Cloud Dodgers New Equipment thread

[MattJenko]

New focuser for my Dob. I am trusting that the cloud for the last 3 weeks was because I bought this weeks ago and it has only just arrived, so penance has already been served!

Edited November 11, 2015 by MattJenko

[knobby]

Friday looks promising

[Blazar]

Really? 4th oct was the last time I was out.....shameful....

[MattJenko]

Friday was clear for a while but very windy. Focuser is lovely. My collimation is much better than before as everything is much more secure. I wonder how far down the storm alphabet we get before I get back outside.

[knobby]

Astronomy socks ...

[StargeezerTim]

Shower cap... cured my problem with gradients!

(its true... light from the camera, mount, power supply etc was getting in through the joint on the end where the primary is...  most cost effective solution to date!)

[Blazar]

Well I bit the bullet...sold my other mount and Edge800.....and can tell you the new one is about 5 times as heavy in all areas....its a beast.

And the 2inch EP that comes with it is more like a hand grenade....

Spent last evening configuring the mount, and updating its firmware....now its down to dragging the thing outside one evening, and checking optics and sorting out the finder scope alignment (as I don't want to drag it out during the day!) We do need to get out a bit more though...

[MattJenko]

Lovely. 

[knobby]

Bit the bullet, sold my Dob and saved up a bit ... Gone Solar .

 

[knobby]

And Tempest C8 coolers 

 

Edited May 29, 2016 by knobby
attached images

[MattJenko]

Picked up a second hand Starlight Xpress 694 recently. Very nice upgrade from my Atik 414ex. Also moved to a finder guider setup to make things a bit less cluttered. Works a treat.

[Blazar]

On 5/29/2016 at 22:25, knobby said:

And Tempest C8 coolers 

 

Only just seen this! I was going to go and get some for the Edge1100.....how did you get on installing them? look awesome! I have the front mounted  college...though was going to add these as well.

[knobby]

Installing was very simple , just need to make sure cables inside miss the focuser.

I think they work pretty well, certainly seems to cool quicker.

[Blazar]

31 minutes ago, knobby said:

Installing was very simple , just need to make sure cables inside miss the focuser.

I think they work pretty well, certainly seems to cool quicker.

Where did you pick them up from...UK or US?

[knobby]

Yankee Doodle land, took about 2 weeks to arrive and missed customs so no tax.

[Blazar]

First new kit in a while. Re-worked the guide scope on my WO Star71 for a new WO 50mm version, and on the 120mm handle bar. Was a little tight to get it to fit, but seems to be very stable. We will see how it goes when it goes onto the CGEM.

 

[knobby]

Looking good ! and very colour coordinated too 🙂

 

[astro_john_palmer]

Sorry about the recent patch of bad weather!

New setup with ASIair Pro, ZWO 120mm mini guide scope bundle.

Had to flip my camera and guide scope upside down to bring the toque down on the dec axis. Hopefully it will help a lot actually as it is under much less strain now than when I was running un-guided!

First light pending clear skies!

Who wants to bet the setup fails miserably on night one?!? 😆