Guest Steve Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Phew. I now have the confirmation email from FLO for the order for my first kit. It will be a Celestron C9.25 on a CGEM mount. These are in stock at FLO, so I'm expecting a lot of heavy boxes to appear at my door next week some time - I will do some piccies of the goodies as they arrive. Also gone for the Baader Hyperion Zoom and Barlow, (thanks Kim), 2" WO diagonal, the F6.3 Focal Reducer, a Neodymium filter, a Canon EOS T Ring, a sheet of Baader AstroSolar film, (I'll be in Blue Peter mode in no time making a nice safe cap - and yes, I'll be careful with the guide scope), and also a Baader Solar Continuum filter. I know this is only the beginning, but I think I have a big enough learning curve with this lot to keep me busy for quite some time. Oh, and apparently it will now start raining!!! I'll update as things start to arrive. Look forward to getting out to a session once I am up and running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Tha'ts a very nice start Steve - Congrats (Will look forward to seeing it all). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Fantastic. Wish I could of started out with such a set-up! Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Congrats on the purchases! Oh, and apparently it will now start raining!!! It has to stop first... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Well done Steve thats quite an impressive list of kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Doctor Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Congrats Steve on the new scope. I love my Celestron but you will find it a money pit as there is always something that you need so will either cost you more or spark yet another interest in making bits and pieces for the scope to customise it. Depending on how you get on with the CGEM, I would make my first purchase a polar alignment scope as accurate alignment is a must. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Yeah, there is a long list of extras I'm sure. But the missus has a good left hook, so I'll have to be patient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Oh it's the waiting I can't stand! Still, just been on Jury Duty for 2 weeks. Spent 1.5 days in court and 7 days sat in the waiting area getting more bored than I have ever been in my life. So I am now in peak waiting shape and have achieved a Zen-like calm..... but I hope FLO email soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Type-R Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Oh it's the waiting I can't stand! Still, just been on Jury Duty for 2 weeks. Spent 1.5 days in court and 7 days sat in the waiting area getting more bored than I have ever been in my life. So I am now in peak waiting shape and have achieved a Zen-like calm..... but I hope FLO email soon PMSL - . You will need some more of that zen like calm, now you have some new kit, 3 weeks of cloud will soon follow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Nice set up Steve, that will keep you out of trouble for a while. Did you opt for the optional guttering kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I thought I'd just coat everything in Waxoyl... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red dwalf Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Nice purchases, the 9.25 sct is a lovely scope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Yay - delivery due tomorrow - everything apart from the focal reducer. Guess I'll leave everything in the boxes until that arrives! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 4 big boxes sitting in the dining room. Time to RTFM!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Congrats on the new scope Steve. What do you want to read the manual for, you're a bloke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Congrats Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 OK. Set it all up in the house. (I'll post piccies tomoz), Then about 9:30 it cleared up outside. So I thought, what the heck and dis-assembled and reassembled in the Garden. Not really any expectations, just for the practice. Once it was up I stuck the barbecue cover over the top and spent 30 minutes being taxi-dad. (Thermal equilibrium approaches, thought I, the wise old head that I am), and off I went to tackle the Celestron hand controller. Got on OK with the controls - 2-star alignment not so easy when you don't know your stars so well, but SkySafari on my tablet helped in the end. This is where it got tricky. The guide scope is a pain - I think I need a red-dot finder - I liked Kim's when I had a go at his. But I persevered and finally got alignment. 'Let's have a look at Mars' thought I. So it slewed in the general direction... but nothing doing. I know where I went wrong I think. The finder scope was not aligned with the SCT, so I was less like an astronomer and more like Clarence the Cross-eyed Lion! Then about 11:30 it clouded over, so I went into reverse and got it back indoors. I might have to put on a balaclava and start pruning some of next door's apple trees. And our cherry tree, now the blossom is about done. So overall I am happy. But I think I'm going to have to hang out with someone who knows what they are doing to pick up the basics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 If it's clear on Saturday night Steve - you'd be welcome to bring it over for a session. Just bring the OTA and we can slip it on my NEQ6 Pro for a spin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Sigh, off to Devon for the weekend. Grandma's 103rd birthday today!! But I hope to take you up on the offer next opportunity. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steve Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Ah, finally worked out how to add pictures... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DaveJW Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now