Andy67

Thanks everyone for your input. I'll have another look after work tomorrow night and see how I do.

Thanks David. I'll have another look and if it is out I'll have a go at adjusting the secondary. I take it you mean the difference between A & B ?

Hi guys. For the first time since getting my pre loved XT8 I decided to check the colomation, it appeared to be out. I've had a go at adjusting the primary but haven't touched the secondary. I've attached a screen shot taken through the colomation cap, does this look right or am I off. I've tried looking for YouTube videos on how to use a Cheshire which I recently purchased but couldn't find anything that made me feel confident enough to use it so I reverted to the colomation cap. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the advice. guys. I'll start looking for a Cheshire.

Hi guys. I'm looking to buy my first collimator and I'm not sure which would be best, a laser or a Cheshire? What are the pros and cons of each? I have an XT8. Thanks. Andy.

Thanks for you help Stu. 😊

Thanks Stu. I screenshot the images from Stelllatium and zoomed in to show what I was looking at. The impression I got from the article in BBC Sky at Night was that I should be able to see the E & F stars too. Am I just expecting too much and I won't be able to split the stars as much as I thought I'd be able to? Maybe like you said the seeing wasn't as good as I thought it was. It won't stop me trying though 😊

Thanks guys. I'm sure I've aligned correctly using my red dot finder. (Check out the screenshots) I'm using the 25mm to target and focus then I'm increasing the power and re-centering each time but I'm not seeing what I think I should be able to see?

Apologies if this is a stupid question... I'm still learning. I have a Orion XT8 and Starguider eyepieces (25mm, 18mm, 12mm and 5mm) and I live in a Bortle 4 area. I read in BBC Sky at Night that with a scope of 6 inches and above I should be able to see the Trapezium in the Orion nebula. Tonight seemed to be a nice clear night so around 10pm with Orion in the south east I tried to find the Trapezium but I couldn't see it. What am I doing wrong?

Great. Thanks for the advise. I won't bother getting it then, I'll put the money to better use. 😊

Hi guys. I have an Orion XT8 and I'm using a 25mm BST Starguider. I want to view M31 and I've read that I will struggle to get it all in the field of view. I've also read about the use of a focal reducer to increase the field of view and wondered whether any of you have had any experience using this particular Focal reducer? Thanks.

I think people are expecting too much from this series. It's not a "degree" course in astronomy. I think it's aimed more at the general public with very little or no knowledge of what's out there. It could well be the catalyst that starts someone on the journey that we are all on. I'm quite a newbie to star gazing. My interest was sparked by Brian Cox and programs like this as well as the fantastic views of the night sky. Once you become "hooked" by a program like this you can start learning more about our incredible universe. My poor wife has to put up with me spouting interesting facts that I have learnt about the universe, and it all started with programs like this. Universe is very pretty, Brian's delivery helps to create awe. Let's get ready to welcome newbies like we all were to a fascinating hobby. 😊

Thanks for the help guys. I now have a better idea what to look for.

Hi. I am new to astronomy (about 8 months) and I'm in need of advice. I have just bought an Orion XT8. My previous telescope was a Celestron Powerseeker 114EQ which was a gift (I struggled a bit with this) Having researched on the internet I concluded that the XT8 would be a better suited telescope. I am getting on a lot better with it, however, the eyepieces that I got with the Celestron don't seem to be of a very good quality (plastic barrels and not very sharp) and so I am looking to replace them with a better quality range but there seem to be so many and despite researching I'm still not sure which ones to buy. The top end are out of my beginners budget but I don't want cheap rubbish either. Could anyone recommend a good quality make that will give me a a crisp clear image (subject to good viewing conditions) with a wide field of view and good eye relief (I wear glasses) I would like to be able to view both planets and deep sky and so would like a range of focal lengths ( 3 to 4 ) and possibly a 2X Barlow. Thanks in advance. Andy