Wow, $20 at a Garage sale, I'll bet! ;^)

Color me

I wish! Expensive but still awesome!

The lens cell has arrived. Still waiting for the other package with tube and focuser.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1573786685.jpg

Yeah, the transit of Mercury, cloudy, the night of the meteor shower (that I understand was a dud anyway), cloudy.

There are some really cool photos in this article. I thought you guys might enjoy them.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/chandra-observatory-observes-two-decades-turning-theory-reality-180973647/

Sweet, thanks!

Wow!

Just got back from our yearly trade show in Orlando to find the refractor tube arrived. I knew it was big but DANG!!!https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...f1&oe=5E8AC091

I have a 2 speed Crayford type focuser with a...I dunno, something like 148mm flange...laying around if you want it. Shoot, it would even be dwarfed by that tube...


Markus made some weird wicked stuff in the day. Dude's kinda bat$hit (in a good way...as much that bat$hit glass pushers can be good...), he was like that 15 years ago and he's still like that now.

Wow, that is a big tube.

Well that's interesting. Whats it look like?

Shot M42, The Orion Nebula and surrounding area last night with the Takahashi FSQ-106 and Atik 16200 camera with Hydrogen Alpha filter. Total of 4.1 hours of exposures of 30 second for the core area that's easily blown out, 10 minute exposures for the main Orion area and a couple of 1 hour exposures to pick up the real faint hydrogen that surrounds it all.

Core still looks a little blown out on this jpeg. Looks much better on the big file.

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...c8&oe=5E44FFB9

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/684309-help-me-id-my-focuser/

Based on that thread, it's a Sky Watcher's 150 Evostar focuser. 2 inch, so less bulky than the (4 inch?) that's on your tube now, but really, unless you're doing old school film work with big slides, who really needs a 4 inch focuser these days?

I was looking for something to put on my Vixen 102M which is a 113mm ID tube, this won't work without some minimal machining.

Thanks Mike. I'll pass. I need the bigger focuser as my flatener is 92mm. Hope to get a big chip camera some day and the bigger focuser helps support the weight of the filter wheel and camera better.

Are you manually slewing your dome slot or is it tied to the drive?

I'm pretty sure someone a while back asked. Everything is automated except for the dome. He's got to stay out or go back periodically.

On a related note, it's crazy how apparent the motion is when you start looking at the moon and stars through a telescope or trying to photograph them.

/\
Yep, manual.

One more from last night. Shot with red, green, blue filters.
https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/NQpO...0_wmhqkGbg.jpg

Labeled
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1575163606.jpg

open clusters, so unappreciated, so mesmerizing.

Agreed!

Very cool. I was pleasantly surprised that you’d captured a section of sky that would normally not be considered interesting.

M35 from Friday night
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...13&oe=5E8527F9

Don't forget NGC 2158!

Fantastic photo. I'm green at your setup and results. I'd love to do astrophotography. I don't really have the kit, time or setup to get into it right now, but someday.

Thanks Steve!

Got some Oxygen and sulfur data added to my existing hydrogen. About 12-13 hours of exposures over two nights.
https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e8&oe=5E7AC76D

Very nice!

Thanks!

Had a 16x20 metal print made. Kinda digging it.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1576974025.JPG

That's beautiful, Eric. Looks almost 3D from here.

Very cool!

I envy both your skill and your clear sky! I've been living with a Bortle Infinity lately :( And now my latitude even prevents decent solar viewing, there's been a constant haze up to 30 degrees or so.

Thanks guys!

Re-processed M35 and NGC2158.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1578194470.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1579478976.jpg

Found this on Craigslist, asking $50 for the telescope. New to astronomy, and only interested after looking at this astronomy thread. Woundering what if it's a good scope?

It was probably $129 new. Maybe less. The scope itself will give a decent enough image but the mount is pretty wobbly. These types of scopes are a cheap entry into viewing to see if it keeps your interest. Might be worth it. If you don't like it you can probably sell it for that.

Well without knowing the specs I can only go by what I've known about Tasco over the years. They are generally plastic, using very poor optics. But if you use a decent eyepiece you can get decent views of the moon. For $50 you may get a feel for the hobby but don't expect much at all.

Here is a nice guide.

https://youtu.be/1_PgtDpZl3c

Thanks Eric and Flatbutt. Looked at some telescopes on line and can buy a higher quality telescope for not much more money. So, I'm not buying the one on Craigslist. The video was very helpful and seems like a reflector telescope might be the best entry level scope.

I live in a great location to look at the sky in the Carson Valley, near the desert and mountains. would like to see the Orion Nebula.

thanks,
Gary

Looked at the Celestron Astro Master 114 EQ telescope on line. Seems to be a highly rated beginners telescope. Watched a few videos and it comes with a motor drive to track planets.