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Home observatories
Discuss your home observatory!
Topics: 77

77 Topics

1320 Posts

Last post Re: Helena Observatory (re)bu…
by KathyNS View the latest post
Fri Apr 19, 2024 3:14 pm
ATM
Discuss making your own telescope!
Topics: 41

41 Topics

380 Posts

Last post Re: Cleaning mirror on my 18"…
by NGC 1365 View the latest post
Sun Mar 17, 2024 7:28 am
Other "Do It Yourself" projects
Tell us about those other projects you are working on.
Topics: 114

114 Topics

1108 Posts

Last post Re: My garbage find/possible …
by messier 111 View the latest post
Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:04 am

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44 topics

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Last post

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

5129 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

5944 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

5435 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

5021 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

5970 Views

Last post by StargazerQ
Wed Dec 23, 2020 10:43 pm
Self-modified Fuji X-a1 success

Last post by BABOafrica « Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:26 pm
Replies: 8
by SkyHiker » Sun Nov 22, 2020 8:20 pm

First post

Encouraged by Joe's (BABOafrica) successful modification I decided to give it another try with an unused Fuji X-a1 in my sock drawer. Last time I...

Last post

Indistinguishable.

It will be interesting to see a comparison when you use the 127mm.

Many thanks for posting this.

No problem, I was interested...

8 Replies

6305 Views

Last post by BABOafrica
Sat Nov 28, 2020 10:26 pm
ASI120mc Connected to SLR

Last post by Dragonsfire « Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:11 pm
Replies: 4
by Dragonsfire » Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:58 pm

First post

Did an experiment to attach the two and finally got an adapter printed.
Huge magnification from the 70-210 zoom slr.

Post.jpg...

Last post

lol, no, haven't seen the sky in a while, raining right now. Fire Smoke new problem besides the clouds.
First chance I have Il be aiming it up their...

4 Replies

4333 Views

Last post by Dragonsfire
Sun Sep 20, 2020 3:11 pm
Meade Star Tracker

Last post by Piet Le Roux « Mon Sep 14, 2020 7:46 pm
Replies: 4
by Piet Le Roux » Mon Sep 14, 2020 4:33 pm

First post

I have been looking at a few star tracker camera mounts but with prices between $250 and $500 I had to put it on the back burner Then I saw a Meade...

Last post

Neat idea, I have one of those from an ETX-60 gathering dust. New project!

Thanks,
Steve

You would have to get a Autostar 497 controller because...

4 Replies

4356 Views

Last post by Piet Le Roux
Mon Sep 14, 2020 7:46 pm
Counter balance on Meade

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:48 pm
Replies: 5
by murphcc1 » Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:39 pm

First post

Hey all, for the life of me I have not found ANY counter balance systems model #1401 available for the Meade 8 SCT, everyone has it on back order. I...

Last post

A nice adaption :)

5 Replies

4699 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:48 pm
Accurate barn door tracker, finished project

Last post by Ruud « Mon Aug 03, 2020 1:18 pm
Replies: 3
by Saturn/Uranus » Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:39 pm

First post

heres the album for my diy barn door tracker project
i would have interspersed my text with separate images but it was slow and painful enough...

Last post

It looks so well thought through! Very nicely made too.

You could bring it to market, that's how fancy it looks.

3 Replies

5006 Views

Last post by Ruud
Mon Aug 03, 2020 1:18 pm
12 inch binoscope project

Last post by helicon « Sun Aug 02, 2020 3:45 pm
Replies: 8
by AdriGlassPusher » Thu May 28, 2020 1:09 pm

First post

Greetings,
This is a project I have been working on recently, a binocular telescope with twin 12 inch mirrors. I got an idea to build myself a big...

Last post

This is what I had in mind, a binoscope made of 2 Dobs on an EQ platform. This link has all the details, HTH,

Thanks for passing on the link...

8 Replies

7061 Views

Last post by helicon
Sun Aug 02, 2020 3:45 pm
Base for Observatory

Last post by OhNo « Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:35 pm
Replies: 8
by OhNo » Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:08 pm

First post

Well, a used SkyShed Pod came up for sale on Canada-wide Buy and Sell. I don't frequent that web site often, but something told me I ought to.... you...

Last post

A few images.

20200627_212644.jpg 20200629_165133.jpg

8 Replies

6951 Views

Last post by OhNo
Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:35 pm
Converting a long focus doublet for AP with a DSLR

Last post by Kanadalainen « Wed Jun 17, 2020 5:17 pm

by Kanadalainen » Wed Jun 17, 2020 5:17 pm

Impossible you say?

Impractical, perhaps?

Well you may have a point, but I have an old Celestron f6.3 FRFF in my sock drawer and wanted to see how...

0 Replies

2958 Views

Last post by Kanadalainen
Wed Jun 17, 2020 5:17 pm
barn door project, stepper motor without Arduino???

Last post by Saturn/Uranus « Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:46 pm
Replies: 6
by Saturn/Uranus » Sun May 24, 2020 9:28 pm

First post

I'm just about to start building a barn door tracker. My maths is good, my craft and engineering skills are very good but the idea of coding an...

Last post

:banana-gotpics: I would love to see your finished barn door project!

here it is... it's not the best forum submission in the world as this forum...

6 Replies

5525 Views

Last post by Saturn/Uranus
Mon Jun 08, 2020 6:46 pm
Barn door travel distance?

Last post by maceemiller « Mon May 11, 2020 8:39 am
Replies: 5
by maceemiller » Sat May 09, 2020 1:14 pm

First post

Hi all.

Hope everyone is staying safe.

Not sure this is an easy question to answer yet on a barn door trap how many millimetres does the trap open...

Last post

Well, I managed to slow the piston to about 8mm a minute which is too fast so have to scrub that idea.

Still, I'm loving the experimenting!

5 Replies

5794 Views

Last post by maceemiller
Mon May 11, 2020 8:39 am
Flocking Focuser draw tube

Last post by John Baars « Mon Feb 17, 2020 7:58 pm
Replies: 7
by Don Quixote » Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:01 pm

First post

The draw tubes on my fracs are 2 and 2.5 .
On my AR152 f/6.5, which has a 2 focuser, I notice some dull light circle coming from the inside of the...

Last post

Yes that is great but as mentioned Chalkboard works especially if the tube is small,(...)
Quite so. I added the flocking material to the 2 inch...

7 Replies

7671 Views

Last post by John Baars
Mon Feb 17, 2020 7:58 pm
12v Power

Last post by Dragonsfire « Mon Feb 10, 2020 6:25 pm
Replies: 3
by Jaq1967 » Mon Dec 30, 2019 4:29 pm

First post

Question: Rather than having so many 12v DC PSU going to one AC block to power up all my equipment (HEQ5 Pro/Camera/Focuser etc...), could I not use...

Last post

Allot of people are building their own DIY 12v 18650 lithium battery packs, many youtube vids on that so if you have skill in soldering you can put...

3 Replies

4878 Views

Last post by Dragonsfire
Mon Feb 10, 2020 6:25 pm
Meade ETX 125 circuit board..

Last post by Pitsmoor Col « Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:46 pm
Replies: 3
by Pitsmoor Col » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:56 pm

First post

I have managed obtain a new gearbox for my ETX125. It's the newer type that just plugs in, I could just swop the internals but would rather use the...

Last post

I have decided to swap the cogs, So I am hopeful of a successful outcome.

3 Replies

2526 Views

Last post by Pitsmoor Col
Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:46 pm
Solar spectroscope

Last post by yobbo89 « Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:44 am
Replies: 1
by John Baars » Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:30 am

First post

Long time ago in a far away astroforum I promised the manual of how to build a simple spectroscope.

Here is the link:

I suppose the 1000/mm...

Last post

very nice, i'll save those links .

1 Replies

2051 Views

Last post by yobbo89
Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:44 am

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