Search Results for 'Join'

[Mr Jack Martin]

Alun,

The belt is fairly taught to turn the collimator with a Velcro layer wrap around for grip.

The white screws are slackened off 1/2 turn or so from tight to prevent side movement.

The belt is not joined.

I have adjusted both again and will see how it works tonight, and will report back.

Regards,

Jack

Essex UK

[Alun Halsey]

 Jack

 Not had this happen with either motor (Skywatcher or JMI) so not sure what has gone wrong to cause the double lines. Clutching a few straws here, seems there could be the possibility that distortion is somehow introduced between the collimator body and its support. How tight have you got the tension on the belt? Only need a small amount,just enough to allow belt to grip the collimator body and turn it but feels slack if you pinch belt either side of the cog. Have you used the white screws in the support to alleviate any possible side to side movement, lastly did you have to join the belt, if so have you watched the lines as the belt turns and noted where the join is (being as the belt will be slightly thicker in the region of the joint tension on collimator body will increase slightly).

  Hope you get it sorted!

    Regards

      Alun

[Ian Kahler]

Hi everyone,

I wasn’t really sure  where  to post this  topic, so I figured  I would start here.

I just joined the BAA recently and  I am enjoying myself  looking around  at all the  different member  pages  and  sections.

I was wondering…. how  many of  you really enjoy researching / studying double  and  multiple  star systems…. such as  double  stars and  open clusters?  I have a  5 inch refractor but I have  not used  it for a few  years  now  because  I basically suck at finding anything with it. So now; having given up taking my scope outside,  I find  myself   at my computer studying the HUGE lists  of  data related  to this  phenomenon. I even like  to draw my own scale  maps  of  some  of  the more  complex and  amazing open clusters. I use a  combo of  programs such as  Stellarium, Cartes de Ceil, and  megastar V5 on my computer, I have the  3  volume millennium star atlas, as  well as good  ole Burnhams handbook [started out with that one years  ago]. Also have Star Clusters from Willman-Bell inc and the  Arp Atlas of  Peculiar Galaxies. I plan on buying the  new Uranometria 2000 all sky version with the  field guide soon.

Clear Skies

Ian Kahler

[David Boyd]

The full programme of talks at the BAA/AAVSO joint meeting on variable stars at Warwick University in July is now available at https://britastro.org/summer2018.

There is still an opportunity to present a poster at the meeting by contacting Roger Pickard at roger.pickard@sky.com.

David

[Alun Halsey]

 Jack,

    That belt looks ideal for the job. To join my belt I made sure that each end was in the middle of a tooth to ensure ample area to bond, slid a length of heat shrink tube on belt then used Araldite rapid (sets in 5mins) to glue the joint. Held the belt in place until glue held but was still slightly tacky then slid tubing in place over joint and added heat to shrink ensuring a good strong bond 🙂

  Regards

   Alun

[Alun Halsey]

 Hello Jack,

 Thank you.

 I got my belt out of an old printer I’d broken up, being a large loop of the stuff I just cut it to the length I wanted then re-joined the ends using Araldite and heat shrink tube.  I should think these guys will have what you are looking for though

  https://www.robotshop.com/uk/gears-belts-pulleys-tracks-sprockets-chains.html

 An update:- A couple of findings,the motor and belts work as planned. No need for gear wheels on neither the collimator nor the micrometer spindle. No fear of belt slipping off the collimator due to lip on the end and both focus motors and micrometer have rubber tap washers on the ends to stop belt slipping off. I am planning on changing the Skywatcher focus motor as it is a bit on the  bulky side and now the Lhires will not go back into its supplied case, because of this I am looking at purchasing a much smaller JMI focus motor so as that the box covering the motor now can be done away with. I did state in my last message that there was some shift when operating the focus motor but realised afterwards that there is the same amount of shift when operated manually and also the lock screws need to be adjusted just loose enough to allow the collimator to turn but enough pressure to stop it tilting toward the motor. Same again with the belt, there is hardly any pressure against the collimator and motor, just enough to allow belt to keep contact without slipping . 

   Regards

     Alun

  

[Callum Potter]

As the UK is gripped by inclement weather, it is with heavy heart that I have had to come to the conclusion to cancel the Deep Sky Section meeting on the 4th March in Bedford.

However, I have been able to secure the same venue for Sunday April 22 – and the meeting will go ahead then. There may be some minor changes to the programme of speakers – I will keep the BAA website updated with the changes.

If you have booked for the 4th March it will be held over for the new date, but if you are unable to make the new date or do wish to cancel please get in touch with the BAA Office who will be able to provide a full refund.

I do hope, though, you will be able to join us on April 22.

If you have any questions please do get in touch with me.

Best regards,

Callum

[Jeremy Rundle]

I joined the BAA a short while back, and like many have asked questions, hoping that I MAY receive a reply or help.

Lyn Smith and Ella Bryant (Solar) have BOTH replied by email to be regarding questions I asked in the Solar section.

My THANKS, this is amazing, taking the time and trouble to reply and offer advice is very much appreciated.

Thank you

Jeremy R

[Alun Halsey]

 Been busy again tinkering with my Lhires III,this time automating the micrometer arm (grating angle actuator) and the focusing of the collimator lens. For the micrometer I used a JMI motofocus unit off my C9.25 attached to the lhires using two right angle brackets. Drive belt was taken from an old printer,cut a length and used araldite and heat shrink tubing to rejoin the ends. Didn’t bother with gears as such,the belt grips the motor shaft and micrometer due to small teeth on belt. Motor is operated either manually with handheld control box,or connects to PC via a Shoestring Astronomy FCUSB box.

 For the focusing of the collimator lens I made a replacement cover so as to mount a Skywatcher focus motor. Cover is locked in place using original screw and is held by metal clip at other end. Using same belt,again cut to desired length and rejoined with glue and heat shrink,just looped over barrel of the collimator lens and over the shaft on motor (wrapped in hook side of velcro) and using enough tension to allow rotation but not too much to cause tilt in lens. Again PC control is via a Hitecastro focus control box.  Both systems work well and along with the automated calibration/flat lamp I don’t need to touch the spectroscope at all whilst in operation and also allows me to work remotely when it’s too cold 🙂

      Regards

        Alun

       

       

      

     

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[Jeremy Rundle]

The last time I joined a society was the Junior Astronomical Society.

I have returned to Astronomy now I have retired (at 60), and just bought a couple of scopes (I am NOT rich, but I don’t smoke and rarely drink).

Have been a single father of three disabled sons now I can enjoy my hobby again.

I have just received my first Observing guide, Journal and info pack

I am Autistic, Aspergers (many will think that makes me a jibbering wreck in a wheel chair, it does not), what I do hate is READING, I find it boring, hard to sustain, but I take my hat off, to whoever designs and works on your magazines.

They are MOST interesting, and great to look at AND read, I wish the other magazines on the market could learn from you.

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[Jeremy Rundle]

When I joined I must have completed a box wrong and I look VERY formal, is it possible to change my screen name please

[Andy Wilson]

Welcome to the BAA Jeremy!

The Sky-Watcher ESPRIT are good scopes so there is plenty of interesting observing available to you. Though I am sure you are aware of that from your prior time in the hobby. Joining Observing Sections is a great way to become involved and meet fellow enthusiasts. That is certainly the area that I find most rewarding.

Best wishes,

Andy

[David Boyd]

Registration is now open for the BAA’s Summer Double Bill of meetings at Warwick University on Saturday 7^th and Sunday 8^th July 2018.

This is an unusual event in that there will be two meetings running concurrently on Saturday, the BAA Summer Meeting and the first day of a two day joint meeting of the BAA Variable Star Section and the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).

There will be a full programme of talks for both meetings and a conference dinner for all participants on Saturday evening. Accommodation is available in single en-suite rooms on the Warwick campus.

Information about the meeting and how to book can be found at https://britastro.org/summer2018.

We expect heavy demand for this event so book early to ensure your place.

[Bill Ward]

Hi Eric,

I hope you join in, it’s a fasciating aspect of meteor observing!

Cheers,

Bill.

[Alex Pratt]

Melvyn’s family have now arranged refreshments after the funeral at Wakefield Crematorium. They have provided the following directions:-

 

After the service, guests are invited to make their way to The Milnes Gaskell Function Room which is adjoining Howarth Funeral Services at 125 Denby Dale Road, Thornes, Wakefield WF2 8EB.  Howarth Funeral Services is shown as Thornes Parish Church of Saint James on online maps, but it is the adjacent building.

 

Parking is limited immediately outside the venue but there is parking available at the edge of the park opposite. A road off the roundabout leads up to the Premier Inn and there are a couple of small car parks on the left of the road. People will then have to cross the dual carriageway to get to the function room.

     Alex.

[John O’Neill]

Hi,

I tried to renew my membership for 2017-17, but it was trying to force me to sign up to Pay Pal! No option to just pay via Pay Pal without signing up

Is there any better way, as I have no desire to join Paypal.

By the way, the online form still says 2016-17, but I have given up in that (as I got no reply from either from the forum or the BAA Office).

I hope someone can be of help.

John

[David Boyd]

Hi Marc,

Welcome to the BAA spectroscopy forum. It is great to see someone with your experience joining us.

As you will have seen from some of the earlier posts to the forum, several of our members have recently acquired low resolution spectrographs such as the Alpy and LISA. It would be helpful if you could explain whether, and how, such low resolution devices can make a useful contribution to the VV Cep campaign. The analysis Ernst has been describing clearly requires high resolution H-alpha observations. If low resolution observations are useful, I am sure some of us would contribute.

Regards,

David

[Jeremy Shears]

I am delighted to announce that this morning our Member’s Pages reached a significant milestone. The 100th Member’s page since we went live last November was uploaded to britastro!

It belongs to Marc Trypsteen, one of our newest members who joined just a few days ago. Welcome on board, Marc! I wish you a long a fruitful membership of the BAA.

Many thanks to everyone who contributes to BAA Member’s Pages. I always enjoy looking at your work and learning about what interests you.

All the best,

Jeremy

[Dr Andrew Smith]

Just a bit to high for my R ~ 9000 echelle. I am not sure I will finish the R ~ 20000 in time but if I do I will join in. I am sure some LHires III users will join you.

Regards Andrew

[Steve Cuthbert]

Hi Ernst

Good to have you join us!

Steve