Well it turned up yesterday, just as the cloud rolled in for the next 10 days
This batch is shipping with USB rather than RS232 for the update interface, plus you get a license for Starry Night so you can link your laptop to the scope and merrily plan your evening's viewing. When there's something to view of course.
Best clear skies in months, ended just as the scope arrives.
Still, gives me time to sort out a power bank for it. Not sure whether to get a 10000mAh LiPo car bump starter or just get a lead acid one. Both much cheaper options than a branded powertank, and the LiPo would be significantly lighter.
I'm going to stick with 25mm and 15mm lenses to start with, get used to how it handles and what it delivers before I start looking at sub 10mm lenses. And yes, a USB CCD is on the list for later in the year for image gathering.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
23rd Jan 2020 10:49 am
BrianT
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 2069
Typical,
But as you say, gives you time to get used to it, don't know about yours but I used to align my spotter during the day so didn't have to faf around at night.
A good lunar filter and a flask are very handy, a lot of people I know say the moon is boring but I used to spend hours looking at it.
BrianT MY 16 Landmark Santorini Black
MY 05 SE Adriatic Blue (Gone but not forgotten)
23rd Jan 2020 10:56 am
BrianT
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 2069
Oh and photos man, we need photos, I would say stand next to it for scale but that wouldn't really work
BrianT MY 16 Landmark Santorini Black
MY 05 SE Adriatic Blue (Gone but not forgotten)
I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
23rd Jan 2020 11:03 am
BrianT
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: Ayrshire
Posts: 2069
MY 16 Landmark Santorini Black
MY 05 SE Adriatic Blue (Gone but not forgotten)
23rd Jan 2020 11:04 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
NoDo$h wrote:
I know you're only normal sized, but I didn't realise you were that small DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
DS3 TDV6 HSE- Silver with Alpaca (new one) Gone
D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
Porsche Cayenne V8 Diesel S
A follow-up to this as I know a few on here have got telescopes. I didn't want to keep the scope in it's original box as it's way to ugly/large/unwieldy, which in turn would mean it never got used. On the flip side, leaving it on the tripod in my office meant dust, dog hair, and dismantling it every time I wanted to move it outside.
After a bit of research (and after fainting at the price of the official cases) I came across this:
Absolutely spot on! Re-used the original packing foam with a couple of minor tweaks to let me leave the sighting scope in-situ. The case holds the scope, mount, a hard case full of eyepieces and the wifi module I added, plus the powertank and various lead. There's room in the top of the case for the dew hood with a rolled up down jacket, hat and gloves inside for the cold nights.
The tripod needs to be carried externally, but that's an easy task, sitting between the carry handles
If you're wondering about how best to store your scope, this may be the answer
I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
18th May 2020 9:18 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
I too couldn't bring myself to buy the official case for the price of it -especially when it's not even a hard case.
My solution is nowhere as nice as yours but suited to my need to simply stack it in the cupboard in the study and also to keep it safe when transporting in the caravan.
Using the shipping polystyrene is definitely a good idea. I just shaped mine to fit into a Really Useful box of the correct size and also cut out some other slots for lens cases, power cable pouch, etc. I also store the tripod separately as a previous crate purchase that also handled the tripod made it too big to get into the caravan.
I did add a couple of nice orange stickers I got off eBay too
D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
25th May 2020 7:16 pm
Luapno
Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 874
It has a very good app for locating stars and planets. Also bought an 8-24mm zoom eyepiece, moon filter and phone holder to take some photos.
Weather has only been good enough for a couple of hour of playtime but managed to get this (taken on an iPhone 12)
Looking forward to some clear nights so I can play some moreWhen you are dead, you do not know you are dead. All of the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you are stupid.
22nd Jun 2021 11:22 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Nice thread resurrection
What phone holder do you have? I keep meaning to buy oneD4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
23rd Jun 2021 6:50 am
Luapno
Member Since: 27 Sep 2013
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 874
Works well with the iPhone 12 pro max which is quite a big phone, I use the apple watch to control the phone to take a picture with a 3-second timer as the telescope shakes a bit. I looked at the Celestron version but it was nearly £50 which seemed way too expensive.When you are dead, you do not know you are dead. All of the pain is felt by others. The same thing happens when you are stupid.
23rd Jun 2021 8:33 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
Excellent! Have just bought one D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
23rd Jun 2021 8:52 am
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
Sold my Meade LX200 14" two years ago when I moved to Europe, and have missed it ever since... only issue I have is that they are not the most portable things in the world so I'll have to leave buying something else until I settle in one place
That said I have seen a very nice LX200 16" for sale I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
23rd Jun 2021 9:41 am
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
James W wrote:
Excellent! Have just bought one
Works a treat, nice gadget
D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
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