Ags

I have been thinking about getting a frac for some time, but getting one with low focal length, good aperture and affordable at the same time is not easy! I have been thinking of getting a ED70 but that is probably on the small side... Now the 94EDPH has caught my fancy - 94mm aperture, 517mm focal length. It is pricey, but not impossibly so. Frankly the specs look too good - I am doubtful about any larger refractor with an F ratio below 6. My only use for the scope would be for visual use, mainly grab-and-go and travel. Has anyone used one of these extensively for visual observation of the moon, double stars, and planets?

Had a chance to try the NPL 20 under the stars. Very comfortable despite the useless eye shield. And very sharp compared to my Super 25 - no surprise there! Not as sharp as my ES 24/68°, but I find that eyepiece just too heavy. Lots of faint background stars popped out with the NPL and the view of a few bright simple doubles (Polaris, Mizar, Cor Caroli) was very satisfying. Based on this I am hopeful I really can get rid of my hulking ES 24/68° when the NPL 30 arrives. My turret is really coming together!

Just picked up a Vixen NPL 20mm as it is parfocal with the SLVs. Still waiting for the NPL 30mm to arrive. The NPL sits well with the SLV 6mm on the turret, and looks and feels very good in the hand. I fell instantly in love, but that feeling has been tempered by two things. Firstly, NPL has very strong pincushion distortion, more than any other eyepiece I have owned. Not a problem at night, but not good for daytime use. Secondly the click up eye shield is useless as you can’t see more than 30 degrees of FOV when it is clicked up, and it can only be fully up or down. I think I will simply glue it halfway up. The view is nice and sharp and bright, so looking forward to trying it at night.

I have tried to capture the beauty of my new little Vixen NPL 20mm through the medium of photography. Sad face that the 30mm is on back order. Fits in very well with my SLVs.

@F15Rules thanks for the the lock screw size. @Don Pensack thanks for the idea to keep the eyepieces capped. It shortens my setup time - now I don't even need to uncap the oculars! I am planning a rotation of 4 SLVs so the lenscaps should all match.

I had a chance to try out the turret tonight. It was a short session between clouds taking in a few doubles. 1. I must remember to turn the turret clockwise - turn it the other way and my cheap diagonal starts to disassemble! 2. Eyepieces on turrets fog. Make sure the turret is twisted as far away from the face as possible. 3. I really like not changing eyepieces!

My Berlebach triumvirate: Report 112, Uni extension tube, Castor giro head.

Has anyone tried connecting a small game controller to the Android synscan app for tactile scope control? Something like this: https://www.nedgame.nl/pc-gaming/8bitdo-zero-2-mini-bluetooth-gamepad--turquoise-/6645363627/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_uXB2_7z7wIVC-3tCh0X4Q9lEAQYASABEgLwWPD_BwE

Let me know the size of nylon screws to get if you find out... Would prefer plastic screwing into plastic from a longevity point of view. Q Turrets are really easy to pick up second hand - there's a lot of people what don't like them! I am actually thinking of getting a second one for my side-by-side scope setup, but need to expand my EP collection first 🤣 At the moment this is for my spring grab and go setup - light tripod and AZ head, Mak 102 and the turret. I hate eyepiece swapping so hoping this works out. Down the line I might upgrade to the similar looking metal Geoptik unit. Current plan is for four SLVs - any four from 25, 12, 9, 6 , 4 and 2.5mm depending on conditions and targets and scope. (not the 4 or 2.5 with the little Mak I think... 🤣 )

I just obtained one of these second hand. I’ll put my thoughts here as I try it out. It is nice and light but I have my doubts about its overall strength. Backfocus can be an issue - I can't reach infinity focus with my ST80 and mirror diagonal. The action of the turret is nice and smooth and precise. When viewing the other eyepieces do not get in the way (assuming you stick to eyepieces of similar length). Overall I think I am going to like this device.

Today in the post: a true marmite item... i hope I like this Marmite!

Just the second stage de-orbiting in the wrong place. Apparently the re-entry burn didn't go quite right. Still, one less piece of space junk.

Well... this past weekend I went three rounds with a flat-pack cupboard and barely won, so maybe I will stick to designing and hire someone!

I would like to know too.

Did some more 3D modeling today. This is the view from Jupiter: That was ok, but the view from the sitting room was Shed Central: Now looking at if I can make the back right corner work as an observing area. The problem is the grape-clad pergola due south of it and a lovely crab apple tree next to it.

Visual mostly with a little imaging. There is a streetlight due south of the site which might be a real deal-breaker depending on the angles and a couple of young hazelnuts will have to come out. Is it a bad idea to let creepers grow on the side of an observatory? I don't want to pour concrete for a pier however. I am thinking of something less permanent - perhaps something deeply staked into my heavy clay soil. Note I am not thinking of very heavy equipment, maybe a C8 at most. I think it would also be nice to recline in the darkness of the obsy with a pair of binoculars taking in the night sky and maybe catching a meteor or two. A dome is just too complicated to build. I could probably do it but don't like the possibility of failure. Another issue is the noise of rotating the dome. A dome is also permanently high, shadowing my northern neighbor's garden.

I live in a ground floor apartment, surrounded by neighbors in a land where no one seems to use curtains or blinds. I have 3D light pollution from local light sources, and nearby Schiphol airport and a surrounding city. I often think about a structure to block out the local light pollution. One which I would be able to build anyway. A dome is simply too complicated to build and far too expensive to buy. A roll off roof is awkward in my space and won't block light from upstairs. Tonight I thought of a flip-lid observatory - if the roof flips up it will provide more shading. Something like this: It would even be possible, once the roof is flipped up to hook some canvas along the back Now I have made a model it does look a bit restrictive, but I could enable the roof section on the side with the human figure to open out a bit wider. Keeping the weight of the roof parts low would be vital of course.

I finally get to try out my Artcise tripod tonight but not sure of a target.... I have a small mono sensor attached to a 100 mm f2.8 lens giving a 5 degree FOV. I only have the west and the zenith. Any suggestions?

Well I am happy with mine. Light and capable,a good all-rounder.

Some lovely images have come back already from Perseverance. I am also keenly following the developments by SpaceX at Boca Chica. I think bigger cheaper rockets will really open up Mars. I remember the early pictures back from Mars and thinking it looked so plain and ordinary and familiar, which was the most exciting thing - a planet nearby that wasn't utterly alien. Here in Holland the state pension age is linked to life expectancy so tonight I was checking when I would retire. It turns out it will be at age 67 + nine months for me, in the late 2030s. My first thought was "Wow, I wonder what will be happening on Mars by then!"

Yes it is in AZ mode. The C6 is quite large so the counterbalance serves to reduce strain on the gears. It's not in perfect balance, only less out of balance. Also keeps the relatively small tripod balanced.

FedEx sent me a bill today for VAT and import duties - 30% of the original cost.

Stilll haven't had a chance to use the tripod, but I did get a bill for EUR 39 import duties today. 😕

Still on the fence about catching one of these to Australia...

Shame, very close to success. A miss is as good as a mile...