Second mod - 10 inch DOB

[Blair]

With the off cuts from the base box build I made a week or so ago this bracket bolts to some tube rings purchased from here last week:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...ps9dd4296e.jpg

With the iPad running SkySafari+ stuck on:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...psd7c68dd8.jpg

The whole thing comes off in a jiffy with the tube rings attached.

Cost of build:
2 x bolts -- 60 cents
Shelf bracket, velcro, wood, paint and washers -- lying around.



Now go away rain GRRRRR

[moonunit (Joe)]

Kinda puts Argo Navis out of business doesn't it?

[Blair]

Im sure Argo Navis is great and performs well. I'm not so sure if they can beat 60 cents thou LOL.

Took it for a good spin tonight. Worked perfectly and as expected I got a lovely nights observing in even with the moon so full.

[Steffen]

I've tried this with an iPhone strapped to an 80ED once. It works initially but loses its way quickly. The problem with dead reckoning is that errors (in this case accelerometer inaccuracies) will build up.

Technically, the Argo encoders are based on dead reckoning, too. However, counting a finite number of steps around a full circle is a problem solvable with practically no error.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Blair]

Yeah it takes a little getting used to. A good play with the software inside holding it helps. I have found when you ave 'found' an object and finished observing it simply press centre again on the iPad and if needed the gyro button again and it's re calibrated after every object. Sounds complicated I guess however it a simply two buttons to press. Doing this I had great success.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Blair
Argo IS great and performs brilliantly. When setup properly it will put objects into the eyepiece unfailingly.
The iPad/iPhone idea is not bad but I would agree with Steffen, the errors will build up.
The other issue is that using an iPad at the telescope is a sure way to destroy your night vision, finding stuff you cannot see is not much good. I have tried using mine at the telscope and it is hopeless, way too bright. Tried all sorts of dimming strategies but none worked well.

Malcolm

Originally Posted by Blair

Im sure Argo Navis is great and performs well. I'm not so sure if they can beat 60 cents thou LOL.

Took it for a good spin tonight. Worked perfectly and as expected I got a lovely nights observing in even with the moon so full.

[Steffen]

I find that the night vision mode of SkySafari, combined with a modest overall brightness setting, works well and preserves my night vision. Different generations of iPhones may have different amount of backlight bleed, but on the iPhones 4 to 5 (retina displays) this isn't a problem.

By far the biggest light polluter around my setup is the power LED of the HEQ5 Pro mount

Cheers
Steffen.