bosun21

1 minute ago, Albir phil said:

Ok thanks for info, did you have to get a mounting adapter plate with the steelltrack

No. It comes with a paper template showing the mounting holes. There is a video or two on YouTube showing how to fit them. I fitted mine without a template. Just measured it out.

I haven't owned a Quattro but have upgraded the focuser on several Newtonians and the Baader Steeltrack is great upgrade to the stock focusers supplied with the scopes. They are not quite a Feather touch and don't have the price tag either. However they are a solid and well trusted unit which works very well.

Lovely set of photos Paul. I do like having the various sheds and constructions in the foreground. Gives the photos more character.

56 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

it found its way to you then Ian 

Yes mate. I was miffed that I didn't have the funds when you first posted it was for sale. I regretted selling my 150 a while back. It's pristine without even a mark on the dovetail as you already know.

You must use the correct extension piece to achieve focus. The taller slim one for 1.25" eyepieces and the other one for 2" eyepieces. NEVER both at the same time. I wouldn't have adjusted the collimation until you see what you are dealing with as they are generally useable straight from the factory. As has been said align the telescope on a distant object and achieve focus first. Once successful then align the finder scope with the telescope image seen in the eyepiece. Once that is done then you can look at the collimation situation. Walk before you run so to speak.

Parcelforce delivery today of a Skymax 180 Maksutov and a 90° polar scope adapter and Reflectix/tape for it. Just need to get an electric focuser and clicklock for the back along with a dew heater strap and dew shield. Once fitted I can then fit the Reflectix.

1 hour ago, josefk said:

Yes I do also wrap the Xmas presents in our house 🙂

I bought a roll of aluminium tape at the same time as my reflectix.  The black looks good as well though 🤔. Where are you fitting the dew strip? Inside the insulation or outside?

That's good news. It should work just fine. 👍.

I don't actually. It should just be a matter of finding out the plug type and buying a replacement of the same type. Have you looked on the actual Skywatcher website?

The dec cable should be routed above the RA axis. You have it underneath.

The Opticron iMagic 7x50 are a good binocular which is reasonably priced. Light enough to be comfortably hand held for periods as well as a wide FOV. There's also the 10x50 in the same binocular available. FLO sells both models.

I'm a retired Electrical and Electronics engineer and I can endorse what @Stuart1971 has already advised you.  

Welcome to SGL. You have just opened the first page on an amazingly wonderful and very large book. All of us here are doing the same although on different pages.

Just now, Dibp said:

Thank you 

I will have a look now. I think the only other thing I may need to take in to account is how easy would it be to collimate- I live a gee hours from her so would be tricky to have to go down there a lot. I only have experience with my one and only C5 which has held itself remarkably well!

The smaller Heritage 100 has a fixed primary mirror which comes aligned from the factory.

A Skywatcher Heritage 130 would be more than enough telescope to allow her to see a whole host of targets including the rings of Saturn, Jupiters moons and the moon etc. It's a tabletop telescope which only requires a small steady table to sit it on. Or even the smaller Heritage 100.

Lovely Panorama of the Tenerife sky and the Milky way.

4 hours ago, Wulfrune said:

I do thank all of you for your replies, it's better than I expected, but the issues remain, I've tried all the "Read this / Watch this" options and it hasn't worked for me.  I really do appreciate the fact that you guys are trying to help me, but I need to hope that instead of being told to "Read this / Watch this" I'm at a point where I feel I need to be actually shown how it's done.

Kudos to you all for taking the time out of your day to answer my call.  Thank you all.

 

Kind regards

Steve

I have sent you a message with offer of help.

Have you done an alignment process when setting up the telescope? The telescope needs to know where it's pointing to track correctly. Tracking movements differ from South/North to East/West for example as East/West will have more vertical movement. You can do either a one star alignment or solar system alignment on the moon for example. This although not the most accurate for go to will at least track whichever target you point the telescope at. I suggest you read the manual on alignment and if you don't have one you can find a copy online. Good luck.

Nice addition to your stable. I look forward to your thoughts on the performance of the f8.

3 minutes ago, Kon said:

I prefer the planets too, but I do enjoy the crater close ups. A few more months and we will be out again. Saturn is looking interesting from down under with the rings edge on.

Yes Saturn will be interesting due to the rings positioning. I think all our focus will now be on the surface details of the planet which are difficult to begin with. I really hope you manage to get the tracking problem sorted out. I would be pulling my hair out if it was me.

17 hours ago, Kon said:

Nice images Ian. I hope you are over the illness and hopefully start imaging again, if this weather ever improves.

Yes I am feeling well again and eager to get back out under the sky again. I may capture some more lunar images but my passion is for the planets themselves and I'm eagerly awaiting  their return. I am particularly looking forward to Mars this apparition. I'll keep busy meantime doing visual and some EAA which I also really enjoy.

Another interesting capture Reggie. Definitely on my to do list for the coming apparition.

1 minute ago, Vic L S said:

Thanks for the insight. I'm always a little anxious buying/ selling online, but I think even more so with astro gear. 

You hear more about buyers being scammed, but how sellers protected? Is it easy to get scammed by a buyer, if they just put in a claim on PayPal stating the item has not arrived/ damaged, and insists on a refund? Is that something that happens often with these things? 

I'd always prefer to meet in person but that's not always possible, so just wondering how others went about it if things come to being posted. 

It's good to know that there is usually good buying and selling etiqeutte from users on this forum though. 

I have sold many items by post to SGL members and always post using a tracked and insured method. For items over £150 I generally use next day by 1pm which is tracked and insured. Generally all other items by First class signed for and some smaller items like extensions/adapters 2nd class signed for. Large items like scopes and mounts are best collected but I have shipped a few by courier (Parcelforce) which is also insured. As you can probably see every item will have proof of delivery. HTH.

As @Paz has already outlined there are a few retailers that sell secondhand equipment, though limited by variety. I used to drive to collect in person from the sellers home or meet up point for larger and more expensive equipment. This allowed me to check the item personally before purchase. Now that I can no longer drive due to health reasons, I only either buy from here on SGL, or new from a retailer. On SGL you easily see who is serious about our hobby and maybe those not so much. I have only bought one telescope from SGL by post and i had no concerns parting with my money up front (£500 plus). Such is the quality of many members on here. That's not to say there's no less than honest people around so caution is best employed. Thankfully the later is a rare occurrence here. I have bought the odd bit here and there on Astro buy and sell UK without mishap. If it's not a person or member I've gotten to know then PayPal with buyers protection is the safest way to proceed with any purchase. I have also sold many items and pieces of equipment on SGL which all went smoothly. Welcome to SGL by the way.

I managed to grab a few hours on the moon earlier this month which was a task due to being ill with pneumonia at the time. Just got around to processing them as I was clearing space on my computer. The seeing was very good on the night with no wind if I remember correctly. I really need to centre the targets better. This was with my 250mm Synscan dobsonian and ASI462MC.

Clavius

Alpine Mountain Range