What did the postman bring?

[HollyHound]

23 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

Those zooms are tempting. What’s the size and weight compared to other eyepieces?

Trying to relate to something you’re familiar with...

They’re certainly significantly bigger than plossls. Similar size/weight to Morpheus 14 or 17.5. About 70% size and weight compared to Delos 14. Similar weight to ES4.7 82, but about 50% larger.

The Hyperion Zoom was the first eyepiece I bought after getting my first scope and it’s been in use constantly, particularly for grab and go. I was comparing it to the set of plossls I’ve been using for the moon (binoviewing) and no difference, except better FoV from about 16mm down to 8mm. In the Mak or StellaMira they’re as good as any other eyepiece for contrast and sharpness, possibly not as good at the edge, but not noticeable on these scopes. 

I think everyone should have one really, just for convenience. Fits 1.25” or 2” and have interchangeable eyepiece top (adjustable or fixed) 👍

Hope that helps

Gary

Edited January 9, 2021 by HollyHound

[Dantooine]

44 minutes ago, HollyHound said:

Trying to relate to something you’re familiar with...

They’re certainly significantly bigger than plossls. Similar size/weight to Morpheus 14 or 17.5. About 70% size and weight compared to Delos 14. Similar weight to ES4.7 82, but about 50% larger.

The Hyperion Zoom was the first eyepiece I bought after getting my first scope and it’s been in use constantly, particularly for grab and go. I was comparing it to the set of plossls I’ve been using for the moon (binoviewing) and no difference, except better FoV from about 16mm down to 8mm. In the Mak or StellaMira they’re as good as any other eyepiece for contrast and sharpness, possibly not as good at the edge, but not noticeable on these scopes. 

I think everyone should have one really, just for convenience. Fits 1.25” or 2” and have interchangeable eyepiece top (adjustable or fixed) 👍

Hope that helps

Gary

Thank you Gary, that is really useful information as I’ve never seen or handled one. 

[mikemarotta]

I found Atlas Coeli II by Antonín Bečvář at ABE Books. The price was reasonable (USD 50 with S&H & tax). It is worn but it was used well by the astronomer whose personal library bookplate is inside. I found Harry Grimsley listed, for example in early issues of The Walking Astronomer magazine of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO).  I bought the atlas because it gives orbital elements for some binaries. The example here of 26 Aurigae is not a target that I will pursue but is just to show the tables. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 9, 2021 by mikemarotta
Typography

[MrFreeze]

Really should have posted this yesterday, but I was busy adjusting this. Finally my mini dovetail clamp arrived, so I could finish this contraption. Of course things didn't go as simply as expected. Saw this idea on YouTube and thought - great - that should be easy. I should have known better. The poster did this with a Skywatcher Skymax 127, and I have an Orion Apex 127, which everyone says is identical - well I found out the hard way that it isn't. The dovetail on the Orion is not mounted as far to the rear as the Skywatcher, and I think is shorter. Anyway I got there in the end, and it's absolutely brilliant. After four attempts I finally have a really good electric focuser on my Maksutov!😀

[Nigella Bryant]

2 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

Really should have posted this yesterday, but I was busy adjusting this. Finally my mini dovetail clamp arrived, so I could finish this contraption. Of course things didn't go as simply as expected. Saw this idea on YouTube and thought - great - that should be easy. I should have known better. The poster did this with a Skywatcher Skymax 127, and I have an Orion Apex 127, which everyone says is identical - well I found out the hard way that it isn't. The dovetail on the Orion is not mounted as far to the rear as the Skywatcher, and I think is shorter. Anyway I got there in the end, and it's absolutely brilliant. After four attempts I finally have a really good electric focuser on my Maksutov!😀

Brilliant,well done. I retrofitted a skywatcher autofocus motor to my 80ed. 

[Dantooine]

3 hours ago, Nigella Bryant said:

Brilliant,well done. I retrofitted a skywatcher autofocus motor to my 80ed. 

Does that make it easier for a fine focus although it’s not on the 10/1 gear ratio?

[Nigella Bryant]

15 minutes ago, Dantooine said:

Does that make it easier for a fine focus although it’s not on the 10/1 gear ratio?

Hiya, yes it does because you can alter the amount of focus via the software.

[Hals]

A new one from FLO stickerwise for me ! ADM dovetail counterweight and adjuster inside.

[johninderby]

With all these clouds though this might be a useful book. 😁

If buying a new scope brings clouds does this mean buying a book on clouds will bring clear skies? 🤔😁😁😁

Edited January 12, 2021 by johninderby

[Robindonne]

The postman just brought my 60cm slomo cables.  They are multifunctional.  Even some small work cam be done with the included bit set😬.  But seriously, i think i found my longer slomo cables.   8mm sturdy metal shaft, silicon protection, semi-soft handles and a click connection om the mount side for a quick release.   

 

3 pcs of 600mm for €15,-😅

Edited January 12, 2021 by Robindonne

[Dantooine]

57 minutes ago, Robindonne said:

The postman just brought my 60cm slomo cables.  They are multifunctional.  Even some small work cam be done with the included bit set😬.  But seriously, i think i found my longer slomo cables.   8mm sturdy metal shaft, silicon protection, semi-soft handles and a click connection om the mount side for a quick release.   

 

3 pcs of 600mm for €15,-😅

I think you may be on to something there 👍

[Ande]

The postie was kind enough to knock the door this afternoon and hand me a package containing an ASIair Pro. He didn’t quite stretch to a means of mounting it, or powering it. But, hey! It’s a start

[nephilim]

17 minutes ago, Ande said:

The postie was kind enough to knock the door this afternoon and hand me a package containing an ASIair Pro. He didn’t quite stretch to a means of mounting it, or powering it. But, hey! It’s a start

I'm still sat at the PC staring at the screen waiting for my ASIair order from FLO to go from progressing to processed................I may be here a while 😒

Edited January 12, 2021 by nephilim

[Ande]

4 minutes ago, nephilim said:

I'm still sat at the PC staring at the screen waiting for my ASIair order from FLO to go from progressing to processed................I may be here a while 😒

It’ll take me until yours turns up to figure out how to use mine 🤣.

Got my ZS61, flattener, and a few bits’n’bobs on the way. So, hopefully, I should be in a position to start making a pig’s ear of it all soon

[nephilim]

1 minute ago, Ande said:

It’ll take me until yours turns up to figure out how to use mine 🤣.

Got my ZS61, flattener, and a few bits’n’bobs on the way. So, hopefully, I should be in a position to start making a pig’s ear of it all soon

I hope to learn from your mistakes 🤣

[markse68]

3 hours ago, Robindonne said:

The postman just brought my 60cm slomo cables.  They are multifunctional.  Even some small work cam be done with the included bit set😬.  But seriously, i think i found my longer slomo cables.   8mm sturdy metal shaft, silicon protection, semi-soft handles and a click connection om the mount side for a quick release.   

 

3 pcs of 600mm for €15,-😅

Hi Robin, does your mount have the 1/4" hex drive that those would attach to then? I was thinking along similar lines for my Porta mount but that has D shaped shafts so would need some bodging

Mark

[Ande]

4 minutes ago, nephilim said:

I hope to learn from your mistakes 🤣

Tried to watch a few YouTube tutorials, but ended up just as confused. Most of them seem to use screen grabs which, on the one hand is great because you get a clear view of the iPad. But what it doesn’t show is the person’s finger, and what they’re selecting. So when they say, “simply press this, then select that”, I’m like 😳. 

[nephilim]

16 minutes ago, Ande said:

Tried to watch a few YouTube tutorials, but ended up just as confused. Most of them seem to use screen grabs which, on the one hand is great because you get a clear view of the iPad. But what it doesn’t show is the person’s finger, and what they’re selecting. So when they say, “simply press this, then select that”, I’m like 😳. 

I agree, it will be trial & error to start with I think but theres a lot of people using them so we should get it sorted pretty quick......I hope. I'm just glad you put me onto it as it seems when it works, it works really well & will hopefully cut down on a lot of set up faff.

[nephilim]

@Ande I found this guy really helpful, he goes through it all really well, theres a few ASIaair tutorials on his channel so i'd advise subscribing. 

 

[Ande]

36 minutes ago, nephilim said:

@Ande I found this guy really helpful, he goes through it all really well, theres a few ASIaair tutorials on his channel so i'd advise subscribing. 

 

Nice one. I’ll have a peep. Power pack is coming tomorrow, so I should be able to fire it up at least.  It’s a little bit annoying that you cannot access the app before hand to gain a little familiarity. But, without the unit in attendance, you are locked out.

[nephilim]

4 hours ago, Ande said:

Nice one. I’ll have a peep. Power pack is coming tomorrow, so I should be able to fire it up at least.  It’s a little bit annoying that you cannot access the app before hand to gain a little familiarity. But, without the unit in attendance, you are locked out.

I know mate, I tried ages ago 🤣

[Ian McCallum]

If in doubt, buy both! 🤣

[Ande]

18 minutes ago, Ian McCallum said:

If in doubt, buy both! 🤣

I bought the bigger of the two. I don’t think I was quite prepared for just how big it was. It worked great on the 250 dob though

[johninderby]

I also had both but ended up using just the lower one. Found the tall one just too tall.

Edited January 13, 2021 by johninderby

[Ian McCallum]

14 minutes ago, Ande said:

I bought the bigger of the two. I don’t think I was quite prepared for just how big it was. It worked great on the 250 dob though

At £15 and £16 respectively, it was a no-brainer to get both...  It's one of those personal preference things, ask for opinions and you'll get "buy the 3 inch version"!🤣  It seems you're either in the 2" or 4" camp (or perhaps none at all).