Cjg Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 Not the postman, but two DPD deliveries. Awaiting the delivery with the base to arrive. An 8inch Stella Lyra Dob. I'm donating it to the National Trust at Orford Ness, where myself and observing friends (cheers @Littleguy80 and @Helix) have been running overnight stargazing sessions. The most recent, last Saturday had incredibly clear skies with amazing seeing. You travel to the 'Ness by a boat, so we have in the past, taken our smaller 'fracs. This will stay over in their secure office and enable us to share yet more of the night sky objects, and mean less for us to carry along with our sleeping bags etc. Am hoping that @FLO will have forgotten to pack the clouds for the next event on the 31st and for the astrophotography events with @FenlandPaul in 2025 and beyond! 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bosun21 Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 DPD delivery today from FLO. This time it was my new ASI585MC camera for planetary imaging and EAA. I've found that this camera is good for both. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleguy80 Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 6 hours ago, Ags said: @Littleguy80 these are my experiences of using the step-down rings with my Solar Scout: for prominences, I don't use the rings for surface detail, I find anywhere between a 43mm ring and 30mm ring gives the best results, although some days I get good results without the rings... The 30mm ring obviously gives the magic f30 that Quarks like, but the severe reduction in aperture has to be considered too. I focus without the rings, then apply the rings (they will increase focus depth, so can only improve the focus achieved without rings). Without the rings, slight misfocus is more visible. FYI, 30mm aperture isn't much, but the GONG solar imaging network uses six scopes around the globe with apertures of 28mm. First light with the step down rings and really impressed. Stopping down to 37mm was the sweet spot for me. 30mm made it a bit too dim and floaters intruded a bit more with the small exit pupil. The surface took on a much more mottled effect when stopped down. Removing and adding the rings made it easy to compare views. The full aperture views started to look quite bad by comparison. For £12.99 it’s one of the best value upgrades I’ve made. Really wasn’t expecting that much of an improvement! Thanks again @Ags 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ags Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 5 hours ago, Littleguy80 said: First light with the step down rings and really impressed. Stopping down to 37mm was the sweet spot for me. 30mm made it a bit too dim and floaters intruded a bit more with the small exit pupil. The surface took on a much more mottled effect when stopped down. Removing and adding the rings made it easy to compare views. The full aperture views started to look quite bad by comparison. For £12.99 it’s one of the best value upgrades I’ve made. Really wasn’t expecting that much of an improvement! Thanks again @Ags I am glad it made such a difference! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola Fletcher Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 This is a dream come true…. Just waiting for a dovetail to arrive and an AZ75 to mount it and I’ll be good to go. I think I am officially Takked out 😊 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn87 Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 My latest AliExpress purchase turned up today... I wasn't prepared to pay over £200 for a ZWO EAF, so went for the Genesis equivalent at around £75 instead. Came with a temperature probe and IR remote that I probably won't use! The back of the C6 is getting a bit cramped now... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyS Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 The year is certainly advancing 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratlet Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 57 minutes ago, Martyn87 said: My latest AliExpress purchase turned up today... I wasn't prepared to pay over £200 for a ZWO EAF, so went for the Genesis equivalent at around £75 instead. Came with a temperature probe and IR remote that I probably won't use! The back of the C6 is getting a bit cramped now... Ah yes. The Gemini autofocusser. The autofocusser from Gemini that released about 2 weeks after I started building my own autofocusser. That autofocusser? 🤣 Seriously though, nice one. I've heard good things about them. Costa only slightly more than a replacement bracket for a zwo. Would have got one if I hadn't already sunk an equivalent chunk of cash into building my own. I believe it is based of the myfocuserpro2 architecture and is compatible with the indi drivers for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martyn87 Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 28 minutes ago, Ratlet said: Ah yes. The Gemini autofocusser. The autofocusser from Gemini that released about 2 weeks after I started building my own autofocusser. That autofocusser? 🤣 Seriously though, nice one. I've heard good things about them. Costa only slightly more than a replacement bracket for a zwo. Would have got one if I hadn't already sunk an equivalent chunk of cash into building my own. I believe it is based of the myfocuserpro2 architecture and is compatible with the indi drivers for it. Haha funnily enough, I had already 3D printed brackets for a DIY focuser too and fully intended to go down that route, but as you say, this way is cheaper! I actually bought the SCT bracket to go with it but the supplied coupler doesn't fit on the motor end, although it's perfect on the scope end. I had the brackets printed and belts here already though so the printed option worked out great. I've not had chance to try it out yet other than getting NINA to move it, which worked great. Cuiv the Lazy Geek reviewed it a week or so ago though and was pretty happy with it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop1 Posted August 15 Share Posted August 15 Various goodies arrived today from RVO 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IB20 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Been thinking about a 25mm BST upgrade for a while and have always liked the look of the 24mm 68° ES line. Thanks @Pixies. 👍🏻 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1smartcookie Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 A "Whats In The Box " question ..... just to pass the time ... Thank you Rother Valley Optics . 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratlet Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 22 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said: A "Whats In The Box " question ..... just to pass the time ... Thank you Rother Valley Optics . If physics has taught me anything it's a cat. 😺 3 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1smartcookie Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 2 minutes ago, Ratlet said: If physics has taught me anything it's a cat. 😺 Almost ... definitely not much bigger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 26 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said: A "Whats In The Box " question ..... just to pass the time ... Lots of Polystyrene Peanuts and something interesting we hope... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ags Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 My doggie Wurzel say "who cares about what's in the box? Gimme da box! Box must die!" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1smartcookie Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 13 minutes ago, Alan White said: Lots of Polystyrene Peanuts and something interesting we hope... hope not too many peanuts i hope Alan ... but i am looking forward to widefield viewing tonight , on a manual mount. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elp Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 50 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said: "Whats In The Box " question Another box? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1smartcookie Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 3 minutes ago, Elp said: Another box? probably ... lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie c Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Lots and lots of clouds 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1smartcookie Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 11 minutes ago, robbie c said: Lots and lots of clouds oh no! i forgot about those Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop1 Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Trouble? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu1smartcookie Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 On 14/08/2024 at 12:32, Cjg said: Not the postman, but two DPD deliveries. Awaiting the delivery with the base to arrive. An 8inch Stella Lyra Dob. I'm donating it to the National Trust at Orford Ness, where myself and observing friends (cheers @Littleguy80 and @Helix) have been running overnight stargazing sessions. The most recent, last Saturday had incredibly clear skies with amazing seeing. You travel to the 'Ness by a boat, so we have in the past, taken our smaller 'fracs. This will stay over in their secure office and enable us to share yet more of the night sky objects, and mean less for us to carry along with our sleeping bags etc. Am hoping that @FLO will have forgotten to pack the clouds for the next event on the 31st and for the astrophotography events with @FenlandPaul in 2025 and beyond! If ever a picture captured what its all about , imo this is it ... no , not the "may contain Clouds " but that stunning starscape . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyS Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 Time to replace my 15 year old CCD camera 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan White Posted August 16 Share Posted August 16 (edited) On 14/08/2024 at 12:32, Cjg said: Not the postman, but two DPD deliveries. Awaiting the delivery with the base to arrive. An 8inch Stella Lyra Dob. I'm donating it to the National Trust at Orford Ness, where myself and observing friends (cheers @Littleguy80 and @Helix) have been running overnight stargazing sessions. The most recent, last Saturday had incredibly clear skies with amazing seeing. You travel to the 'Ness by a boat, so we have in the past, taken our smaller 'fracs. This will stay over in their secure office and enable us to share yet more of the night sky objects, and mean less for us to carry along with our sleeping bags etc. Am hoping that @FLO will have forgotten to pack the clouds for the next event on the 31st and for the astrophotography events with @FenlandPaul in 2025 and beyond! Missed this post earlier, nice one. I had seen that someone was doing Stargazing on the Ness, had not realised it was you chaps. Orford Ness has a special place in my heart, my Grandad served a chunk of his WW2 service here, they were routing out the secrets within captured and crashed enemy aircraft. Had so many WW2 stories recalled of his time on the Ness. Have been a number of times and really have enjoyed being on the shingle. Hope the session on the 31 goes well and clear skies. Edited August 16 by Alan White 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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