I’ve never understood the need to elevate a scope when a stool to sit on is so much more comfortable for viewing and fiddling with the telescope. Also, unless you’re trying to overcome an obstruction, a photographic system benefits from being low for stability and wind resistance. I use a cheap five legged stool with round, padded seat that swivels and elevates several inches. Similar to what you see in a doctor’s exam room, mine was $5 at a second hand store. This cheap version is only a pound or two. I removed the castor wheels and replaced with rubber feet from the hardware store. It works equally well with my refractors and 10” Dobsonian.
@@RefreshingViews The swivel seat I use is a cheap version of the doctor’s office stool so it’s light weight. It makes it very comfortable and stable to sit at the eyepiece with elbows and upper arms resting on upper legs for long periods of time viewing. I sometimes lay a notebook in my lap and sketch or take notes.
Hey, I did enjoy your video. I’m a little jealous of your garden. My backyard observatory pad is surrounded my weeds and sagebrush here in Nevada and currently swarming with millions of Mormon crickets 😂. I do enjoy the night sounds and the pleasure of electronically aided viewing. It’s a nice break from hardcore astrophotography. Thanks for sharing the video and clear skies to you.
Great video ... The AM3 will be my next purchase or the ioptron AZ pro .. being mainly visual i reckon the optron makes more sense but there is something lovely about the AM3 😊
Enjoyed the watch, looks like a good portable set up. It tracks silently which is great but when slewing it cranks out the noise haha. It is extremely quick though, my first thought was my 24" dob is quiter. All the best Damo
It’s not too bad - a pleasant hum is how I’d describe it. Certainly a step up from my old mount which sounded like a coffee grinder. I bet the views in your monsta are much brighter too!
@@RefreshingViews I know how you feel, when there was lots of dew around i used to use a 20 year old heat gun to remove it and i kid you not it used to sound like a 747 taking off at 3am haha. the 24" does gather a little bit of light i must say, and maybe just a little brighter🤔. Damo
Nice one thanks. I had noticed that the pier extension had changed but thought maybe it had a removable cover or something :) Were you just using sidereal tracking for the comet or is there something fancy you were using. Last time I did this I didn't have much luck stacking a comet using the comet mode on deep sky stacker.
Yes these are just short exposures tracking as normal. After a few minutes (say more than 5) you can see the comet move against the background stars. I’ve tried using the align on comet mode in SharpCap but without much success.
Nearly as good as Tasmania! I left the UK in '68 for the dark inky black skies down under, plus themuch better weather of course. My home town of Leeds it never stopped raining, besids, we have the best celestial objects down under. Having just watched one of your Namibia wide sky presentations, can I please ask in the most friendly way for music free narration, it makesthe narration so difficul to hear clearlyand is distracting. I enjoy all you presentations and frequently come back to watch them again, there is so much information. Enjoy your trip, kind regards from Tasmania-Southern Cross Observatory 42 South.
How did you securely fit the extension pier onto the Innorel tripod ? I got the same setup, but the bottom plate of the extension pier does not go all the way down on the tripod slot to be securely latched?
Hi Mark, im giving some thought to swapping out my 102ED for a megrez 90. It will be in combination with my 10" dob. Im wanting something more grab and go and i think the megrez qould give me a good combination of reasonably large aperture (3.5 vs 4") and muxh improved portability. Only real risk i can see is xhromatic aberation qhilst imaging. Do you find you get much with your megrez?
The Megrez, in my opinion, is pretty sharp. I am sure someone more eagle-eyed than me will find it but without spending serious money (four figure sum) so I am happy.
Great summmary - Ignore my question on your previous Video ref change of Pillar - you've explained it in this video, thanks!
No worries, Brian!
I’ve never understood the need to elevate a scope when a stool to sit on is so much more comfortable for viewing and fiddling with the telescope. Also, unless you’re trying to overcome an obstruction, a photographic system benefits from being low for stability and wind resistance. I use a cheap five legged stool with round, padded seat that swivels and elevates several inches. Similar to what you see in a doctor’s exam room, mine was $5 at a second hand store. This cheap version is only a pound or two. I removed the castor wheels and replaced with rubber feet from the hardware store. It works equally well with my refractors and 10” Dobsonian.
That’s a good point - maybe I should make/buy an adjustable chair.
@@RefreshingViews The swivel seat I use is a cheap version of the doctor’s office stool so it’s light weight. It makes it very comfortable and stable to sit at the eyepiece with elbows and upper arms resting on upper legs for long periods of time viewing. I sometimes lay a notebook in my lap and sketch or take notes.
Hey, I did enjoy your video. I’m a little jealous of your garden. My backyard observatory pad is surrounded my weeds and sagebrush here in Nevada and currently swarming with millions of Mormon crickets 😂. I do enjoy the night sounds and the pleasure of electronically aided viewing. It’s a nice break from hardcore astrophotography. Thanks for sharing the video and clear skies to you.
So glad you enjoyed it. I bet your skies are much clearer than mine - there’s a reason why it’s so green!! Clear skies to you.
Nice video, as usual Mark.
Glad you enjoyed it Peter
Great video ... The AM3 will be my next purchase or the ioptron AZ pro .. being mainly visual i reckon the optron makes more sense but there is something lovely about the AM3 😊
I don’t you’ll go wrong with either Stuart. Let me know how you get on. Decisions! Decisions.
Enjoyed the watch, looks like a good portable set up. It tracks silently which is great but when slewing it cranks out the noise haha. It is extremely quick though, my first thought was my 24" dob is quiter. All the best
Damo
It’s not too bad - a pleasant hum is how I’d describe it. Certainly a step up from my old mount which sounded like a coffee grinder. I bet the views in your monsta are much brighter too!
@@RefreshingViews
I know how you feel, when there was lots of dew around i used to use a 20 year old heat gun to remove it and i kid you not it used to sound like a 747 taking off at 3am haha.
the 24" does gather a little bit of light i must say, and maybe just a little brighter🤔.
Damo
Great video! Hope you will do some videos on the SharpCap 4.1...Please
Thanks - and yes, I have a trip to Namibia coming up so lots of livestacking under those southern skies to come.
Very interesting video. Thanks 👍
Glad you enjoyed it Peter
Nice one thanks. I had noticed that the pier extension had changed but thought maybe it had a removable cover or something :)
Were you just using sidereal tracking for the comet or is there something fancy you were using. Last time I did this I didn't have much luck stacking a comet using the comet mode on deep sky stacker.
Yes these are just short exposures tracking as normal. After a few minutes (say more than 5) you can see the comet move against the background stars. I’ve tried using the align on comet mode in SharpCap but without much success.
I can't tell you how many times I left the Bat Mask on the scope, and then starting imaging. Eventually I bought a focus motor. 8-)
Ouch! I think we’ve all been there haven’t we?
Nearly as good as Tasmania! I left the UK in '68 for the dark inky black skies down under, plus themuch better weather of course. My home town of Leeds it never stopped raining, besids, we have the best celestial objects down under. Having just watched one of your Namibia wide sky presentations, can I please ask in the most friendly way for music free narration, it makesthe narration so difficul to hear clearlyand is distracting. I enjoy all you presentations and frequently come back to watch them again, there is so much information. Enjoy your trip, kind regards from Tasmania-Southern Cross Observatory 42 South.
Yeah I can see why you would move from Leeds to Australia and yes I will reduce the music!
What would you do if you have an obstructed north view with Polaris not visible? At present I can use my Synscan polar alignment process.
I have to set up in this particular spot so I can see the northern sky. If I couldn’t I’d set up with compass and level and then drift align.
How did you securely fit the extension pier onto the Innorel tripod ? I got the same setup, but the bottom plate of the extension pier does not go all the way down on the tripod slot to be securely latched?
That's strange. I bought one of the aluminium mount things and that fits in the tripod perfectly.
Hi Mark, im giving some thought to swapping out my 102ED for a megrez 90. It will be in combination with my 10" dob. Im wanting something more grab and go and i think the megrez qould give me a good combination of reasonably large aperture (3.5 vs 4") and muxh improved portability. Only real risk i can see is xhromatic aberation qhilst imaging. Do you find you get much with your megrez?
The Megrez, in my opinion, is pretty sharp. I am sure someone more eagle-eyed than me will find it but without spending serious money (four figure sum) so I am happy.
I'll be trying to find thst Comet. Will it be there for a while. I asume so ,since it's still far from sun.
Go for it - it’s a great sight. I use this website to plan my comet observing: cometchasing.skyhound.com
Thanks much. I wanted to "see" if I could find it last night. Now I'll be able to chase it.
Excellent 👌…!!.
Thank you! Cheers!
I enjoyed your video, a small correction, Markarian was Armenian not Georgian.
Apols - my bad. I must have confused myself as he was born in Georgia.
Nice.
Thanks!