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Ags

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Everything posted by Ags

  1. I am still finding new ways of being indecisive, having narrowed the choice down to 1 scope, the CC8, I think I have come up with a cheaper and probably optically better option. How about the Orion Optics VX8L? It weighs 8kg, so it fits in the weight budget, and if it is upgraded to 1/10 PV option it comes to about 840 euros... It would beat the CC8 on actual aperture, be about the same weight (but a lot longer), and have a much smaller secondary. Obvious drawbacks are it would be very wind-affected, and visual use is a non-starter on an EQ mount. The VX8 is also a possibility - the secondary is still smaller than the CC8 and it is a kilo lighter. It will be a little easier to mount and a little less vulnerable to wind, but collimation at f4.5 (vs f6) would be more fiddly. I used to have a 150pds that put up very nice images of Jupiter but sadly I didn't have the right mount for it, so I know a simple newtonian can do very well... The two things that go against either the VX8 or VX8L are (1) Orion Optics UK's reputation, and (2) I really think newts on EQs are unsuitable for visual use. However for visual use I can set it up on an alt-az mount like a skytee.
  2. I was quite impressed I could guide at 0.5s. I do however think this level of cloud is unfair. When I was growing up in South Africa I had a little book of astronomy that talked about "crisp, clear winter nights" in the UK. Coming to Europe I feel cheated! We have made up our minds to move to Greece next year to join family members there. We should see a few more clear nights and be a couple of bortles darker. But we will be poorer! Good thing I got this round of purchasing in now
  3. I also struggle with Lunar Geography, even get the seas mixed up!
  4. Looks like I am using 0.5 guide speed. I was using a guide exposure of 0.5s and 1s - I didn’t notice much difference between them.
  5. Change the rule for posting for sale ads to requiring 50 posts in the past year.
  6. I have a few more bits coming for my setup. A couple of finder shoes - for my ZS66 and C6, so that I can mount the FMA135 on those tubes for guiding purposes. Then getting an additional SCT-T2 adaptor because I lose stuff. Also got an amici diagonal so the FMA135 can be used as a visual finder on overseas trips (not sure about the backfocus though).
  7. Actually, what is this guide speed you speak of…? I don’t see such an option in the user interface?
  8. No comment ... I don't know enough about guiding to give a good answer, and I haven't had enough time under the stars to find what works better or worse with this setup.
  9. I have had a couple of sessions with the new setup and had many rainy nights to cogitate, so I think I can sum up my feelings about the HEM15. I really like this mount (used only in combination with a diminutive ASIAIR Mini) - aligning the EQ mount is really easy thanks to the good mechanics of the HEM15, and the clever Air software. Thereafter gotos assisted with plate solving are not merely accurate, they are exact and verified. Guiding in my very limited experience "just works". There seems very little backlash, if any when I was panning about the Moon. The mount is silent and obviously up to the task of swinging my undemanding loads around. The HEM15 and Air both draw very little current. This is a massive upgrade over the AZ-GTi, and I am very happy with my purchase.
  10. Or a Zoom call which would allow remote viewing of the item.
  11. I am a UK citizen and I use US spelling whenever possible, it is just a little bit more logical. Just saying, in case anyone thinks I am a scam 😀
  12. I am still using the 485MC, I can't complain but it was a bit annoying when the 585MC came out a couple of months later with zero amp glow...
  13. Aperture fever applies to batteries too
  14. Yes I know, but I had a generous offer of a excellent mono CCD and spectro grating. When I am using the CCD I will have to do a slightly complicated arrangement with an AIR and a laptop running in parallel. I rather think that I will use the CCD mostly for photometry and spectro, as it will be much more convenient to run everything from the AIR. Besides, the laptop doesn't have the battery life for an extended session.
  15. Currently I only need to power two uncooled cameras, the HEM15, and the Air Mini, all that only seemed to draw 1A. But there's a cooled 8300 CCD coming to me on the next family visit. When I set up my C6, I guess I really will need to think about dew strips if I am imaging with it for a few hours. So power requirements will go up... The mount will travel! I've flown a few times with the AZ-GTi and the HEM is only a little heavier. That does impose limits on the size of the battery. This one give 3A on the 12V output: Celestron Lithium 7.2 Ah LiFePO4 Powertank | First Light Optics
  16. Next time I am out I will use the Air to make a graph of Volts and Amps over time. From what I have seen so far the measurements it gives seem quite close to the expected values. The 24/12/5 battery looks like a good upgrade for me as the Air was measuring my current draw at 1.0 A, so well within the 2A envelope.
  17. A couple of nights ago I had a brief opportunity to play with my beautiful machine. Polar aligning did not go well - hundreds of stars detected but plate solving failed and failed. Eventually, I remembered to take off the lens cap 😀 Whenever the mount slews around I am enchanted by the obvious precision of the mount and its smooth unruffled whir, nothing like the multi-tone grinding of my AZ-GTi! I didn't have time to do much, but it tracked the Moon very nicely, and I took a few test snaps of double stars.
  18. My main interest is making out the main stars of constellations under very bad light pollution, and also trying to spot some shooting stars.
  19. My three most used eyepieces are the Svbony 3-8 Zoom and, um, well, that's it.
  20. Lay off CN! It's a great forum and resource. Honestly, I have never seen a cultural difference between the two forums... SGL has far better software though.
  21. Found a good write up about talentcells and their limitations. https://www.californiaskys.com/blogs/archives/11-2023
  22. A bitter cup of cold regret that I haven't bought more stuff!!!
  23. That's good info. Looks like I can pick up a 3x Nikon for the price of 2 imported Astronomy Now magazines, not the sort of pricing associated with the brand. Sorting out a DIY eyecup won't be hard. Only concern is that the Nikon doesn't focus so I will have to wear glasses. https://www.kamera-express.nl/nikon-tc-e3ed-teleconverter This actually works out well as I would prefer a 3x monocular for quick looks and scanning as it should go a bit deeper. For meteor showers and other sustained viewing, I think I would prefer a 2x pair with focussing, and FLO do sell a cheaper pair that comes in around the price of 2 Nikon's but hopefully with better ergonomics (again important for sustained observation).
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