[Scooter]

OK - second night out

Thanks for everyone’s comments/suggestions (looks like I have a bit to work through hey Eric )

Sorted the finder scope - much better (mind you it was right at the limits in screwing down to get the stars in focus).

Messed around with the laser collimator this afternoon and have come to the conclusion it is near on impossible to ensure the laser collimator is 100% collimated!! Ran out of batteries (should have read your post Eric as I couldn’t get the last one out either – my solution was drill a small pilot hole in the top and then use a screw to screw into the pilot hole and pull the battery out). All of the jigs I made allowed for at least some movement (even used a holder ring clamped down) so have decided that what I have is good enough. Thing is it can be seated (locked) differently in the actual focuser so I guess it depends on how you initially seat it.

Not sure about collimation. The laser and barlowed laser tests appear to be pretty close so I did many star tests tonight and they are all the same. I don’t get concentric rings as per all of the pics but I get a single sold ring around a centered black dot (inside and outside focus) so does that mean I am good or did I need the concentric rings (come right out on focus the spider makes it look like crosshairs thus aiding telling wether it appears centered)?

Might have to wait for an expert to check it out and show me how its done

Setup in the backyard and checked out M42 (Orion neb) as suggested. Cool but no color at all just appeared as black/white (probably expected – I have seen those drawings of what to expect).

Did some more viewing of Saturn and it was as yesterday. Noticed I seem to get better focus using the straight plossel a mag x vs similar mag with Barlow and plossel combo….. any thoughts?

Then moved back onto the deck and just did some random checking out. One thing that stood out was all the satellites tracking across the sky. Seen em before of course but noticed heaps tonight so I guess that’s what happens when you start looking skyward J

Spent some time viewing the K Cru Cluster (NGC4755) and wasted a heap of time trying to find the Sombrero Galaxy (NGC4594) with no joy. Sure I was getting stars around then moving the scope across where it should be (15, 25 and 32mm lenses) but no joy. Guess trying to find a galaxy is the job for tomorrow.

Thanks for the recommend coldspace. I think there is a club that meets at Mt Cootha so that might get a look in as Pimpama is out of the way. Is it a silly question or did you folks do viewing at these regular meets?

Anyway that’s it for me – time for bed.

Have fun