Hello from a Total Noob in Herts

[Kn4fty]

No problem and congrats again on the scope. It'll open up a whole new world! Pun partially intended hehehe

[Stu1smartcookie]

nice one ... one thing that bothers me a bit is the actual design of these flex tubes... arent they prone to all sorts of flying debris entering the base of the tube ? and also is it better to get a light shroud to use with them?

Ive seen some pictures of scopes with them on , others dont seem to bother 

[Kn4fty]

I don't think a shroud is a bad idea. It would help keep stray light out. I've never heard anyone say anything about getting flying debris in the base. I'm sure someone here that has experience with the collapsible scopes could really answer that. As for me if the wind is blowing hard enough to move debris, then it's gonna shake a scope bad enough that the view likely won't be worth the effort.

[ukuleledaveey]

3 hours ago, Kn4fty said:

Congrats on the scope Stu. Collimation can seem overwhelming, but after a couple times it'll be old school.

Dave, did you get the scope out tonight?

I had it out lasy night and had a late night for me so today at work has been tough ive come home really tired.so im not stat gazing tonight as i have to haul the mount down 2 flights of stairs across a carpark then up some garden steps then go back and do thr same with the scope.i meed to aligne the spotting scope at some point. 

Stu i didn'tlook at mars the time it cleared the houses and tree ot dissapeared behind some cloud.i just stared at the moon and some random stars.as i am totally clueless lol.

Congrats on your purchase  mate.

[Kn4fty]

I understand that. It's caused me a number of tiring days, but oh so worth it! Lol

[Stu1smartcookie]

Dave , it’s cloudy ish out there tonight anyway so don’t feel bad about not star gazing . I’ve been on you tube for the last week , trying to pick up hints and tips . I actually feel a bit on edge , praying my scope will arrive tomorrow .. it’s like waiting for Christmas lol . 

[Charic]

7 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

I also purchased a laser collimator

I wouldn't get too excited over the laser!

I bought one, thinking the same, "it's a laser! its got to work"  but your not buying a scientific laser ( might be wrong), but many of us find  them to be out of collimation to start with, so thats the first thing you need to address, then  when the scope is collimated, everything's  looking good, you take the laser out,  hang-on? have a re-check and somethings not quite right? Some folk  then strip out their focuser and other unnecessary tasks trying to get the laser setup/process to work?

Keep at it, you will eventually succeed, they can become accurate, once the tool itself is collimated  and  you master the 'art', not only that,  the on-line videos do make it look oh-so simple ( it is when you know how ) but there is another way, a  much better way IMHO and one that I always use when away from the house,  for that  quick check over,  but nothing beats a Star test to validate the scopes accuracy. 

The method I favour and use is detailed here...........  http://www.micosmos.com/enlaces/collimation_with_a_Barlowed_Laser.pdf

I still prefer using a long reach  Cheshire tool for the best accuracy, but it takes two to facilitate the task on my scope, as I just cant reach the end of my scope and look into the eyepiece at the same time.The method in the link makes it a one person operation. A simple one at that.

A Cheshire tool is probably the best  and most accurate for setting the secondary (first) then the primary. A laser  can't really help you decide if your secondary mirror is equidistant to the focuser tube.

 If you need to check and adjust yourlaser, check this guy out.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE09_X43UUQ

[ukuleledaveey]

I am going to aim for friday night and Saturday so i can stay out late.

Think i need to buy a chesire to at some point.i fell.asleep at 7pm tonight just woke up lol.

I was very dissapointed with the 10mm last night but it could of been atmospherics,allignments or me just not knowing anything. The 25mm was awesome though.

Once again thanks all for the welcomes and help always very much appreciated. 

[Charic]

8 minutes ago, ukuleledaveey said:

The 25mm was awesome

Probably just not the right conditions for the higher power that the 10mm provides.
These conditions are far and few between here in the uk, its a waiting game, but when its right, you'll know its right!
Ive been out for hours, then for less than a minute  I can see brilliant details (  to the limit of a Skyliner ).

Your looking through several miles of disturbed atmosphere, consider the same looking into a swimming pool? When its flat calm, you can see the tiles in the pool, when its turbulent, give up on the high power!

[Stu1smartcookie]

Thanks Charity , that certainly brought me down to earth about the laser lol , it’s the one area I’m not looking forward to tackling .

[ukuleledaveey]

1 minute ago, Charic said:

Probably just not the right conditions for the higher power that the 10mm provides.
These conditions are far and few between here in the uk, its a waiting game, but when its right, you'll know its right!
Ive been out for hours, then for less than a minute  I can see brilliant details (  to the limit of a Skyliner ).

Thanks,yeah i could do with aome advice with what mm eyepieces to get,im not going to rush out and buy loads when i do get some i will probably try and buy second hand.

Yeah it was sort of cloudy here in herts last night but when i looked with the 25mm wow it was amazing.

[Charic]

4 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Thanks Charity , that certainly brought me down to earth about the laser lol , it’s the one area I’m not looking forward to tackling .

I  just love predictive text !

I think most folk are or get anxious when attempting something for the first time. Once you become a specialist in DIY collimation, you'll wonder what all the fuss and hype was about, but alas, some folk do struggle with the theory.

But do ask the good folk here if you do get stuck.

[Stu1smartcookie]

Yes ... I certainly will , and also I have a bonus in that the place where I will get my scope offers advice and tutorials too 

[Charic]

7 minutes ago, ukuleledaveey said:

........sort of cloudy.........

If you have a  thin layer of light cloud, it can make for an excellent Moon filter, kills of some of the glare when its just too bright, or wear sunglasses .

[ukuleledaveey]

2 minutes ago, Charic said:

If you have a  thin layer of light cloud, it can make for an excellent Moon filter, kills of some of the glare when its just too bright, or wear sunglasses .

Yes awaiting my moon filter.the moon was amazing last night spent ages staring at it i was speechles a couple of my neighbours came and had a look to.?

[Charic]

Its been noted by one of my neighbours, some of the comments Mrs C has made from the dark side of my garden?

" Is that It?" and  " Wow! its huge!"

Obviously referring to M31 and our Moon, what else?

[cletrac1922]

9 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

So ... ive purchased my scope (hopefully arriving thursday ) i will collect it direct from Widescreen @ Ely , cambs ...its so good that there is major supplier near to my job . 

I also purchased a laser collimator , and ive studied a few you tube videos on how to do it . Not sure if i will be as good at collimating , but , as they say , practice makes perfect and its something i will need to do . Dave , im so pleased you were able yo use your scope the other night . Im already scouring the weather forecast for the hopefully clear skies this weekend lol

Thank you to you guys for offering a welcoming hand by way of advice ... its ALL gratefully received . Astronomy is a fantastic and fascinating hobby that will always offer something new , every night . 

wishing everyone Clear Skies

 

Welcome from land down under

If you not doing a lot of travelling with your new toy, then very rarely will need to collimate

I use laser collimator, and easy to use

Just aim target down the tube of the scope

Adjust secondary mirror first, using the 3 outside screws

Do not loosen the centre screw, as entire secondary mirror can tilt out of alignment

Use low power with collimator, and adjust secondary mirror, red dot of laser collimator is centre mark primary mirror

Then slightly loosen locking screws of primary mirror, and adjust primary mirror, until red dot has vanished centre of the target on the collimator

Tighten securing screws on primary, ensuring red dot stays central target of collimator

I am out 2 or 3 times per month with my club with my 250mm dob, doing presentation in schools and scout/guide groups, and find collimation does not move that much once set

John 

[Stu1smartcookie]

Thanks for the advice cletrac...I’m reassured by the fact that I might not need to collimate too often , but, I am going to practice a lot until it becomes second nature . Its a clear evening here and I wish my new scope had arrived today lol ... patience is also a skill I need to learn .

[ukuleledaveey]

Hi cletrac you sure are blessed with wonderful skies in oz,i lived in perth for 6 years before swappingbit back fornthe grey of blighty lol.

So far i have a 35mm film cap and no other collimation devices got some print outs i may give it a go at the weekend i also have to align the spotting scope.

Its great being a noobie lol.

[ukuleledaveey]

Hello all well i had my 2nd night out with the scope tonight going for nearly 3 hours.getting familiar with things and managed to align the spotting scope a big step for me.was really good sky for ages saw a shooting star,a satelite ir somethings and just noodled around the sky.had a look at the moon clouds permitting.im using the 25mm eyepiece mainly the 10mm im not to impressed with.but you wonderful people have advised me it could also be atmospherics.

I seem to atrract attention in our communal garden had a few neigjbours pop up tonigjt and of course i let them have alook after all i know as much as them.

But in all had a really good fun and wonderful night.

Have a lovely weekend,best wishes frim me.

[Kn4fty]

Glad you had a good night. A bad night with the scope is better than a good day at work.....unless you're a professional Astronomer!

 

[Charic]

15 hours ago, ukuleledaveey said:

But in all had a really good fun and wonderful night.

 

September already? the longer nights will soon be upon us and there's always going to be one special night ahead, hopefully more.
As long as the conditions allow for observation, it gets better the more proficient you become.

[ukuleledaveey]

2 hours ago, Charic said:

As long as the conditions allow for observation, it gets better the more proficient you become.

Definately i corrected the finder scope last night found a garden chair the right height slowly realising its upside down not left and right as they are lol.

Just frustrated with only having a 10mm which isnt very good and a 25mm which out of the 2 is my favourite. Keeping my fingers crossef for a ppi pay out so i can get a baader zoom eye piece. 

Was hoping to get out tonight buy i got to go to a bbq, id rather go star gazing. It was lovely just sitting out there zooming round the sky i loved it.

[Stu1smartcookie]

Glad you had a good night Dave .. I did the same last night ..terrible light pollution where I am but I got a great view of Saturn , and I collimated the scope too , which I was pleased about ... Mars looks a bit washed out at the moment , I did get  sight of the Andromeda galaxy but it was very faint as there was too much light around me . I really want to look at DSO’s but it’s difficult to find them when I haven’t got really dark skies . 

[ukuleledaveey]

Thats wicked stu,i will have to get you to teach me to collimete ha ha ha.

Im just a little frustrated with just 2 eye pieces.im gutted i couldnt star gaze tonight. I spent most of the evening staring at the sky wishing i had my scope lol.