An evening with Jupiter, Ganymede and friends….

[Deadlake]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

I assume it’s the Zeiss prism you are using?

Baader BBHS T2 prism vs diagonal. 

[Deadlake]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

I have an 8” Skywatcher pillar which I can make work for the moment, but hopefully Rowan will produce something matching in the not too distant future.

Also thinking a pillar is required as well.
I might find out how much the ADM option is, however I'd like it to be similar to the Vixen/Baader half-pillar with the side cut out..

[Voyager 3]

Fine report Stu . I really love the location ! ( ok , your set-up too 😉) .

[Stu]

57 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Vixen/Baader half-pillar with the side cut out..

That’s a good point actually, I tend to remove my AZ100 when setting up/breaking down so this needs to be quick and easy, whether by a cut out pillar or other means. The skywatcher AZGTi pillar for example works well without need for a cutout.

[Alan White]

 

Stu, I cut a 60mm hole in the side of my 7.5" SW Extension Tube, gives access  to the screw,
M10 in my case, I can remove the mount away from all the rest.

 

[Deadlake]

3 hours ago, Stu said:

That’s a good point actually, I tend to remove my AZ100 when setting up/breaking down so this needs to be quick and easy, whether by a cut out pillar or other means. The skywatcher AZGTi pillar for example works well without need for a cutout.

I think the Baader might be the best option as it has the cut out and the ADM does not.
I'd like to be able to swap out mounts, say put a ScopeTech Zero in place. 
Maybe Derek has an offering???

[Stu]

4 hours ago, Alan White said:

 

Stu, I cut a 60mm hole in the side of my 7.5" SW Extension Tube, gives access  to the screw,
M10 in my case, I can remove the mount away from all the rest.

 

Two questions Alan….

How did you cut the hole?

60mm? Do you have little T-Rex hands? 😉

[Stu]

1 hour ago, Deadlake said:

I think the Baader might be the best option as it has the cut out and the ADM does not.
I'd like to be able to swap out mounts, say put a ScopeTech Zero in place. 
Maybe Derek has an offering???

Rowan will look into a pier when they have time. I use a Gitzo tripod with the Scopetech zero so that’s not an issue, easy separation of the mount for carrying is.

[Deadlake]

28 minutes ago, Stu said:

I use a Gitzo tripod with the Scopetech zero so that’s not an issue

Maybe I need a carbon tripod 😀

[Stu]

37 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Maybe I need a carbon tripod 😀

They are a great match for the Scopetech I reckon. I have my Gitzo setup permanently either with the Scopetech or Giro-WR and it’s ideal as a lightweight option for quick sessions. I used it last summer to carry up onto the local Heath to observe Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE with my Genesis, and it’s also great for grab and go solar with the Tak.

[F15Rules]

Great report Stu, thanks for sharing👍.

That TOE sounds great, and I know the HR 3.4 is, having owned one..will definitely aim to get another one at some point.

Dave

[Stu]

9 hours ago, Deadlake said:

Baader BBHS T2 prism vs diagonal. 

Yep. I’ve got the previous Zeiss T2 prism, without BBHS coatings I assume. Given that prisms have total internal reflection I’m not sure what different the coatings make. What are the spec differences I wonder? Not that I intend to upgrade, mine seems to work fine.

[Stu]

9 minutes ago, F15Rules said:

Great report Stu, thanks for sharing👍.

That TOE sounds great, and I know the HR 3.4 is, having owned one..will definitely aim to get another one at some point.

Dave

Thanks Dave 👍

I’m half tempted to get another for binoviewing, but suspect I would be better off with something like a 7 or 9mm Delite and GPC/barlow them to higher powers.

[Deadlake]

8 minutes ago, Stu said:

Thanks Dave 👍

I’m half tempted to get another for binoviewing, but suspect I would be better off with something like a 7 or 9mm Delite and GPC/barlow them to higher powers.

Denis in Croatia made some BV's that did not require the use of a GPC, BillP did a review of them. A bit more flexibility with which EP's you could use.
I've just got a GPC 2.6 turn up, tempted to get some 10 mm UFF's for them, as low as I can go I suspect on a random good nights seeing.

[F15Rules]

17 minutes ago, Stu said:

Thanks Dave 👍

I’m half tempted to get another for binoviewing, but suspect I would be better off with something like a 7 or 9mm Delite and GPC/barlow them to higher powers.

I get that Stu..I have a nice Carton Japan 7-21mm zoom which I regularly use with the Baader Hyperion zoom Barlow at 2.25x.screwed in.

In my FS128 that combination gives me 334x down to 111x at the turn of the zoom barrel - a really nice and versatile range of powers, depending on sky conditions👍.

Dave

[Stu]

31 minutes ago, Deadlake said:

Denis in Croatia made some BV's that did not require the use of a GPC, BillP did a review of them. A bit more flexibility with which EP's you could use.
I've just got a GPC 2.6 turn up, tempted to get some 10 mm UFF's for them, as low as I can go I suspect on a random good nights seeing.

I know. Not bothered about low power, I prefer single widefield eyepieces for that, so using a GPC with something like a 9mm will give me a range of mid and high powers for lunar and solar which is mainly where I use them.

[Deadlake]

1 minute ago, Stu said:

I know. Not bothered about low power, I prefer single widefield eyepieces for that, so using a GPC with something like a 9mm will give me a range of mid and high powers for lunar and solar which is mainly where I use them.

I have 18.5 mm LE and 24 mm UFF for BV viewing, thinking of getting some 12.5 mm LE's or 10 mm UFF's. I suspect for planetary viewing BV will be more beneficial, similar route to you. 
 

[Alan White]

4 hours ago, Stu said:

Two questions Alan….

How did you cut the hole?

60mm? Do you have little T-Rex hands? 😉

A hole saw, Starrett with cutting fluid applied as it cut, took a while.

Hmmm, will measure and confirm.

Did T-Rex have hands?

 

[Alan White]

Firstly @Stu I agree T-Rex have hands, the picture bears this out, but in my defence my hands are not alike 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And back to Astronomy.....

The hole I made was actually 70mm, I have measured it and taken some images.
It works very well indeed and was a simple change to the riser column,
But please note my column was cut down from a longer one, the remaining bit now resides with @AdeKing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by Alan White

[Highburymark]

FLO came good. TOE 4mm arrives tomorrow, much sooner than expected. Looks like supplies improving. Bad news if you have willpower problems….
 

[Stu]

42 minutes ago, Highburymark said:

FLO came good. TOE 4mm arrives tomorrow, much sooner than expected. Looks like supplies improving. Bad news if you have willpower problems….
 

@Alan White 😱😱🤣

[Alan White]

Pheww, shows as out of stock still....
Buuut, perhaps a little order might make things tickle along....watch this space.