Uplooker

2 hours ago, CrazyComet said:

Hi,

Just booked up for this event. Looking forward to it as I have heard a lot of stories (nice ones!!) about this event. 

Excellent job. Still time to get in for the Spring event, it’s on in 2 weeks ?

Just checked, I’m freeeeee.?

Will there be any pies?

Can’t believe I missed this thread, haha.

My stalkingmeter must have malfunctioned, need to get it checked out.

Have to check if I am free those dates?

Luck guy, lovely scope.

2 hours ago, JamesF said:

Excellent

Personally I'd be tempted to remove those threaded rods and replace them with the shortest possible bolt that allows you to get a hand/spanner in for aligning the mount.  That should improve rigidity.

James

I agree wholeheartedly with what James says

Looking good Alex. Unfortunately I think you managed to finish digging the hole for your pier just in time for it to fill up with water. Oh well, it will dry out ?

11 hours ago, Yawning Angel said:

The foundation blocks are in, along with the network and power SWA cables - so serious grafting in 28 degree heat, especially as I've spend 20+ years perfecting my physique to drive a desk! Mad dogs and Englishmen, eh @Uplooker ?

The lawn might never forgive the brutalization in this dry weather, but that's a problem for another day. Photos later...

Next job - order the base timber

Ha ha, your right. I don’t stand out in the midday sun too much, being Irish.

It is actually quite funny that if you have not made an update to this thread I can just look out the window and see for myself ?

its looking good so far, onwards and upwards.

Great start James, I will follow progress with interest.

1 hour ago, saac said:

This is an interesting thread. I've often wondered what are the perceived pros and con of the different type of focusers. Does anybody know?

Jim

I have been amazed that in recent years I have seen lots of people saying they want to upgrade their focuser by moving from a R&P a crayford. I don’t see the sense in that. Yes there are differences in manufacturing tolerances  between focusers but with other things being equal I would have a R&P focuser any day. If they are adjusted correctly they will not slip.

The Baader steeltrack may be exception amongst crayfords, but as I have never used one I can not say for certain.

Rodd,

Have you read this thread, may help:-

10 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

Today I picked up a nice little parcel, and this is what it contained...

 

Hi F15,

Sorry to say I am not familiar with the Parks brand. How do they perform? Are they more suited to slower / longer FL optics?

Yes, I know this is an old post, but it completely passed me by.

Thanks for posting, very informative, well done.

Great resource, thank you for posting

Mark,

I am no image processor, not even in your wildest dreams. I have just followed your instruction and using the data you provided. That is nothing short of magical. To be fair I did not really understand anything of what I was doing, just by rote. It really is fabulous. Thank you so much.

I loved showing the original image to my love and then doing the 2.5 Gamma bit and hearing her go "Wow"

that case is no where big enough to contain / store a pie

Well done Jim on expanding the telescope experiences to include other aspects of science, that are still telescope related.

It also takes me back to my school days to see "proper science benches"

Keep at it, you are obviously inspiring the next generation, well done and good on ya!!!

Well done SAAC, really looking forward to seeing the finished scope. Well done on getting the kids involved!

Hi Agnes,

My mother has had cataract surgery in both eyes. Seemed a bit strange to me at first, but the surgeon fitted a short sighted lens in one eye and a long sighted lens in the other (not at the same time). Reason being that Mum likes reading newspapers, doing crosswords and also had the need of long vision for driving.The brain is a marvelous tool in the fact that it can make sense of it all. That is demonstrated by the fact that we see everything upside down, but he brain in its processing of the information makes everything look the "right" way up.

Unfortunately my Mum has never been into stargazing, so I am unable to say what impact it has on views at the eyepiece. However, I am sure that the surgeon would investigate what was the best course to take and may fit a short sighted lens in the eye that was to used by the individual for EP viewing

very nice EP case Shane. It is a bit crowded, but you know why that is, you have 2 of a lot of them :-0

Hi Damian,

Looking good. Just a quick question as it is not clear to me from the photos. How did you attach the vanes to the central boss? Did you use the screws on the 100mm discs to secure "pillars" between the two and then utilise the 2 off holes in the vanes to fasten to those "pillars"?

Lets hope this the last secondary holder arrangement you need to fashion

Just a couple of questions:-

1. Did you really need to wear a glove to demonstrate the "push" action of the brush?
2. Another bloody spider? How many will that be?

Regards,

Mr Technical

Excellent job big man. I had similar convoluted thoughts of such an arrangement myself. Certainly wouldn't have been as finely executed as yours ?

Hi Tyson,

Further to your post above, Naglers suffer from fringing on the moon. I suspect that was where you were getting the CA from, rather than the scope

Hi kev,

I agree totally with tooth_dr, amazing images, well done

@xtreemchaos & @johnfosteruk

those are good images, would not have believed you were both beginners, had you not said.

I am no pro myself, just very lucky with the timing and conditions ?