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Home observatories
Discuss your home observatory!
Topics: 82

82 Topics

1443 Posts

Last post ROR calculator
by speedster View the latest post
Sat Jan 18, 2025 5:09 pm
ATM
Discuss making your own telescope!
Topics: 44

44 Topics

413 Posts

Last post Re: Ready to Grind
by yobbo89 View the latest post
Tue Jan 14, 2025 6:22 am
Other "Do It Yourself" projects
Tell us about those other projects you are working on.
Topics: 120

120 Topics

1154 Posts

Last post Re: What did you work on toda…
by Graeme1858 View the latest post
Tue Nov 26, 2024 4:02 pm

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45 topics

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Last post

3D Printing Astrophotography accessories

Last post by Caldwell 14 « Sun Nov 24, 2024 11:17 am
Replies: 2
by AstroShed » Fri Jun 07, 2024 5:19 pm

First post

A quick video showcasing some very useful 3D printed astrophotography accessories by myself and others, maybe take a look….

Last post

Nice, thanks

2 Replies

2412 Views

Last post by Caldwell 14
Sun Nov 24, 2024 11:17 am
A Todmorden Pier

Last post by speedster « Fri Oct 18, 2024 6:24 pm
Replies: 11
by Jockinireland » Fri May 06, 2022 9:16 pm

First post

This past year has been very fryustrating for me in terms of AP. The extremely poor skies everyone has suffered has been compounded for me by very...

Last post

Good job! When appearance is an issue, you can use 8x8 blocks stacked in their normal orientation so that you don't have block cores showing. also...

11 Replies

5789 Views

Last post by speedster
Fri Oct 18, 2024 6:24 pm
Mini Computer

Last post by speedster « Fri Oct 18, 2024 6:17 pm
Replies: 5
by JeffBevan » Tue Apr 02, 2024 5:19 pm

First post

What mini computer are you using, I'm not asking about ASAIR etc. but what fullfledged mini computer are you using? I'm not really willing to go the...

Last post

I've been using a BeeLink U59 mini with great results. It has auto power on and wake-on-lan so it works well for a remote system.

5 Replies

2884 Views

Last post by speedster
Fri Oct 18, 2024 6:17 pm
Telescope/ eyepiece storage

Last post by Graeme1858 « Fri May 31, 2024 2:05 pm
Replies: 15
by Lady Fraktor » Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:58 pm

First post

Now that I have moved my telescopes are no longer stored inside the home. I have a 1.5 x 3 metre shed I have built for storing everything.
The shed...

Last post

I'm new to the forum, so this post may be too late to help.

It's never too late to make a contribution!

15 Replies

5237 Views

Last post by Graeme1858
Fri May 31, 2024 2:05 pm
Arduino Rain Sensor

Last post by Graeme1858 « Tue May 14, 2024 8:21 am
Replies: 8
by Graeme1858 » Thu Nov 02, 2023 3:46 pm

First post

I put an Arduino Rain Sensor for the observatory together earlier in the year. But when the weather heated up I dropped it and worked on an extractor...

Last post

Very interesting Graham. I had the bright idea yesterday to do exactly the same. Ordered all the bits then about 15 minutes had the Oh No moment when...

8 Replies

3547 Views

Last post by Graeme1858
Tue May 14, 2024 8:21 am
Openastro tracker

Last post by yobbo89 « Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:49 pm
Replies: 8
by yobbo89 » Thu Aug 24, 2023 3:58 am

First post

I don't know if anyone else has come across this, I seen this awhile back before it was on github via Google article , it's open source with a few...

Last post

Done the diy guide scope, very cheap and easy to build, the Imx290 cmos chip cost about $28aud and the lense is about $40 aud, I think I might just...

8 Replies

3590 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Sat Feb 10, 2024 5:49 pm
finding mirror blanks

Last post by yobbo89 « Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:04 am
Replies: 6
by yobbo89 » Mon Nov 06, 2023 8:01 pm

First post

does anyone know where to get cheap mirror blanks here in aus ? i tried emailing telescopes-astronomy.com.au but it looks like thier online shop may...

Last post

Rob,

What size are you after, and out of interest, what are you planning to build?

Looking to preferably build 10 f5 but 8 -12 is ok. Building...

6 Replies

2816 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Tue Nov 07, 2023 4:04 am
Diy dew heater

Last post by yobbo89 « Thu Jun 22, 2023 1:44 pm
Replies: 30
by yobbo89 » Sun Jun 11, 2023 7:00 am
1

2
First post

I've had my controller for over 2 years, never got around to setting it up dew yes pun to not finding a suitable heating pads/straps, I have a coned...

Last post

well they email me the fw no problems, i'll do a check on it
30 Replies

8282 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Thu Jun 22, 2023 1:44 pm
Nexstar 8i corrector plate observations

Last post by JayTee « Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:33 pm
Replies: 9
by MaxBlancke » Tue Feb 07, 2023 12:13 am

First post

So, considering my previously posted issues with the front end of my Nexstar 8i SE, I thought it prudent to take some measurements. When reinstalling...

Last post

The solution for me turned out to be marking the center of the secondary and lining everything up by using a borescope in the viewing tube. Once it...

9 Replies

4365 Views

Last post by JayTee
Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:33 pm
Nexstar 81 SE secondary and corrector plate issues

Last post by MaxBlancke « Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:57 am
Replies: 2
by MaxBlancke » Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:33 am

First post

I am a pretty casual amateur, and usually only bring the telescope out for special occasions. We did so recently for the comet, and I discovered some...

Last post

I did not even think of posing images, although I ought to post some of my rail when it is finished. There is nothing visibly wrong with my...

2 Replies

2468 Views

Last post by MaxBlancke
Mon Feb 06, 2023 12:57 am
Here is some DIY inspiration for you

Last post by Michael131313 « Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:23 pm
Replies: 5
by Chich » Sun Dec 04, 2022 11:46 pm

First post

This young fellow built himself a telescope out of pop cans and his father's old magnifying glass.

Last post

That's great. Thanks for the post.

5 Replies

3033 Views

Last post by Michael131313
Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:23 pm
Air mitigation for my dome

Last post by JeffBevan « Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:07 am
Replies: 2
by JeffBevan » Tue Nov 08, 2022 8:53 pm

First post

I looking to source some linear footage of a poly brush 3 tall. Much like what is used on snow removal brushes for car windshields. I want to put it...

Last post

Thank you!

2 Replies

5330 Views

Last post by JeffBevan
Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:07 am
Cheap All Sky camera project with Raspberry Pi

Last post by c64 « Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:42 am
Replies: 15
by c64 » Fri Oct 02, 2020 12:35 pm

First post

Hello!

My friend Jani made a program to capture night sky events with cheap Raspberry Pi hardware. Now the program is ready and it supports all...

Last post

Hi!

Just a little update here. If you use Raspberry Pi OS (bullseye) and try to run Meteotux PI www.meteotuxpi.com you will get error Error: Camera...

15 Replies

15093 Views

Last post by c64
Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:42 am
I haven't been on for a while.... but thought I share some of my changes to my orion xt10i

Last post by OzEclipse « Thu Jul 14, 2022 12:18 pm
Replies: 10
by man1 » Mon Jul 11, 2022 6:09 pm

First post

Howdy....
I haven't been on for a while as said, but thought I share what my setup looks right now. I have to say up front, I am not into astro...

Last post

Nice mods. I use a pair of 9x63 binoculars on a very large solid Manfrotto 475B tripod. I really like the setup and yours looks similar.

There was...

10 Replies

4207 Views

Last post by OzEclipse
Thu Jul 14, 2022 12:18 pm
my experience with Collimation

Last post by man1 « Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:51 am
Replies: 1
by man1 » Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:50 am

First post

Hey,

I tried numerous tools for collimating my xt10i and I never liked the fact, when re-checking with another
tool that things were always a bit...

Last post

no idea why the pictures don't display... it seems to work when I put them in the gallery

I think I found the problem... seems to be because I...

1 Replies

2544 Views

Last post by man1
Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:51 am
My Mini Observatory

Last post by Ylem « Tue May 17, 2022 6:31 pm
Replies: 6
by Ken_nneth » Wed Mar 23, 2022 6:44 pm

First post

Several people have shown interest in my little mini observatory, so I’ll post some more pictures. I had no drawings or instructions, it’s all just...

Last post

Very nice 👍

6 Replies

3938 Views

Last post by Ylem
Tue May 17, 2022 6:31 pm
rate my flocking job? orion ST80 F5 fully flocked

Last post by MistrBadgr « Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:40 am
Replies: 2
by realflow100 » Mon Apr 25, 2022 9:47 pm

First post

I flocked every part I could see through the focuser. including the focuser. telescope tube walls. and even the lens hood. all got the flocking...

Last post

Looks good to me!:) With all the flocking, you will be able to see things much closer to the Moon than you might imagine.

2 Replies

2864 Views

Last post by MistrBadgr
Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:40 am
DIY rubber feet for your astronomical tripod

Last post by JayTee « Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:16 pm
Replies: 1
by Bigzmey » Sat Mar 05, 2022 12:09 am

First post

My iOptron AZMP tripod legs have metal caps which removable metal spikes.

legs caps.jpg

legs spikes.jpg

Neither is good for a wooden deck or...

Last post

What a great discovery. This is an excellent use of an object intended for something completely different. Although, one could claim that...

1 Replies

3175 Views

Last post by JayTee
Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:16 pm
ASI cam cover

Last post by Dragonsfire « Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:57 pm
Replies: 5
by Dragonsfire » Sun Feb 27, 2022 8:47 pm

First post

With a neighborhood with vandals it always scares me to leave the camera out all night with its flashy red color so I made a cover for it.
(hoping to...

Last post

It looks like this Camera Cover will reduce the Cooling Effect of the Red Aluminum Camera Body.

By the way, if heat is an issue one can add a fan...

5 Replies

3897 Views

Last post by Dragonsfire
Mon Feb 28, 2022 2:57 pm
ETX-90 Wobble Fixed

Last post by Greyfox « Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:31 am
Replies: 5
by Greyfox » Sun Nov 14, 2021 9:10 pm

First post

So I'm just a every once in a while astronomer that has over the course of several years collected enough junk that I can now use my Nikon D3100 on...

Last post

Have you taken any photos with this combo yet? My camera shutter shakes my etx 90 :(

Sorry, had issues with my Mac.

Took this one the other night...

5 Replies

7957 Views

Last post by Greyfox
Thu Dec 16, 2021 2:31 am
getting a free 6" F5 reflector telescope! but with no tube part

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:30 am
Replies: 14
by realflow100 » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:11 am

First post

Any super simple cheap ideas for making or obtaining a tube for it?
I'm thinking strips of stacked cardboard as a frame with a cloth covering.
Or...

Last post

You can buy a new 150mm + secondary for a reasonable price.

Check the Stellafane website to see how to build a primary and secondary holder as well...

14 Replies

15050 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:30 am
Just flocked my refractor 70mm scope! Excited :D

Last post by realflow100 « Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:04 am
Replies: 4
by realflow100 » Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:29 am

First post

I used the flocking scraps that came with the free 6 reflector mirror package/kit thing (Someone sent it to me free of charge. even free shipping)...

Last post

Did even more flocking and removed the baffle in the focuser. and moved back the baffle in the main telescope tube even further away from the...

4 Replies

7360 Views

Last post by realflow100
Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:04 am
Fake star DIY for focusing

Last post by maceemiller « Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:01 am
Replies: 4
by maceemiller » Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:11 pm

First post

Hi all.

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but im sure it will be moved if needed.

I love attempting astrophotography.......as hard...

Last post

Carl,

I believe that ten feet away is not far enough to give you infinity Focus. The light rays at that distance are still diverging since it's not...

4 Replies

6518 Views

Last post by maceemiller
Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:01 am
3d printed EP cap

Last post by 10538 « Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:44 am
Replies: 4
by Bigzmey » Mon Aug 02, 2021 5:52 pm

First post

This is probably old news to many, but it is my first printed EP cap and I am easily excited. :)

My used Pentax XW 3.5mm came without top dust cap....

Last post

Very cool! I think I still have caps on back order from Agena😩!

4 Replies

8343 Views

Last post by 10538
Tue Aug 03, 2021 12:44 am
rip my cameras mirror assembly. spring popped out and wont focus anymore

Last post by realflow100 « Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:27 am
Replies: 2
by realflow100 » Sun Jul 18, 2021 3:32 am

First post

rip my cameras mirror assembly. spring popped out and now it wont focus anymore in optical viewfinder mode. it just hunts like the sensor is...

Last post

Oh dear goodness :( Thats not good :(

2 Replies

5185 Views

Last post by realflow100
Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:27 am

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