Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

Discuss any astro equipment that does not have its own forum, such as focusers, finders, chairs, etc.
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pakarinen United States of America
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Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#1

Post by pakarinen »


I run SS on my iPhone and it can be a hassle to hold the phone or be constantly picking it up and putting it down. Plus I need a table if I put it down so it doesn't get stepped on or whatever. Anyway, I just stumbled across this and it might be just the ticket. Phone in left hand with right hand free to focus and turn slo-mo cables.

https://www.amazon.com/LAZY-HANDS-2-Loo ... cs&sr=1-12

Any other ideas?
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#2

Post by JayTee »


Nice.

My kids got me one of these. https://www.amazon.com/PopSockets-Colla ... r=1-3&th=1

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#3

Post by Bigzmey »


Yep, this is my observing mode: phone with SS6p in right hand, operating scope with left hand. Once I find the target I use EP tray on the tripod to park the phone.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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ARock
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#4

Post by ARock »


AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
Don Quixote
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#5

Post by Don Quixote »


I have added a strip of velcro to the back of my phone. I have the mate on a good leg strap I put just above my knee. The phone stays there while I am sitting or standing.
I can fiddle with it while sitting at the scope. I can rip it of to point it at the sky and slap it back on the velcro when I am finished. I never have to fumble with it.
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OBXgirl
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#6

Post by OBXgirl »


Don Quixote wrote: Thu Aug 22, 2019 3:21 pm I have added a strip of velcro to the back of my phone. I have the mate on a good leg strap I put just above my knee. The phone stays there while I am sitting or standing.
I can fiddle with it while sitting at the scope. I can rip it of to point it at the sky and slap it back on the velcro when I am finished. I never have to fumble with it.
I'm a big fan of Velcro and zip ties. I hate having cords just flapping everywhere. I guess it's a throw back from my IT days.
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Sarah Williams


[img src="http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/CpLkNSNCcs0.gif?1"]
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#7

Post by Don Quixote »


Yes, OBX, velcro, zip ties, and duct tape...essentials.
But... I tried velcro once to hold my phone on the steering wheel in my van for "hands free" use. THAT was not a good idea.
I had an accident. The air bag deployed and I got a cell phone in the face. The dang thing left a mark. :-)

But the lag strap for telescope work holds no such hazard...😊
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#8

Post by pakarinen »


Seems like a knee strap would work pretty well. I have an added "complication" now - DW let me install SS on her iPad. I do like that big screen compared to my iPhone 7...
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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yobbo89 Australia
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#9

Post by yobbo89 »


scopes :gso/bintel f4 12"truss tube, bresser messier ar127s /skywatcher 10'' dob,meade 12'' f10 lx200 sct
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .

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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: Holding phone while using Sky Safari (or other app)?

#10

Post by pakarinen »


yobbo89 wrote: Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:15 pm You need one of these lol

https://www.amazon.com.au/Google-870028 ... 0065&psc=1

Oh heck yeah!
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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