What did the postman bring?

[Stu]

That's a lovely setup John, would have been tempted myself if I didn't already have a nice 4" scope. I'm sure you have many enjoyable nights with it.

[johninderby]

ZWO camera, nirvana 7mm eyepiece and a TS-Optics Glass Path Corrector 2.6x 🙂

Plugged the ZWO ASI120mm Mini camera into the tablet I want to use it with and connected OK unlike the 120MC camera I bought (and sold) last week and found out isn’t compatible with a tablet.

The Nirvana 7mm UWA-82° eyepiece is a great deal at the moment at only £75.00. Less than half the price of the WO UWAN version.

The TS-Optics Glass Path Corrector 2.6x (barlow) will give about 1.5x screwed directly into the camera and a bit more if the nosepiece is used. Will have to experiment a bit.

Edited May 15, 2019 by johninderby

[Guest chaz2b]

A nice new Baader T2 Prism Diagonal. Good stuff!

Now to sell something to help pay for it.

chaz

Edited May 15, 2019 by chaz2b

[johninderby]

At least this camera connects to the tablet and works OK. 🙂

Quick test using a street light to play around with the settings. Please be as clear as last night for a bit of lunar imaging. 🤞🏻

Edited May 15, 2019 by johninderby

[BinocularSky]

I've been mucking about with a Bino-Bandit on my Vixen 6.5x32 for a couple of months. Really good at cutting out peripheral light, comfortable to use, and also doubles as eyepiece caps in the field. Designed for birders/hunters, so naff camo livery, but who cares in the dark? So impressed that I got a couple more (I'll do a full review in the next BinocularSky Newsletter). Only UK outlet I've found is Vortex, but I got mine direct from the US.

Also, I get fed up with the way neck-slung binoculars get in the way when I'm setting up mounted scope or binos; taking them off is an option, but a nuisance in the field: they have to be put somewhere. Tried out a Tract harness: no more swinging binocs (also a benefit when I'm out walking). It's elasticated, so fits comfortably over just a tee-shirt, or shirt, jumper and jacket without needing adjustment. I'll do a proper review when I've had it for a bit longer.

On the Vixen 6.5x32:

 

On the Vixen 6.5x32 - focusers are accessible:

 

Also useful on the 2.1x42 (but does obstruct focusers, not that this is a huge hassle, since I don't change focus for astronomy 🙂  ):

 

Tract harness on my "nature" binoculars: note how the BinoBandit doubles as field-use eyepiece caps:

Edited May 16, 2019 by BinocularSky

[BinocularSky]

Another peeve is my camera strap. In its "native" state, it is fiddly and time-consuming to get it off and, in particular, on the strap lugs on the camera. Obviously, the strap is useful for non-astro use when I neck-sling the camera, but is a right pain when I mount it for astro-photography. This solution seems to do it for me: OP/TECH Utility Loops (NB: Adapt-Its System Connectors don't fit the Canon 700D/Kiss X7i strap-lugs) and mini locking S-biners:

[F15Rules]

On 14/05/2019 at 19:48, Stu said:

That's a lovely setup John, would have been tempted myself if I didn't already have a nice 4" scope. I'm sure you have many enjoyable nights with it.

Yes John, many congratulations, looks great! 

Enjoy 😀..

Dave

[Guest chaz2b]

On 16/05/2019 at 10:58, BinocularSky said:

I've been mucking about with a Bino-Bandit on my Vixen 6.5x32 for a couple of months. Really good at cutting out peripheral light, comfortable to use, and also doubles as eyepiece caps in the field. Designed for birders/hunters, so naff camo livery, but who cares in the dark? So impressed that I got a couple more (I'll do a full review in the next BinocularSky Newsletter). Only UK outlet I've found is Vortex, but I got mine direct from the US.

Also, I get fed up with the way neck-slung binoculars get in the way when I'm setting up mounted scope or binos; taking them off is an option, but a nuisance in the field: they have to be put somewhere. Tried out a Tract harness: no more swinging binocs (also a benefit when I'm out walking). It's elasticated, so fits comfortably over just a tee-shirt, or shirt, jumper and jacket without needing adjustment. I'll do a proper review when I've had it for a bit longer.

On the Vixen 6.5x32:

 

On the Vixen 6.5x32 - focusers are accessible:

 

Also useful on the 2.1x42 (but does obstruct focusers, not that this is a huge hassle, since I don't change focus for astronomy 🙂  ):

 

Tract harness on my "nature" binoculars: note how the BinoBandit doubles as field-use eyepiece caps:

I managed to source a pair, in black! Through eBay, £22.99 delivered, no naff camo for me.lol

chaz

[johninderby]

OO radius blocks to fit the OO tube rings on my Skymax 180. Now I can fit a Losmandy dovetail which should be arriving in the next day or two. 🙂

[F15Rules]

A few weeks back I found a very nice Carton GEN 10.5mm eyepiece which I described in this thread..

Since then, I have been able to buy a 28mm version of the same eyepiece (both 1.25" barrels) and now a very nice Carton GEN zoom eyepiece (7-21mm).

The zoom is very very solid, a good heft to it, with a nice smooth action. Just looking through it, it seems to open up to more than 60 degrees at the highest power setting, but I will check against my other wide field eyepieces to estimate what it is actually delivering in terms of FOV.

This looks as if it was originally designed to be a spotting scope eyepiece, like many other zooms, and is marked with 20x, 40x and 60x calibrations.

It is clearly new old stock - I have never seen anywhere either the 28mm or the zoom, so they must be pretty rare. There was also a 16.8mm version and a 2" 34mm version, and the fixed focal length range was also available branded as "Orion (US) Megavista - although I don't think Orion had the 28mm in their range.

The fixed eps range from 55 degrees for the 28mm to c 70 degrees for the 16.8mm and 34mm. The 10.5mm is almost identical in field to my Pentax XL 10.5mm, ie 65 degrees, and is just as sharp out to the edge as the Pentax.

A few photos of the newly arrived zoom are shown below 

Dave

Edited May 17, 2019 by F15Rules

[johninderby]

48 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

 

A few photos of the newly arrived zoom are shown below 

Dave

Well ??????

Edit:

Now corrected I see.

Edited May 17, 2019 by johninderby

[Davey-T]

Guitar strap, nothing to do with astro' but Neil @Stub Mandrel is to blame, been putting off spending the money but it's my bro's 70th soon so bought 2 , one each, as the postage was £10.00.

Dave

[GlenM]

New book arrived today.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

This, 150mm x 914mm (36") mirror of otherwise unknown properties, freshly recoated by VCSM:

 

[djpaul]

Got this to help balance between my 2 inch and 1.25 eyepieces.

[Sky-searcher]

Recently acquired a MAK 127 & 2” dielectric diagonal thanks to 2 SGL members. Wanted a padded bag to keep them safe when not in use. Postman brought a Cobra case bag today at a bargain price of £18 delivered. Made for the job! 👍

[Guest chaz2b]

On 17/05/2019 at 17:03, Stub Mandrel said:

This, 150mm x 914mm (36") mirror of otherwise unknown properties, freshly recoated by VCSM:

 

Then you came home to find the misses had it hung in the hall way...”lovely mirror luv, bit curvy though”.  Lol

chaz

[jock1958]

Came through the post a few days ago a very nice MPA - TAK 2.5 FT focuser for my Tak FC 100DL and after I said I was happy with the stock focuser...hmmm!

However It’s beautifully engineered and an absolute delight to use 😃

[Trikeflyer]

On 17/05/2019 at 15:30, GlenM said:

New book arrived today.

 

I’m interested to know what you think Glen as I have 2 other of this John Moore series of books and may consider getting this one too. If anyone else has this and could privide an opinion, I’d appreciate it.

steve 

[Guest chaz2b]

My new Bonny SvBONY has arrived, one week after I ordered it...from China! All their slow boats must be anchored up.

well made and robust, should last me till the last sunset😎

chaz

[johninderby]

All ready for your small ball head. 😀

[david_taurus83]

34 minutes ago, chaz2b said:

My new Bonny SvBONY has arrived, one week after I ordered it...from China! All their slow boats must be anchored up.

well made and robust, should last me till the last sunset😎

chaz

How do you adjust it?

[Guest chaz2b]

4 minutes ago, david_taurus83 said:

How do you adjust it?

Adjust it?

you place on scope and align, small hole on front projects a dot on the rear screen, there’s no adjusting.🤔

[david_taurus83]

1 minute ago, chaz2b said:

Adjust it?

you place on scope and align, small hole on front projects a dot on the rear screen, there’s no adjusting.🤔

It don't need adjusting like a RDF?

[Davey-T]

Tele Vue Sol Searcher is adjustable.

Dave