What did the postman bring?

[dannybgoode]

Thanks to @fifeskies I took delivery today of a really nice condition Televue 2x Barlow. Been on the look out for a decent Barlow for a while so have a try at some nice close in lunar imaging/obs and planetary obs and imaging through my TMB. Figured given that the clear nights also seem to coincide with when the moon is brightest I may as well spend some time with it!

My first taste of black and green kit as well. Must say I the thing exudes quality. 

[Pixies]

Thanks to @Stu1smartcookie

The new bits are the AZ5 and ST80. The Manfrotto and diagonal I already had.

 

[wibblefish]

New toys for me and the 90mm achro

- Baader Semi-Apo filter

- Camera adapter for my micro 4/3rd for a play with astro (maybe, didnt get anything at all the other night need to try during the day in case it needs extension tubes!)

- Pocket Sky Atlas (jumbooooo!) and Sissy Hass double stars (both from sky and telescope direct via the States)

[Stardaze]

15 hours ago, Pixies said:

Thanks to @Stu1smartcookie

The new bits are the AZ5 and ST80. The Manfrotto and diagonal I already had.

 

That was pretty much the kind of setup I’ve been thinking for a grab and go, looks great. I’ve ordered some 15x70’s instead to scratch the itch for now. Let us know how you get on. 

Edited March 11, 2021 by Stardaze

[A McEwan]

A new-to-me but obviously used Skytee-2 mount which incuded the ADM upgraded saddles and the heavy duty tripod! It was all a bit..."lived in"...but an hour or two with WD40, Cif degreaser and some microfiber clothes worked wonders. I need to get some longer slo-mo controls (see wanted ad) but otherwise it's really, really good!

Ant

[Iced Tiger]

My very first refractor, the new WO FLT 91, this is going to be my imaging telescope when I can get my hands on a Skywatcher mount.

 

[Jasonb]

Not quite from the postman, but the final part in my mid-life crisis upgrade!

After getting a second hand Meade Field Tripod, then an almost brand new Skywatcher AZ5 Mount (thanks @Dean Hale) I also splashed out on a new Skywatcher 150P OTA, luckily finding it in a shop in Austria that still had pre-price rise prices.

All that was missing was a 3/8 bolt to connect the AZ5 mount to the Meade Tripod. @wookie1965 very kindly donated me one that might do that job, but after over 2 weeks it still hasn't arrived, so I fear that's lost in the post. A few days ago I started working on plan B, and managed to find a local motor factors who could order a 3/8 threaded bar for me (they're fairly rare over here in Ireland as we use metric for bolts etc.). I got my hands on it today, all 5ft of it!

 

 

Thankfully, a few minutes with a hacksaw and I had it down to a more manageable size, and added a nut to it to hold up the spreader for the tripod, and it all worked great...

 

 

 

Which means I finally have my new setup complete, and it feels steady as a rock. I now just need to wait for some clear skies...

 

[Chefgage]

2 hours ago, Iced Tiger said:

My very first refractor, the new WO FLT 91, this is going to be my imaging telescope when I can get my hands on a Skywatcher mount.

 

Nice and shiny, I do like the red colour.

[Nigella Bryant]

6 minutes ago, Chefgage said:

Nice and shiny, I do like the red colour.

Me too, lol.

[Dantooine]

1 hour ago, Jasonb said:

Not quite from the postman, but the final part in my mid-life crisis upgrade!

After getting a second hand Meade Field Tripod, then an almost brand new Skywatcher AZ5 Mount (thanks @Dean Hale) I also splashed out on a new Skywatcher 150P OTA, luckily finding it in a shop in Austria that still had pre-price rise prices.

All that was missing was a 3/8 bolt to connect the AZ5 mount to the Meade Tripod. @wookie1965 very kindly donated me one that might do that job, but after over 2 weeks it still hasn't arrived, so I fear that's lost in the post. A few days ago I started working on plan B, and managed to find a local motor factors who could order a 3/8 threaded bar for me (they're fairly rare over here in Ireland as we use metric for bolts etc.). I got my hands on it today, all 5ft of it!

 

 

Thankfully, a few minutes with a hacksaw and I had it down to a more manageable size, and added a nut to it to hold up the spreader for the tripod, and it all worked great...

 

 

 

Which means I finally have my new setup complete, and it feels steady as a rock. I now just need to wait for some clear skies...

 

That does look solid. 

[LukeSkywatcher]

3 hours ago, Iced Tiger said:

My very first refractor, the new WO FLT 91, this is going to be my imaging telescope when I can get my hands on a Skywatcher mount.

 

Thats gorgeous. I'm not jealous. Love the handle on the tube rings. Every tube rings should have a handle.

[LukeSkywatcher]

20 hours ago, Pixies said:

Thanks to @Stu1smartcookie

The new bits are the AZ5 and ST80. The Manfrotto and diagonal I already had.

 

I love my Az5 mount. Its very smooth. I also have the Az5 tripod.

[Sunshine]

4 hours ago, A McEwan said:

A new-to-me but obviously used Skytee-2 mount which incuded the ADM upgraded saddles and the heavy duty tripod! It was all a bit..."lived in"...but an hour or two with WD40, Cif degreaser and some microfiber clothes worked wonders. I need to get some longer slo-mo controls (see wanted ad) but otherwise it's really, really good!

Ant

Nice mount! I see coffee and a toothbrush makes for a great cleaner! 😂

[LukeSkywatcher]

1 hour ago, Sunshine said:

Nice mount! I see coffee and a toothbrush makes for a great cleaner! 😂

Looks like a strong cup of tea to me. The type you can stand a spoon up in.

[A McEwan]

1 hour ago, LukeSkywatcher said:

Looks like a strong cup of tea to me. The type you can stand a spoon up in.

Strong coffee actually! I think the phone enhanced the colour slightly.    

[John]

7 hours ago, A McEwan said:

A new-to-me but obviously used Skytee-2 mount which incuded the ADM upgraded saddles and the heavy duty tripod! It was all a bit..."lived in"...but an hour or two with WD40, Cif degreaser and some microfiber clothes worked wonders. I need to get some longer slo-mo controls (see wanted ad) but otherwise it's really, really good!

Ant

I'll have to get the toothbrush and Cif out for my Skytee II - It's looking rather "well used" too !

Great mounts though, real workhorses. Mine is very heavily used

I guess you want longer slow motion cables to suit your long refractors ?. My Skytee II still has the original knobs on it but they can be quite a stretch to reach 

I got some lovely long ones with my T-Rex mount - I'll have to pop them on the Skytee II and give them a whirl on there.

Edited March 11, 2021 by John

[iapa]

Since lock down I have made a number of purchases which have languished in the spare room - as require by my CMO - for some months now.

It is now time to start opening boxes to see what I have forgotten that I ordered

More shortly.

[A McEwan]

33 minutes ago, John said:

I guess you want longer slow motion cables to suit your long refractors ?. My Skytee II still has the original knobs on it but they can be quite a stretch to reach 

Exactly! I had one of these mounts before and regretted selling it. This one is just as good as the first one was. Long slow-mo's definitely make it easier to use though.

[EntropyTango]

The postman dropped off an Astro-Physics 2" barlow not to long ago.

I'm generally not a great believer in barlows, but this one is just to ramp up the FL for imaging

[LukeSkywatcher]

8 hours ago, A McEwan said:

Exactly! I had one of these mounts before and regretted selling it. This one is just as good as the first one was. Long slow-mo's definitely make it easier to use though.

I'm more of a fan of the short slo mo cables. IIRC, the Az5 comes with both long and short. The short make me feel like I've more control/more connected with my scope(s).

[wookie1965]

17 hours ago, Jasonb said:

Not quite from the postman, but the final part in my mid-life crisis upgrade!

After getting a second hand Meade Field Tripod, then an almost brand new Skywatcher AZ5 Mount (thanks @Dean Hale) I also splashed out on a new Skywatcher 150P OTA, luckily finding it in a shop in Austria that still had pre-price rise prices.

All that was missing was a 3/8 bolt to connect the AZ5 mount to the Meade Tripod. @wookie1965 very kindly donated me one that might do that job, but after over 2 weeks it still hasn't arrived, so I fear that's lost in the post. A few days ago I started working on plan B, and managed to find a local motor factors who could order a 3/8 threaded bar for me (they're fairly rare over here in Ireland as we use metric for bolts etc.). I got my hands on it today, all 5ft of it!

 

 

Thankfully, a few minutes with a hacksaw and I had it down to a more manageable size, and added a nut to it to hold up the spreader for the tripod, and it all worked great...

 

 

 

Which means I finally have my new setup complete, and it feels steady as a rock. I now just need to wait for some clear skies...

 

It did say two weeks knowing the post office that means 14 working days but please let me know if it does not turn up in the next two weeks I will contact them and if lost I will reimburse you the postage, Someone sent me a Tal x2 Barlow that was over a week late he had reimbursed all the money only for it to turn up two days later.

[iapa]

Today’s 1st unboxing, helped by my glamorous assistant; Mazekeen

ASIair Pro, complete with USB -> RS-232 cable

 

Edited March 12, 2021 by iapa
Removed dupe image

[JeremyS]

[andrew s]

@JeremyS looks like it's time to clear out your gutters. Regards Andrew 

PS feel free to come round and do mine as well.

Edited March 12, 2021 by andrew s

[dannybgoode]

@Jasonb - I love my 150P.  Such a versatile scope and much underrated IMO.  People seem to overlook it in favour of either the 130 or 200 when in fact I think it is the better choice than either if you could only have one telescope; particularly the f5 version.