What did the postman bring?

[Gina]

I see your "Inside PixInsight" is a Second Edition.  I'm wondering what has changed from the first edition I have.

[johninderby]

A Skywatcher AZ5 mount to replace the ageing Manfrotto geared head that was getting past it. Will,be ideal for my Bresser 127 mak and sits nicely on my heavy duty Manfrotto 475 geared tripod. Already changed the clutch tension knobs for some black stainless steel ones that I had in my spares box. Much easier to tighten. 👍🏻

 

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by johninderby

[DaveS]

27 minutes ago, Gina said:

I see your "Inside PixInsight" is a Second Edition.  I'm wondering what has changed from the first edition I have.

Just took a photo of the back cover.

Hope it comes out OK.

[Gina]

Think I might the second edition from Amazon Prime.  Should have up-to-date info I guess.

Edited October 2, 2019 by Gina

[Knighty2112]

New Primaluce Losmandy dovetail and Maxi Dovetail Plus clamp to fully secure my 10” Newt onto my Skytee2 mount. Feels much more stable and secure now over the original Vixen dovetail it came with. Although it does feel weird spending more money on the securing equipment than I spent on the old scope from Pitbull on here? 🤔🤔🤔

Edited October 2, 2019 by Knighty2112

[Stub Mandrel]

6 hours ago, Philip R said:

Anyone tried one of these?

I have no idea how this is going to perform... good or bad, (review to follow), but at under £35.00GBP inc. P&P from China 🇨🇳, I thought it is worth a punt.

I am just reading the instructions leaflet and setting up on a smartphone/tablet... says it is 2.0 megapixel CMOS.

Please report back in detail , 🙂 would be nice to have a guidescope without USB.

[Greymouser]

I got this in the post today.

Quite pleased, it is a good eyepiece, probably the best I have, certainly the dearest so far, but after a little test, I am just not sure how much better it is. Certainly diminishing returns. I need to think about future eyepiece purchases. 🤔

[Geoff Barnes]

30 minutes ago, Greymouser said:

Quite pleased, it is a good eyepiece, probably the best I have, certainly the dearest so far, but after a little test, I am just not sure how much better it is. Certainly diminishing returns. I need to think about future eyepiece purchases.

I'm in total agreement with this Greymouser.

I've been doing a lot of EP comparisons recently, with my relatively cheap SW Planetary EPs and more high end ones like Vixen SLV, Baader Morpheus and Televue 3-6mm Zoom. The Baader is my favorite, but if there are any advantages in the quality of views through the others my eyes are not capable of seeing them, no matter how hard I try.  

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

10 hours ago, johninderby said:

John those clutch knobs look much better! Any advice on where I could source a pair? Ta.

[Helen]

A rather cheaper purchase than the last one!  A stepper ring to fit my staranalyser to my DSLR ☺️

[johninderby]

30 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

John those clutch knobs look much better! Any advice on where I could source a pair? Ta.

Here you go. Mine are the 25mm length ones, which they are out of stock of, but the 20mm should be OK. Much , much easier to tighten .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Stainless-Steel-Knurled-Thumb-Screw-Hand-Grip-Knob-Bolts-M6-High-Type/223166471099?var=521973666650&hash=item33f5c21bbb:m:mTMfK-wmJ3Wxap2o-7--gEQ

Edited October 3, 2019 by johninderby

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

Ta very much!

[RT65CB-SWL]

@surfindogg's AYO mount and case.

[johninderby]

A wee little dovetail bat for fitting a proper saddle to the AZ5. 👍🏻

[Danjc]

I could have gone the SharpCap route but thought sod it and bought a dedicated piece of kit. My knees are already happier....

 

[Rob]

On 02/10/2019 at 13:08, Philip R said:

Anyone tried one of these?

I have no idea how this is going to perform... good or bad, (review to follow), but at under £35.00GBP inc. P&P from China 🇨🇳, I thought it is worth a punt.

I am just reading the instructions leaflet and setting up on a smartphone/tablet... says it is 2.0 megapixel CMOS.

I'm also interested on how this works out!. Mostly from a live view image on screen. Rob

[Gina]

Decided to get the latest version.

[DaveS]

UPS just delivered this

Which on unpacking revealed

The disk is the pier top adapter for the DDM85. But what's in the ali case?

This

Moravian G3 16200 mk 1 with 7 position filter wheel.

Now just waiting for the Baader LRGB and ultra-narrow band filters from @FLO. Yes, I do know there's a long wait for the ultra-narrow filters. But I am patient, I can wait.

Edited October 4, 2019 by DaveS

[PaulM]

Cheshire collimator. Collomation was out so hopefully viewing will be better now

[JeremyS]

On 03/10/2019 at 14:32, johninderby said:

A wee little dovetail bat for fitting a proper saddle to the AZ5. 👍🏻

Which proper saddle is that you are using, John? And how does it attach to the AZ5 head?

[johninderby]

22 minutes ago, JeremyS said:

Which proper saddle is that you are using, John? And how does it attach to the AZ5 head?

This saddle.

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/altair-starwave-mini-vixen-style-clamp-for-standard-tripods.html

And this dovetail. 

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/30A058B.html

Just bolted onto the Geoptik 80mm dovetail bar with two bolts and then clamped into the stock saddle. Had to replace the stock knob with a bolt for clearance. 

Edited October 4, 2019 by johninderby

[Alan White]

A very neat and reversible solution John 👍

[Alan White]

Post Person attended today with a little delivery.
OVL 2" twistlock to 1.25".
Intended so all my 1.25" EP will have one capped off for use on the dob.
No levers, screws or bits sitting out to offend me and NO UNDERCUT.  Yes I did mean to shout it out.

Not as 'nice' as the Baader ones I have just sold to Magnus, but do the job and
will make fitting into the EP case less problematic as just a barrell.

Did I mention NO UNDERCUT???
 

[david_taurus83]

How the hell are these astro related? Can anybody guess?!

[johninderby]

I used one this aft to remove a stubborn SCT diagonal with zero damage. 👍🏻

Also usefull for unscrewing lens cells, focusers etc.

Edited October 4, 2019 by johninderby