What did the postman bring?

[Guest]

5 hours ago, fate187 said:

I also got one of those very recently. How do you ensure the laser/collimator is straight? I checked the thing itself with some extensions on a flat mirror and the reflection didn't come out in the center of the bulls eye. In fact the laser light (high intensity setting) it a flat line instead of a dot 🤪

I made a set of v blocks that the laser sits in and I rotate it.  If the laser dot floats around my aim point I adjust the set screws on the laser until it sits and spins on the point of aim.  It takes some time and a little adjustment goes a long way.

[Ratlet]

5 hours ago, fate187 said:

I also got one of those very recently. How do you ensure the laser/collimator is straight? I checked the thing itself with some extensions on a flat mirror and the reflection didn't come out in the center of the bulls eye. In fact the laser light (high intensity setting) it a flat line instead of a dot 🤪

So basically you want to make a v out of wood or nails and put the collimator in it, point it at a wall and then rotate it.  Where the laser hits the wall should remain in the same place as you rotate, if not you adjust the collimation of the laser until the dot doesn't move when rotated.

Everything I just typed will read like I'm having heat stroke so just watch this video by astro la vista.  It'll make much more sense.

whilst would be idea that the laser were a perfect dot, so long as the line is smaller that circle marking the centre of your mirror it'll be fine. You might be able to make a mask,

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/109628-adding-an-aperture-stop-to-a-cheap-laser/

 

I should add I'm a great believer in "not good, but good enough" so you milage may vary

[cajen2]

I use a Baader Clicklock in my focuser, so it's easy to loosen that slightly and rotate the laser in the focuser. If it doesn't move from the centre dot, the laser is collimated.

[badhex]

Took the plunge on a few upgrades while I'm still working my notice and therefore earning money 😅

Hopefully this is delivery one of two today! 

[DaveL59]

A knock at the door from Evri (Hermes)  with 2 packages containing:

The big Tammy 150-600 in nice clean condition optically and cosmetically but as advertised AF doesn't function. Something I hope I can sort but manually focusing works and even gives an AF confirm if I push the AF button on the camera when I think I have it right.

 

[badhex]

Delivery two of two - Gitzo Traveller Series 2 to hopefully replace the TS-Optics CF tripod in my travel kit. Need to test it first to check if its actually worth the terrifying investment! 

 

[DaveL59]

8 minutes ago, badhex said:

Delivery two of two - Gitzo Traveller Series 2 to hopefully replace the TS-Optics CF tripod in my travel kit. Need to test it first to check if its actually worth the terrifying investment! 

 

Nice.

Interesting object in the background by the radiator, a ceramic insulator from HT lines?

[Daf1983]

After marking over a 1000 physics exam papers over the past month, I decided to treat myself👍

[Alan White]

Well Postie came knocking early as I was going out this morning, so had to wait until now.
I have been sitting with this in the @FLO offers area and my inbox, waiting for the next price drop,
but patience would not last and I have a new EP case.
Made for Morphoi of which at present I own none, will be remedied once my back pay gets sorted out.

A very well made Baader Morpheus and Hyperion case, its far more solid than my old Maplin case, very sure and solid locks,
and the cut outs are just perfect for Morpheus, Pentax XW and Vixen LVW and I expect TeleVue Delos as well.


 

Edited July 20, 2022 by Alan White

[bosun21]

24 minutes ago, Alan White said:

Well Postie came knocking early as I was going out this morning, so had to wait until now.
I have been sitting with this in the @FLO offers area and my inbox, waiting for the next price drop,
but patience would not last and I have a new EP case.
Made for Morphoi of which at present I own none, will be remedied once my back pay gets sorted out.

A very well made Baader Morpheus and Hyperion case, its far more solid than my old Maplin case, very sure and solid locks,
and the cut outs are just perfect for Morpheus, Pentax XW and Vixen LVW and I expect TeleVue Delos as well.


 

There you go 

[bosun21]

Just got this delivery one of two from FLO. The collimation was way out and I had a crash course on classical Cassegrain collimation. Looking forward to first light and the planets coming into opposition.

 

[badhex]

1 hour ago, badhex said:

Delivery two of two - Gitzo Traveller Series 2 to hopefully replace the TS-Optics CF tripod in my travel kit. Need to test it first to check if its actually worth the terrifying investment! 

 

Yes, it's actually caused number of conversations on this thread previously! It came from a substation/electrical station of an old building in Berlin that was being demolished. They salvage yard we bought it from actually went to the building site and had to remove it themselves - they had two, and we had to talk him round into selling this one!

[Laurieast]

Not the postie, but found in The Works, £3 writing block with drawer. 100mmx100m sheets.

Xmas present idea? 

 

 

 

Edited July 22, 2022 by Laurieast

[StevieDvd]

It's arrived amd looking good:

Will need the extension to make sure the weight bar does not catch on tripod, well at least with the setting 'as is' . The alt/az adjustments are very smooth and look to be a winner for PA on mobile setups.

Can't wait till it's first light but will connect up and try it indoors later with app and Asiar/Stellarmate/Astroberry to which it likes/dislikes.

[bosun21]

A couple of small items, being a Baader sky surfer III and a variable moon filter 

[Stu1smartcookie]

1 hour ago, StevieDvd said:

It's arrived amd looking good:

Will need the extension to make sure the weight bar does not catch on tripod, well at least with the setting 'as is' . The alt/az adjustments are very smooth and look to be a winner for PA on mobile setups.

Can't wait till it's first light but will connect up and try it indoors later with app and Asiar/Stellarmate/Astroberry to which it likes/dislikes.

you trend setter ... looks great mate 

[JeremyS]

1 hour ago, StevieDvd said:

It's arrived amd looking good:

Will need the extension to make sure the weight bar does not catch on tripod, well at least with the setting 'as is' . The alt/az adjustments are very smooth and look to be a winner for PA on mobile setups.

Can't wait till it's first light but will connect up and try it indoors later with app and Asiar/Stellarmate/Astroberry to which it likes/dislikes.

Nice BB tripod. Is it a Report? Looks well with the mount.

[markse68]

New old tripod for the new old Tal 100R. seems sturdy enough, good colour for collision avoidance in the dark and a bit cheaper than a BB!

Mark

[StevieDvd]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

Nice BB tripod. Is it a Report? Looks well with the mount.

That's a Report 112, the little sibling of the BB Uni-18 in the garage.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

A shiny new AM5 mount. 

 

Now all I need is a carbon-fibre tripod I had ordered with it. 

 

[TheycallmeRiver]

Two new arrivals here over the last couple of days.

Yesterday I collected my 6 y/o daughter's first scope.  Thank you @Mark at Beaufort.  She's so excited.  I hope in 12 years time she herself will be a member here, and I'm able to remind her of this picture 🥰

And for me: A used 19mm Panoptic arrived this morning!  I might let her use that instead of one my plossls, if she can demonstrate the required care

 

Edited July 21, 2022 by TheycallmeRiver

[bottletopburly]

Zwo 585mc  from @FLO  arrived today 

[Mark at Beaufort]

3 hours ago, TheycallmeRiver said:

Two new arrivals here over the last couple of days.

Yesterday I collected my 6 y/o daughter's first scope.  Thank you @Mark at Beaufort.  She's so excited.  I hope in 12 years time she herself will be a member here, and I'm able to remind her of this picture 🥰

And for me: A used 19mm Panoptic arrived this morning!  I might let her use that instead of one my plossls, if she can demonstrate the required care

 

Glad she like it.

[badhex]

17 hours ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

A shiny new AM5 mount. 

 

Now all I need is a carbon-fibre tripod I had ordered with it. 

 

Looking forward to your report on this once you're up and running Michael! 

[JeremyS]

Padded carry bag for Tak TSA 120. OTA fits with finder, extender and diagonal in place, dew cap retracted.

Replaces Selens bag I’ve used for a couple of years (now used for BB tripod). New one is slightly less bulky and it opens fully at either end (rather than just the top), so slightly easier to get the OTA in and out.