hello to existing members

[mick pinner]

Great to hear of another group of amateurs starting up, I've been into astronomy for about 25 years but have only been able to spare any serious time in the last 18 months or so due to all the usual things,to much work etc.
Now that I've got the time I went out and bought a 12" Meade LX 200 and piggybacked an Orion ED 80mm apochromatic reflector ( an absolutely great scope ), I'm currently building a split roll-off roof observatory which should be finished in about 2 weeks (hopefully), I live in Monbulk, Victoria, this is in the Dandenong Ranges so any of you guys in the area feel free to get in touch.
Looking forward to making new friends in astronomy.
All the best Mick.

[silvinator]

Hi there Mick and a big warm :welcome: to you. What a great scope combination you have there. Lots of people own an lx of some sort on this forum and a few also own the orion 80mm. I'm sure you'll have loads of fun on this forum, we're a friendly, if not crazy, bunch.
You should post some pics of your roll-off when it's done. Oh, and if you can, we'd love to see a shot of your equipment which you can post on this thread (http://www.iceinspace.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=65).
Clear skies!

[RAJAH235]

Welcome Mick. You can also post a shot of yourself if you've got one.
Use the 80mm as a finderscope, eh??? :thumbsup:
Just the facts m'am.

[iceman]

Hi Mick!

:welcome: to the forum! :thumbsup:

Nice looking setup you've got, and the observatory sounds great. The skies must be pretty dark where you are?

Anyway how did you hear about us?

Hope to see you back here regularly!

[Jonathan]

Hi Mick. Welcome to the forum. Nice setup you have there.:)

[Mick]

Hello and welcome. :D

[mick pinner]

Thanks for the warm reception guys, skys are reasonably dark up here, I read about your site in Sky and Space, will post some pics of the observatory as soon as the frame for the roof is done.

[Comet Hunter]

G'Day Mick and welcome!!

[janoskiss]

Welcome Mick! Good to see another local on the forums. Now, can you pls make the clouds go away? :rain:

[[1ponders]]

Welcome to the tribe Mick.

[ving]

hi mick! :)
welcome aboard.

hey rajah, whats with the "just the facts ma'am"? :P

[iceman]

ah the first new member as a result of the Sky&Space article! Excellent Mick, hopefully you won't be the last! :)

[Starkler]

Welcome Mick to our happy home.

Id love to hear your thoughts on the ED80 as Im considering buying one :)
. We have a thread about it here (http://www.iceinspace.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=781)

[Dave47tuc]

:welcome: Mick

Geez its hard keeping up with all the new people:P
Or maybe I'm just slow:whistle:

[Striker]

Welcome Mick.......oh no another victorian....how many can their be....hehehe

[RAJAH235]

ving, if you had to ask, you're too young. (old old TV show called *Dragnet*).That was Joe Friday's favourite line. :D

[rumples riot]

Mick Welcome to the site, I do have a question for you. What mounting rail did you use for the ED80 ( I have one with my lx200 10" and what 2D counter wight set did you use?

[mick pinner]

Paul,
I made the mounting plate myself if you take a look at my scope you will notice the larger attaching bolts that make it so much easier to take on and of, it can then be bolted straight to a dovetail plate to mount on a regular eq.
The weight system I am using is a 3D system on a full length slide that also balances the tube when in a vertical position, this gives complete balance over the full range of movement, I also made this myself as the price of Meade and Losmandy gear to me is just ridiculous.
I should add it does help having acces to an engineering shop.

[rumples riot]

Yeah that wuld be nice, any chance you can post some cloeup shots of both those items. Maybe I can get something made up myself.

[mick pinner]

I'll get on to some photos for you, might take a day or two but it will happen.