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Other Accessories
Discuss any astro equipment that does not have its own forum, such as focusers, finders, chairs, etc.

Topics: 137

Last post: Re: Now Using A Small Cooler … by Lady Fraktor, Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:17 pm

137 Topics

1074 Posts

Last post Re: Now Using A Small Cooler …
by Lady Fraktor View the latest post
Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:17 pm
The DIY corner
See sub forums to discuss "Do it yourself" projects.
Subforums:

Home observatories,

ATM,

Other "Do It Yourself" projects
Topics: 138

Last post: Re: Counter balance on Meade by Lady Fraktor, Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:48 pm
138 Topics

1413 Posts

Last post Re: Counter balance on Meade
by Lady Fraktor View the latest post
Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:48 pm

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Last post

Catsperch Chair Plans

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:42 pm
Replies: 7
by Lady Fraktor » Wed Jul 22, 2020 10:06 pm

First post

If you want to try your wood working skills to build a observing chair.
Observing Chair Plans to Build.pdf

Last post

Um, I decided to give it a go, but got nowhere. Am I correct in thinking that the legs are about 6 wide and 2 thick? To make those would require an 8...

7 Replies

354 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:42 pm
Now Using A Small Cooler For My Eyepieces

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:17 pm
Replies: 8
by Refractordude » Tue Aug 11, 2020 4:07 am

First post

The cooler allows me to protect eyepieces from dew by adding a few hand warmers at the bottom. It can hold more eyepieces than the tripod spreader....

Last post

The styrofoam can work but I would wrap it in craft store felt. This would give a non scuffing surface and hold any foam debris inside.

I will post...

8 Replies

111 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Wed Aug 12, 2020 8:17 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

29 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Wed Aug 12, 2020 7:48 pm
Revolution Imager R2

Last post by Star Dad « Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:59 pm
Replies: 1
by Star Dad » Mon Aug 10, 2020 3:30 pm

First post

This is a preliminary report... before actually using it in the field with a crowd. Call it a set up and test functionality.

The imager arrived from...

Last post

As I was packing for the event tonight I decided to pre-hookup the lens to the camera. SURPRISE! The lens is just slightly bigger than 1.25 and will...

1 Replies

38 Views

Last post by Star Dad
Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:59 pm
Affordable Camera Field Rotator

Last post by SkyHiker « Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:42 am
Replies: 1
by LewisGJ » Tue Aug 11, 2020 9:06 pm

First post

For the past few tears I have been developing a field de-rotator for astronomical photography using 3D printed technology. I have a modest investment...

Last post

Hi Rich

It's great to have a new low cost derotator on the market. If I may make a recommendation it would be to make the size smaller. Good luck...

1 Replies

67 Views

Last post by SkyHiker
Wed Aug 12, 2020 1:42 am
Pegasus Astro Ultimate Power Box v2 issues again....

Last post by AstroBee « Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:33 pm

by AstroBee » Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:33 pm

Honestly, I don't know if it's the PAUPB or my NUC that's causing this problem but if you watch this short 4.5 minute video you'll see the issue I'm...

0 Replies

34 Views

Last post by AstroBee
Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:33 pm
Crayford vs Double Helical focuser for SCT?

Last post by Dyno05 « Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:46 pm
Replies: 4
by Dyno05 » Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:02 am

First post

Hi,
I was thinking about getting a dual speed Crayford focuser to use on my SCTs so the mirrors won’t have to move much. Especially my 9.25 which...

Last post

i actualy don't know what a high quality helix focuser feels like, i assume it rotates your gear as you turn it,unless higher quality ones don't then...

4 Replies

81 Views

Last post by Dyno05
Sat Aug 08, 2020 12:46 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

396 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

418 Views

Last post by helicon
Sun Aug 02, 2020 3:45 pm
Where O Where Should I Place My Dome?

Last post by Valen « Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:19 pm
Replies: 24
by jrkirkham » Thu Oct 03, 2019 1:54 pm
1

2
First post

Now that I have my Pod ordered I want to double check with those of you who have observatories. I have often bounced ideas off the forum and that has...

Last post

I built my HomeDome in the backyard. I do have some trees that could have hurt my viewing. So I built a room 12x12 Put my dome on top of that. Mount...
24 Replies

2061 Views

Last post by Valen
Fri Jul 31, 2020 6:19 pm
First Light for Skyshed POD XL3

Last post by dagadget « Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:41 pm
Replies: 4
by jrkirkham » Thu Apr 02, 2020 12:36 pm

First post

Since my POD is up and running I decided to break it in last night. I had a couple of strikes against me: 1) There was a bright moon. 2) It is in the...

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I was just in your old thread and posted there. Now that I see this I am glad that it is all working out.

Thanks

CS

4 Replies

496 Views

Last post by dagadget
Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:41 pm
6" F8 rebuild.

Last post by helicon « Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:21 pm
Replies: 7
by rickolson62 » Wed Jul 22, 2020 12:04 am

First post

hello folks. the rebuild is going along quite well! took an old orion deep space explorer Dob apart to clean and fix what ever, found the old focuser...

Last post

Fingers crossed! Hope you had a session...

7 Replies

456 Views

Last post by helicon
Fri Jul 31, 2020 4:21 pm
Need Arduino / electrical help

Last post by KathyNS « Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:01 pm
Replies: 28
by KathyNS » Mon Jul 27, 2020 12:17 am
1

2
First post

I have an Arduino with a 4-relay shield mounted on it. One of the shield relays turns on 12 volt power to an off-board relay, which in turn switches...

Last post

That looks like the exact relay shield that I have. It does warn that the Arduino's USB port should be insulated with electrical tape. I did have an...
28 Replies

446 Views

Last post by KathyNS
Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:01 pm
Celestron Starsense issues

Last post by Ben Cartwright SASS « Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:31 pm

by Ben Cartwright SASS » Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:31 pm

I have a Starsense for my Skywatcher EQ6R it has been working fine and I have used it for solar, however at some point I had lost alignment (probably...

0 Replies

74 Views

Last post by Ben Cartwright SASS
Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:31 pm
Concrete sealer

Last post by pakarinen « Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:29 pm
Replies: 2
by I Am Marsha » Sat Jul 25, 2020 10:30 pm

First post

I live in Maine where there's plenty of snow and ice in the winter. What would be the best sealer to put on my concrete pad where my pod observatory...

Last post

Radonseal?

2 Replies

168 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Tue Jul 28, 2020 12:29 pm
Still Looking For A Taller Observation Chair

Last post by pakarinen « Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:04 pm
Replies: 10
by Refractordude » Wed Jul 22, 2020 6:09 pm

First post

The advertising stated that the new chair on the left side of the image is 36 inches tall. However, it is a little shorter than the 28 inch chair...

Last post

If you are not into constructing your observing chair, the defacto chair to purchase is the Vestil CPRO-600 chair from Amazon. It's a bit pricey but...

10 Replies

159 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Thu Jul 23, 2020 4:04 pm
6" F8 rebuild/upgrade question

Last post by John Fitzgerald « Sun Jul 19, 2020 8:42 pm
Replies: 5
by rickolson62 » Sun Jul 19, 2020 1:30 pm

First post

hello folks! i just desided to upgrade an olde 6 F8 dob and need some advice on placing the focuser. i am going from a helical to a crayford focuser....

Last post

You will need to move the primary mirror forward the difference between the two focusers, if you decide to use the taller one. If the secondary is...

5 Replies

178 Views

Last post by John Fitzgerald
Sun Jul 19, 2020 8:42 pm
Dealing with elongated stars at edges of field...

Last post by ram « Sat Jul 18, 2020 3:18 pm
Replies: 8
by ram » Sat Jul 11, 2020 1:03 am

First post

Hi all, I was wondering if there was an easy magical process for dealing with elongated stars at the corners of the image. I have great stars in the...

Last post

In case people are wondering how this turned out, I believe I have made decent progress, if not come close to solving it, with the following:...

8 Replies

389 Views

Last post by ram
Sat Jul 18, 2020 3:18 pm
Jupiter Filters

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Fri Jul 17, 2020 5:58 pm
Replies: 12
by Jones » Tue Jul 14, 2020 5:30 pm

First post

To really see planetary details you need a larger quality reflector. My 6 f/8 Edmund newton fills the bill. Got the mirror couple years ago off ebay...

Last post

At some point, I need to invest in some filters - the only one I have is the generic moon filter that seems to come with EVERY mass produced...

12 Replies

293 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Fri Jul 17, 2020 5:58 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

566 Views

Last post by OhNo
Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:35 pm
Question about Celestron CPWI software

Last post by Agnes « Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:45 pm
Replies: 2
by Agnes » Wed Jul 15, 2020 12:35 pm

First post

Hi Everybody,

I would like to ask if there is somebody who has experience using the Celestron CPWI software with the Star Sense alignment camera?
I...

Last post

Hi Mary,

Thanks for the suggestion, I will try that. (I have a Celestron computerized single fork arm alt-az mount.)

Agnes

2 Replies

112 Views

Last post by Agnes
Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:45 pm
Got Four New Accessories For My 150mm F8 Refractor

Last post by helicon « Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:12 pm
Replies: 7
by Refractordude » Mon Jul 13, 2020 5:41 pm

First post

My 150mm f8 refractor is long. So I purchased an extension tube. I can now go to zenith sitting down on my chair. I still have to bend a little, but...

Last post

Nice scope and accessories RD. Hope you get a lot of use out of it.

7 Replies

165 Views

Last post by helicon
Tue Jul 14, 2020 3:12 pm
How Do You Clean Your Diagonal?

Last post by pakarinen « Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:39 pm
Replies: 5
by Refractordude » Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:27 pm

First post

Just ordered another diagonal. The old one has a few scratches among other things. How do you clean your diagonal? I use a blower bulb and then wipe...

Last post

Canned air, followed by 90% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab. I'm a barbarian.

OTOH, all my dgnls cost under $100. (I also have an original...

5 Replies

235 Views

Last post by pakarinen
Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:39 pm
What Is The Best Diagonal For A 150mm F8 Achromatic Refractor Under $150?

Last post by Lady Fraktor « Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:42 am
Replies: 12
by Refractordude » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:11 pm

First post

My current 2 diagonal is damaged. The screw broke and the 1.25 adapter was stuck. Had to drill a hole to get it out. Now it has no threads to hold my...

Last post

I would still drill and tap a new hole into the old one, may as well have a backup :)

12 Replies

284 Views

Last post by Lady Fraktor
Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:42 am
New Home for my Pier

Last post by OhNo « Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:23 am
Replies: 15
by OhNo » Tue Jun 30, 2020 2:46 am

First post

Thursday I found a Used SkyShed within driving distance 550 km one way. The seller took some additional pics and sent 'em to me, I reviewed them and...

Last post

Since the pictures above were taken I did one more thing, I mounted the Zenith Table. I have no intentions of using it, but if it was stored it would...

15 Replies

648 Views

Last post by OhNo
Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:23 am

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