billhinge

I don't really understand what these are for, it seems most smartphones have a reasonable app that does similar Are these just novelty toys for the astronomer who has everything ? I understand its nice to have some kind of objective evidence of how good or bad your sky is but if you are going to use your telescope presumably you would just check the weather and decide accordingly or even look at your phone app ? Can for I for instance take pictures and tag the image with an average reading from the quality meter?

Sorry I couldn't download your image files - kept getting network error so I used the jpeg instead Here is my fun play, don't know if this is too over the top?

You can buy insurance write off telescopes ? 🙂 Didn't know that, seriously nice job and good write up!

I didn't adjust it myself. I bought a new EQ6-R some one was selling after they had it commercially tuned straight from new. I only paid the new unused mount price so got the tuning free The blurb here describes the tuning to 0.01mm to reduce backlash but not the detail of how they did it https://www.darkframeoptics.com/product/darkframe-stellardrive6-spx-eq6-mount Having self tuned my old CG5 (replacing every bearing with high end abec 7 - £80 single bearing), replaced motor, and belt modding it to my own design I decided to let someone else do the work for me

and the rest 😀, about 4475 euro from the link I posted

I bought several bits of stuff from Germany (inc APM) over the last few months, generally a week or two wait. I generally shop around for price (and I'm buying as much as poss before Brexit proper - who knows what imported scopes will be come Jan - maybe US stuff cheaper, EU stuff more expensive?) I'm sure APM will have stuff in stock being a manufacturer but perhaps not cheap

Thanks for the play, best I could do

is the QHY600M PH better than the QHY268M? 61MP mono https://www.baader-planetarium.com/en/cameras/qhyccd-kameras/cooled-cmos-cameras/qhy600-m-bsi-cooled-scientific-kamera.html https://www.qhyccd.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=94&id=55

Is that a set on ebay? not mine by the way, just googled Altair 80mm Guidescope, didn't know they made one! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124349383518 or https://www.apm-telescopes.de/en/mechanical-accessories/tuberings--guidingrings/starway-guiding-scope-clamp-shells-30-80mm-tube-diameter.html I very recently bought the riccardi flattener and tubes from APM and it was fairly quick delivery - I think Altair is a Chinese APM clone? (I have a 80mm Wave apo scope and that obviously has its own rings but I use that with the 60mm guidescope)

Sure will do but I usually add one of those dovetail lock thingies on to be safe regardless. Also its a nice bit of bling 🙂

Got a response from FLO Sorry for the delay, this is now on our website and can be ordered:https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-replacement-saddles/adm-dual-saddle-upgrade-for-sky-watcher-eq6-r-pro-mounts.htmlWe should receive some in 1-2 weeks. Now ordered 🙂

You can buy piano black shellac quite easily from online DIY stores, you need shellac brushes/pads, meths and ground pumice for smoothing to a grand piano finish. Did quite a lot of french polishing and tung oiling around our house. Got a load of black shellac at home just waiting for the right DIY project. I guess you would need to laqour over it because shellac isn't waterproof The 70's black and brass fullerscopes made by B&C had black crackle glaze baked on - I had one and I wrote to one of the guys who used to make them

I know it's a real silly idea and a longshot but would it push in with the tube rings off? (allowing the tube to flex more) Plus the burr around the bottom hole looks rough

Did you have a slip from the stock saddle? There was a discussion on the stock saddle and replacement which is why I was considering it, plus adding some bling 🙂 email sent to FLO, but I'm not averse to buying from US if the price is OK

No it isn't that one, it isn't on FLO which is why I asked the question https://www.admaccessories.com/product/dual-eq6-rpro-xl-dual-series-saddle-fits-skywatcher-eq6-orion-atlas-mounts/

Whats the difference between the two saddles, one is $170, the other is cheaper. Did you order from the US, if so did you get hit for import duty?

Ha Ha, you had me fooled, I was thinking you had a Hubble or something 🤣

wow!

As well as image integration there is pixel math, i.e it can be as simple as ticking create new image and typing image1 + image2 providing they match etc, there are several scripts plus blender which blends 2 images (even shows the pixel math for each blending action at the bottom of the tool which is useful) I'm trying to find best way to blend narrowband and broadband reflection nebula hence I'm trying the different approaches I'm not really an expert on blending but I'm testing what works and doesn't - trial and error may not be the quickest way but its a good way to learn

I had planned to insulate my C11 to keep the heat in, anecdotal evidence does seem to indicate that works. Plus last time I did this I was using a high power eyepiece on a CG5 mount wearing several layers of clothing which didn't help. I've upgraded my mount since then plus I'm mullti-camera and fully computer equipped which may help (I have the full hotech laser collimator so I can get it ballpark before )

Unfortunately mine does if left unheated, I'm pretty close to the sea so prone to humidity, ah well I was hoping you had a magic solution I find you need the arms of an octopus to look through the eyepiece and turn the knobs

I find it fiddly, how do you easily get your arm into the big C11 dewshield while adjusting Bob's Knobs, the dewshield always gets in the way. If you take the dewshield off then wont the corrector dew up. Am I missing some obvious trick here?

They can levitate now 😂

Anyone know if the Altair puck and saddle fits the EQ6-R? https://www.altairastro.com/altair-tms-heavy-duty-universal-saddle-plate-for-ieq45-g11-eq6-heq5-clear-silver-196-p.asp Or do you have to use the ADM https://www.admaccessories.com/product/dual-eq6-rpro-xl-dual-series-saddle-fits-skywatcher-eq6-orion-atlas-mounts/

Thanks, I ordered the Baader yesterday, thats my filter collection sorted out but I will have 1 empty slot in my wheel for something You maybe right wrt to the Astrodon blue, using the itelescope remote 20" Planewave reflector certainly shows fat stars (I only want the nebula though), itelescope use Astrodon filters, expensive scopes and NBG cameras so nothing else to compare with. However as you say the 5nm NB seem fine to me but what do I know