa, I could probably get a block cut to that size and drill and tap it as needed. 

A couple more photos, I've taken off the top 16mm (seriously, who uses 16mm?) nut and the two cap head screws on the side, but the top section won't budge, it looks like it contains the slow motion gearing. 

It looks like Mandy's idea is the one, and luckily I work for an engineering company so it should be no problem to get hold of a piece of 6mm SS bar cut to length, an M8 countersink screw in each end with a few nuts on it to raise the bar to the right height, then a couple of holes near the centre to mount the clamp. 

It might look a bit like something the A-Team would make but it's still cheaper than a new mount. 😅

Thanks Mandy, I was hoping someone would say that as I like the look of the Skywatcher green ones. 😅

I don't know anything about quick release though? 

I have a 150/f5 reflector which is currently mounted with the scope rings directly to the mount, would there be any advantage to using a longer dovetail instead? 

I emailed the LAS last week but haven't heard anything back, but by coincidence a Facebook advert appeared for events at Martin Mere last night. 

Scrolling through it it says that there are limited places available for £10 each and booking was required, good job that I saw it and didn't just turn up on the day. 😊

Thanks LSM, I've emailed the society's outreach address for some information on it. 

Anyone going to this one organised by Liverpool AS? 

It was a Celestron Firstscope that got me into observing, but once it was replaced with a Skywatcher 150 I shamefully cast it aside and neglected to take it out. 

Recently though I've realised how easy it is to just take it outside and point it upwards, and when I'm working away it comes in really handy. 

Thanks everyone, living between Manchester and Bolton I'm used to light pollution, I was just hoping that I could get some slight better viewing conditions down there, but unfortunately now a change of plans means I probably won't be there after all. 

I'll be stopping there next Thursday and am thinking of taking my little Celestron First Scope with me. 

Could you recommend somewhere upto 15 minutes drive from the city centre that would be a good place to observe from? 

I'm looking for a 1.25 plossil around 30mm for a 150mm F5 reflector, there's plenty of choice available but is there anything that stands out? 

As it's to go with a 7 - 21mm zoom would I better off getting a 28mm and 35mm, or should the 30mm cover everything? 

6 minutes ago, LDW1 said:

Are you bragging or complaining ??  Now I see where this is leading !

I was looking forward to having a nice looking case like that, although maybe not quite that level of quality. 😊

The only problem I can see with having a zoom is that I never end up with a nice looking case full like this. 🤣

2 minutes ago, cajen2 said:

I have the OVL 7-21mil version and I agree: optically, it's excellent. The FOV is rather narrow compared with the fixed-length EPs I normally use, but no serious problem there. My only issue is that the zoom ring is so stiff that I have to use two hands, thus often knocking the scope off target.

Did it not loosen up the more you use it? 

On 02/02/2023 at 20:06, bomberbaz said:

I have had the ovl versions of them both. They are very functional and I agree with the 7-21 being best for you.

If you have a 2" focuser though, get a 28-30mm 2" eyepiece. 

Is that the Hyperflex? 

I've seen a few UK shops offering it for around £89 which is very tempting. 

1.25 only for me though. 

Thanks everyone, I think I'm swaying towards the SV191. 

I'm looking at possibly getting a zoom for my 6"F5 reflector, something around the 7 - 21 range as I already have a BST 5mm, and would finish it off with a 30 - 35mm plossil of some variety. 

The two I'm thinking of are both from Svbony - 

SV191 9 - 27mm

SV135 7 - 21mm

Does anyone have experience with either of these two please?