wow : Amazing. Banitov Mask just works

[Catanonia]

Cut one out, stuck it on the scope and took a picture and lovely lines and perfectly in focus.

Wow, simply amazing design and simplicity...

[Aza]

Yeah they are awesome!

Totally essential bit of kit for me, and probably the cheapest too

Use this little tool for an even more accurate focus

(unzip first)

Bahtinov Grabber.zip

[Matthew.Blake]

Beginner's question: What is a Banitov Mask? I tried a google search but the only pages it turned up were the two posts in this thread prior to mine!

[Dave]

Its a Bahtinov Mask

[Helen]

Matthew,

Its a focusiing aid actually called Bahtinov. Search on this forum (or Google) for that and you'll get lots of hits, but here's a start:

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-tips-tricks-techniques/77682-having-trouble-focusing-home-made-bahtinov-focus-mask-helped-me.html

Highly recommended!

Helen

[Matthew.Blake]

Ah, now I know why the newish Skywatch Mak-Newt has that silly bit on the front in all the pictures!

[steppenwolf]

These masks are excellent, I have one for each of my telescopes and they certainly do work. This article on my website may be of some interest:-

Bahtinov Masks

[SteveL]

Ah, now I know why the newish Skywatch Mak-Newt has that silly bit on the front in all the pictures!

err... which silly bit is that?

[Matthew.Blake]

On all the pictures I've seen of it it has a copper coloured bit over part of the aperture that looks like it just blocks light. Given that it's for astro imaging and my new found knowledge of Bahtinov masks I've assumed that's what it was. Are you about to correct me?

err... which silly bit is that?

[SteveL]

do you have a link to one of those images? The only ones I have seen are like this:

[Matthew.Blake]

That's the one. What's the coppery segment over the aperture?

[SteveL]

you mean the half moon shape on the left of the objective? thats a reflection....

[Matthew.Blake]

Now I feel proper stupid...:clouds2:I'd never even considered it could be a reflection, it looked too perfect to be anything other than deliberate.

[Aza]

Hehe

[mattlane]

astrojargon - Bahtinov Focusing Mask Generator: Overview

Make your own custom mask here. I've got three ready printed for cutting (i'm sure i'll screw at least one up). You just enter in your scopes details and away you go.

Although slightly puzzled why we have it in this dodgy SVG format, does anyone actually use it I've been working in design and websites for nearly 10 years now and have only ever seen it as a save option, never, ever come across anyone who actually uses it. Either way i was able to open the SVG in illustrator and create a PDF to print. If anyone needs help with that just shout - only takes me a couple of minutes.

Matt

[AstroTiger]

It was apparently designed by a Russian who just made the details open source on how to make one.

i might see if i can get one knocked up for my 5 inch Refractor

[steppenwolf]

Although slightly puzzled why we have it in this dodgy SVG format, does anyone actually use it I've been working in design and websites for nearly 10 years now and have only ever seen it as a save option, never, ever come across anyone who actually uses it. Either way i was able to open the SVG in illustrator and create a PDF to print. If anyone needs help with that just shout - only takes me a couple of minutes.

Horrible format - I opened my versions in THE GIMP but you do wonder why they chose this with so many other, better and more universal formats available!