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  #101  
Old 13-02-2019, 08:56 AM
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multiweb (Marc)
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Originally Posted by strongmanmike View Post
Still no counterweight shaft... grrrrrrr ...the sight of this baby sitting on the bench in our spare room is starting to be not funny JAN!!

...just venting
Not much to do astro wise with the dust and clouds anyway. Can you use some of the NJP counter weights meanwhile, work out something?
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  #102  
Old 13-02-2019, 09:14 AM
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strongmanmike (Michael)
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Not much to do astro wise with the dust and clouds anyway. Can you use some of the NJP counter weights meanwhile, work out something?
Yeah true, last night looked like Beijing here in Canberra

By the time I organise anything the damn shaft will probably arrive

I still have one other part to arrive from OPT anyway, before I can adapt the AG12 to the dovetail plate on the mount.

Mike
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  #103  
Old 17-02-2019, 10:33 PM
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I pulled the Starfire out today, although our apartment is nice and dry, I do this two or three times a year for a couple of days, with the caps off, to give it some UV exposure. to prevent mould.

While I had her out I took the opportunity to do an astro porn shot

She will eventually become my second ring, setup on the NJP mount and pedestal pier again...

Mike
still waiting on the AP1600GTO counterweight shaft and bottom dovetail for the AG12.....
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  #104  
Old 22-02-2019, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by strongmanmike View Post
I pulled the Starfire out today, although our apartment is nice and dry, I do this two or three times a year for a couple of days, with the caps off, to give it some UV exposure. to prevent mould.

While I had her out I took the opportunity to do an astro porn shot

She will eventually become my second ring, setup on the NJP mount and pedestal pier again...

Mike
still waiting on the AP1600GTO counterweight shaft and bottom dovetail for the AG12.....
Wow, you are patient. How long have you had your AP1600 now?

AP152 hmmm arrr nice.

Have you sent your PL16803 off for service yet? I have to send mine now - its been on my list to do for a while now.

I am refractorless at the moment - its bugging me a bit. I was thinking of another FSQ106 but done 2 of those.

Eyeing off a CFF105 F6 as he seems to be the new Roland Christen. Seeing Suavi's images just cements it.

In the meantime some widefield lens type imaging will do but it won't last too long!

Greg.
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  #105  
Old 22-02-2019, 10:03 PM
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While I had her out I took the opportunity to do an astro porn shot

Mmm, astro porn. More please
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  #106  
Old 23-02-2019, 09:11 PM
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Some fantastic rig Mike

I hope you will be very soon collecting top quality cosmic data again

Greg - you are too kind but thank you for such nice feedback. I'm eagerly awaiting winter to hopefully do one or two as deep images as my 4" allows. It might be worthwhile checking with Catalin, but I think the 105mm CFF can handle up to KAI 11000 with its dedicated 3.2" field flattener that threads directly to 3.2" FTF. I may be wrong, but there is only one 4" that can properly accommodate KAF16803, and it is the FSQ106 - an ultimate 4" astrograph.

I would love one day to upgrade my camera to something with KAF16200, as this sensor would definitely be a very nice match with my CFF in terms of speed, field of view and sampling.

Sorry Mike, I got sidetracked.
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  #107  
Old 25-02-2019, 10:18 PM
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strongmanmike (Michael)
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Originally Posted by gregbradley View Post
Wow, you are patient. How long have you had your AP1600 now?
A while...since mid December

Quote:
AP152 hmmm arrr nice.
Yeah she is a beauty huh?

Quote:
Have you sent your PL16803 off for service yet? I have to send mine now - its been on my list to do for a while now.
Yes it should be back soon

Quote:
I am refractorless at the moment - its bugging me a bit. I was thinking of another FSQ106 but done 2 of those.

Eyeing off a CFF105 F6 as he seems to be the new Roland Christen. Seeing Suavi's images just cements it.

In the meantime some widefield lens type imaging will do but it won't last too long!

Greg.
Not sure how anything in its class could really be any better than a Tak FSQ106 , other than perhaps being lighter..? ..but ya never know

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Originally Posted by RobF View Post
Mmm, astro porn. More please
Ha ha, one day I will have a scope that needs a crane to get it inside my observatory

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Originally Posted by Slawomir View Post
Some fantastic rig Mike

I hope you will be very soon collecting top quality cosmic data again

Sorry Mike, I got sidetracked.
Thanks I hope so...and no worries Suavi, sometimes the side track is more interesting than the HWY anyway I look forward to seeing your deep projects, IMO you produced the best Helix image of all I saw this season, (and one of the best of all time really) magical

Mike
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  #108  
Old 26-02-2019, 10:03 AM
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THANK GOD! ....the new counterweight shaft (and mounting dovetail) arrived today.....

Now the fun starts...putting it all together

Mike
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  #109  
Old 26-02-2019, 07:09 PM
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Fantastic news Mike! I am really happy for you! And I am also somehow selfishly happy for me and other astro geeks , as we all, without a doubt, look forward to seeing some more your inspiring images of DSOs
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  #110  
Old 26-02-2019, 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Slawomir View Post
Fantastic news Mike! I am really happy for you! And I am also somehow selfishly happy for me and other astro geeks , as we all, without a doubt, look forward to seeing some more your inspiring images of DSOs
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  #111  
Old 26-02-2019, 08:12 PM
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Like everything with this mount, the counterweight shaft is also a beast The rings and dovetails for the AG12 and FSQ all fitted

Now I just need to modify the AP flat surface adaptor plate to mate the mounts rotating top plate to my pier and shorten my pier by 125mm....and I am away

The refreshed and pampered FLI Proline will ship back to me tomorrow so should have that in a week.

...getting there

Mike
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  #112  
Old 26-02-2019, 08:16 PM
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Atmos (Colin)
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Everything is arriving at once!

She certainly is a beast. Have you named her?
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  #113  
Old 26-02-2019, 08:52 PM
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Everything is arriving at once!

She certainly is a beast. Have you named her?
Big Bertha perhaps

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  #114  
Old 26-02-2019, 08:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike View Post
Like everything with this mount, the counterweight shaft is also a beast The rings and dovetails for the AG12 and FSQ all fitted

Now I just need to modify the AP flat surface adaptor plate to mate the mounts rotating top plate to my pier and shorten my pier by 125mm....and I am away

The refreshed and pampered FLI Proline will ship back to me tomorrow so should have that in a week.

...getting there

Mike
Well two weeks until next new moon......
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  #115  
Old 26-02-2019, 08:58 PM
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Well two weeks until next new moon......
Yes, well that would be good, but that might be pushing it though.....perhaps the following one?

Mike
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  #116  
Old 28-02-2019, 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by strongmanmike View Post
I pulled the Starfire out today, although our apartment is nice and dry, I do this two or three times a year for a couple of days, with the caps off, to give it some UV exposure. to prevent mould.
That's interesting. Never thought of that as to prevent mold. So you just open them up or point them to the light outside as well? I wonder if the UV torch they use in forensic would do the same job shinning them down the tube.
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  #117  
Old 28-02-2019, 10:28 AM
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That's interesting. Never thought of that as to prevent mold. So you just open them up or point them to the light outside as well? I wonder if the UV torch they use in forensic would do the same job shinning them down the tube.
I don't know if it would have the sheer UV bang that the sun gives for free!

It's a good thought though... I have a tiny fluorescent tube-type that is used for curing the glue when replacing phone screens. Oh, and the 36W black lights for the large Fluoro bayonets...
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  #118  
Old 28-02-2019, 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by multiweb View Post
That's interesting. Never thought of that as to prevent mold. So you just open them up or point them to the light outside as well?
Yeah take all the caps off, place the scope in as dust free environment as possible, that sunlight enters (spare room), point the objective in the general direction of where sunlight enters the room but ensure that the sun can't move into a position where it could possibly be even partially focused in anyway by the objective or finder scope and leave it for 2 or 3 days, easy

Mike
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  #119  
Old 28-02-2019, 10:42 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike View Post
I pulled the Starfire out today, although our apartment is nice and dry, I do this two or three times a year for a couple of days, with the caps off, to give it some UV exposure. to prevent mould.
Quote:
Originally Posted by multiweb View Post
That's interesting. Never thought of that as to prevent mold. So you just open them up or point them to the light outside as well? I wonder if the UV torch they use in forensic would do the same job shinning them down the tube.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike View Post
Yeah take all the caps off, place the scope in as dust free environment as possible, that sunlight enters (spare room), point the objective in the general direction of where sunlight enters the room but ensure that the sun can't move into a position where it could possibly be even partially focused in anyway by the objective or finder scope and leave it for 2 or 3 days, easy

Mike
Yep, I do that a couple of times a year with my TAK's and Canon lenses.
Like Mike said, make sure the sun can't hit them directly.
And I also have some UV Fluro's from Jaycar that I leave on at night in the scope room.
This also supplements the days I expose them to the sun.



Might as well, it's the only light they see nowdays.



RB
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  #120  
Old 28-02-2019, 01:12 PM
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Might as well, it's the only light they see nowdays.



RB


Might start doing solar imaging like Mark.
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