Happy New Year - Mars 1st Jan 2012

[von Tom]

I spent about 20 minutes wondering why I couldn't achieve focus with the EOS 600D and Sky-Watcher Dob until I realised I hadn't extended the flex tube all the way. With sunrise approaching and seeing even pooerr for Saturn I chose Mars as the subject. Here it is at 4:33am AEST.

Tom

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Hi, Tom.

Always so much to remember to do with this imaging stuff!
Especially early hours of the morning when the brain is a bit fuzzy.

Cheers,

Justin.

[naskies]

Nice! Out of curiosity, do you know if stock flex-tube Skywatcher dobs come to focus with DSLRs without a barlow/extender?

[von Tom]

Hi Dave, yes they do - no barlows required. The dslr attaches with perfect focus just on its own.

Too right Justin - no matter how many times I've used this setup something silly like that can still throw me. Like the time The images I was getting were so dark and I couldn't figure out why so I packed everything up then to find the main dust cap on with the small off-axis cap off. Or the other time I simply could not find Jupiter because the finder scope cap was on - only discovered after everything was packed up again.

[naskies]

Great, thanks Tom. I have one on my wish list partially due to seeing all your magnificent efforts :)

[Shiraz]

good going Tom - difficult object to image at present. Funny tales of mishaps - maybe we need a sticky along those lines? Regards Ray