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Home observatories
Discuss your home observatory!
Topics: 65

65 Topics

849 Posts

Last post Re: Making the ExploraDome ro…
by John Fitzgerald View the latest post
Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:25 am
ATM
Discuss making your own telescope!
Topics: 35

35 Topics

336 Posts

Last post Re: Building a fixed post mir…
by PatWilc View the latest post
Thu Feb 09, 2023 7:35 pm
Other "Do It Yourself" projects
Tell us about those other projects you are working on.
Topics: 102

102 Topics

994 Posts

Last post Making a new solar filter for…
by OzEclipse View the latest post
Sun Mar 12, 2023 8:44 am

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39 topics

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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

108 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

62 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

225 Views

Last post by Michael131313
Sun Dec 11, 2022 2:23 pm
Telescope/ eyepiece storage

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Fri Nov 18, 2022 7:14 pm
Replies: 13
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

Just a update, so far the HVAC system seems to be working well. Currently it is -5° and the shed inside is 5° and 37% humidity.
I also have used the...

13 Replies

435 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Fri Nov 18, 2022 7:14 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

250 Views

Last post by JeffBevan
Wed Nov 09, 2022 3:07 am
A Todmorden Pier

Last post by SkyHiker « Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:25 pm
Replies: 10
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

Also if I ever need to move my pier I undo the nuts, take the bolts down level with an angle grinder, throw a square of turf over and its gone.

Ah...

10 Replies

722 Views

Last post by SkyHiker
Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:25 pm
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

9409 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

494 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

248 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

663 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

418 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

577 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

784 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

5068 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

10523 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

4545 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

3481 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

5326 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

2643 Views

Last post by realflow100
Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:27 am
Taking the OnStep plunge

Last post by SkyHiker « Mon May 10, 2021 2:42 pm
Replies: 21
by SkyHiker » Sat Aug 15, 2020 4:57 pm
1

2
First post

I'm not happy with my current goto kit for the G11S. Yesterday I signed on to the OnStep group and put together a bill of materials to make two basic...

Last post

Hi Guys,
I chanced upon this thread when looking for fellow DIY'ers who've built the OnStep. I know there's a tonne of us out there. I used to have a...
21 Replies

15428 Views

Last post by SkyHiker
Mon May 10, 2021 2:42 pm
Trolley accessory.

Last post by Greenman « Mon May 10, 2021 7:55 am
Replies: 6
by Greenman » Sun May 09, 2021 3:30 pm

First post

So I have been tweaking my setup, and trying to ease my setting up/wire control.

I invested in an inexpensive trolley, metal and fold flat. To house...

Last post

That looks like a good idea Tony.

And that's a very eclectic book collection you have there!

Regards

Graeme

Heh, indeed part of a much larger...

6 Replies

3913 Views

Last post by Greenman
Mon May 10, 2021 7:55 am
Plywood pier

Last post by Rickl « Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:50 am
Replies: 6
by Rickl » Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:05 am

First post

Some time ago I had seen a design for a pier made of plywood, but I have been unable to track the post. It might have been on the old Astronomy...

Last post

I have tried to post a reply here several times, but none have appeared. My thanks to those who have replied. KathyNS, it is your mount I was...

6 Replies

4861 Views

Last post by Rickl
Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:50 am
Well, THAT didn't work -- DSLR conversion to B&W

Last post by SkyHiker « Sun Feb 07, 2021 3:00 am
Replies: 7
by BABOafrica » Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:37 pm

First post

I got a good deal on an old Fuji X-A2 (ebay). The seller warned me that it had been exposed to water and the sensor had problems but still worked.

I...

Last post

It's dead, Jim!

You are braver than I am, Babo. At least you have a source of spare parts.

Well, the camera only cost me $40. And, as you said,...

7 Replies

4447 Views

Last post by SkyHiker
Sun Feb 07, 2021 3:00 am
making my first fast mirror

Last post by BABOafrica « Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:46 pm
Replies: 5
by BABOafrica » Wed Dec 09, 2020 12:19 pm

First post

I've made several mirrors over the years: 1 x 8 / 3 x 10 / 2 x 12.5 . They were all slow mirrors (f/6+).

I was visiting my family in Washington DC...

Last post

I got the mirror and started working on it. Here are the pictures...

The (wet) mirror at the beginning (it arrived in the mail already partially...

5 Replies

4155 Views

Last post by BABOafrica
Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:46 pm
DIY astro tracker

Last post by StargazerQ « Wed Dec 23, 2020 10:43 pm
Replies: 6
by StargazerQ » Wed Oct 07, 2020 9:33 pm

First post

A few years ago I found good tips on how to build a tracker in this forum (or astronomyforum.net actually). I've completed the project 2 years ago...

Last post

That's a nice looking tracker you got there. And it obviously works wonders with your camera. Very nice images!

BABO

Thanks, a fun project to do,...

6 Replies

5307 Views

Last post by StargazerQ
Wed Dec 23, 2020 10:43 pm

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