Attention: All Newtonian 150mm owners

[Jen]

:help::help: or to anyone who has a simular scope or used to have one.
Now that i finally have my scope fixed yayyyyyyy im really killing my back here
Is it just me cause im such a short ass :mad2: or using this scope is such a back breaking experience (does anybody else have this problem with this scope)its killing my back :screwy:
Im up and down and up and down all nite long wif my chair moving it to the findscoper then back to the eyepiece all nite long :shrug:
Before i go out and buy a ladder or a step lader is there any tips to fix this any suggestions welcome Thanks

[Screwdriverone]

Hi Jen,

Loosen the grub screws on the OTA rings so you can spin the OTA around and point the finderscope and focuser closer to the ground and make it easier to look through both. I often have to change the OTA position based on where I am looking and what angle the mount is at.

Also, you could put the tripod legs up only half way so the whole scope is only half as tall as it normally is. That way, a hobbit like you wont need a ladder, and you can see your "precious" much easier. ;)

Cheers

Chris

[Jen]

:hi: Hey there Chris wow that was a short reply today i was expecting a page long from you hahahaha :thumbsup: anyway thanks for the tips i might try that but i want my scope to be as close to the sky as i can :rolleyes: so i can see things just that litle bit closer hahaha i dont want to put the scope on the ground hehehe but i understand your theory thanks cheers :whistle:

[AstralTraveller]

Just be careful if you have the focusser facing down. Loose grub screw on eyepiece holder .... concrete .... not pretty.:jawdrop:

[Jen]

:scared: woah i didnt think of that thanks Astral dam it :shrug: i guess it looks like i will just keep using the stoopid chair :mad2:

[AstralTraveller]

I've used scopes with the focusser facing down many times. Just be careful. It is safer if the eyepiece has a locking groove but my old ones don't. I used to use a 25cm f/8 which was close to 2m long. Even I'm not tall enough to get to the upward-facing side of that! I've dropped eyepieces onto grass without damaging them. Some people put old carpet under their scope for safety (and warmer feet).

[MrB]

Nah it's easy, just point the other end at the sky... like the stores do with the cheapie newts*. Much less distance for the EP to fall then!
:D

* Ah thats a bit vague if you haven't seen it. Dunno how many times I've seen it but enough to lose count.
Some stores (not astro stores) like Cash Converters/Dick Smith etc etc set up diplay scopes, sometimes a newt is set up like a refractor, with the focuser end down.... I laugh everytime I see it. Even seen it in catalogues and adverts.

[Jen]

:screwy::screwy::screwy:

[Ian Robinson]

I'm a short arse too , my tube rings are a bit tight , I am yet to see how the rebuilt 10" OTA goes when I get around to reassembling it ... bit busy with grad study ring now , so that'll have to wait a month or two.
(Need to get more Flocking Paper, and mod my side clams slightly which are a bit too tight on the mirror for my liking).

I'll make a set of steps (2 steps most) with a hand rail so I can view at zenith.
Wish I was 6ft tall but I'm not.

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: yes i wish i was 6ft too :prey: but im stuck at being just 5"2 :doh:
ooohhh steps wif a hand rail that sounds interesting you could get something going for all the shorties around here hahaha :thumbsup: