Society for Popular Astronomy

Is it Vesta at the top right of a square,where Alpha Pisces is at the lower left ?

If so I got it last night

I can't belive it'd be so easy

JJ..

I did get a couple of shots,however the sky was so cloudy that all I got was a fuzzy moon .. 12,12,08 5.11pm (LUMIX FZ18 - 18x optical,but zoomed to full 72x) http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6558/fuzzyvx0.th.jpg Although I did get a nice pic from earlier that morning, 12,12,08 1.53am 28mm wide,5 ...

Be careful when filing the lens down,as it may crack or splinter,
Stuff like that happens to me way too often

JJ..

Yep,
I didn't re-tighten as hard as it was,
When I bought the mount,the seller said the factory "didn't seem to know what it was they were making"

If I find the time over the new year I might get round to putting together a strip guide for my EQ mount,

Thanks,

JJ..

I was thinking of giving the mount a spray into the DEC axis,but figured it out this evening, Under the grub (2.5mm) screw (in the above pic) is another smaller grub (1.5mm),i removed this grub and put the Allen key "just" into the top hole, that allowed the DEC head to unscrew, It was sim...

As far as the R.A goes,the locking handle does indeed hold the gear into the body, I removed it and cleaned it fully,only problem was I put too much grease back in,I also heavily greased all the bearing rings and so the mount still felt far too stiff, After another strip I cleaned all the new grease...

As I missed the occultation due to clouds,I realy enjoyed reading your report (and seeing the pics)
It sounds like an amazing place to do astronomy


JJ..

HI, I finally got my EQ up and hobbling on top of my homemade pillar, I didn't expect it to run perfectly,as the R.A and DEC axis do feel a little stiff,although very smooth, During the first run the R.A worm shaft wheel seemed to stop,but it was struggling to keep the teeth meshed,I pulled the moto...

That was good !
I see what you meant about the dew giving an interesting effect,


.. and you'd got your camera upside down

JJ..

It says .. "Three hours and two orbits later, the 100-tonne bird glided back to a flawless landing just a few miles from its launch pad." "flawless landing" ? Maybe up to a point,but Buran suffered significant damage to its airframe due to the heat upon reentry, I doubt Buran wou...

I didn't know him,but I searched and found this obituary ..

http://www.brayebrookobservatory.org/Br ... _obit.html



Sounds like he was a good bloke,and had an interesting and full life

R.I.P DAVE

JJ..

HI, Theres some good images on your web page You seem to like "Galaxy NGC7331 in Pegasus",the pro image you used to compare it with makes it even more interesting,I've been back and forth trying to find all the small Galaxies, Theres too many pics to mention,but some of your moon pics are ...

A nice observatory you got there :) Don't knock your pillar (no pun..) .. if it works .. it works :) My back garden is a postage stamp type thing,I was thinking of getting one of the allotments about 100 yds down the road (big waiting list though) I took the mdf top off the bung (in the above pic) a...

I've took loads of pics :D Heres a couple for now .. EQ4 fitted to tube .. http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2526/fitqs6.th.jpg http://img408.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif EQ4 attachment "bung".. http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/4625/plugqz4.th.jpg http://img381.imageshack.us/images/th...

They look nice
As were the links in the thread above,

Had the first dry fitting of the mount and "bung" today,no issues being worked

Ultimatly I'l be buying a metal pier,but at £165 it'l not be for a while,
Im "not allowed" any more fun

JJ..