[Dawson]

I have found two pictures of the adapter plate we used:

• This reply was modified 12 months ago by Dawson.

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[Dawson]

Grant,

There are commercially available adapter plates. I got one of these from Altair Astro when we mounted an EQ8 on a steel pier:

https://www.altairastro.com/skywatcher-eq8-r-and-cq350-pro-pier-adapter-plate-443-p.asp

Out of interest, why put the C14 in rings and not just use a dovetail?

James

[Dawson]

Michael, thank you.

Valid point. I suspect most of the additional weight will be on the rear cell of the C14 which is pretty thick and very rigid. I don’t think as much weight and potential distortion on the front cell. I am off to the International Astronomy Show in a few weeks so I’ll speak to people there. The only rings I’ve seen for the C14 are over £1000 which seems crazy, and I do wonder if the thin skin of the scope is better or worse in terms of stability and applying forces through/over the C14.

James

[Dawson]

Grant,

Here is the link to SGL: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/424477-maximum-payload-eq8/

I am not seeking to guide, I am seeking a second refractor to [semi-]permanently fit with a camera to project an image on a TV, leaving another refractor with an eyepiece and the C14 with an eyepiece.

Thank you.

[Dawson]

Thank you Richard. I should have said that; yes I’d need to drill holes in the front and rear collars of the C14, which isn’t difficult to do once the corrector plate and primary mirror cell are removed. I was potentially going to use the opportunity to install a fan or vent at the back at the same time to help with cool down.

[Dawson]

It was intermittantly cloudy with a moderate breeze during ingress, and a dense patch of cloud over the Moon during the emergence phase where it would have been possible to get a nice image and an exact timing. Typical. [Image showing cloud at the predicted time of emergence]. But still absolutely fascinating to watch.

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[Dawson]

I’ll be there too from the Society for the History of Astronomy with a load of new [old] books to get rid of. Come and say hello.

James Dawson
SHA Librarian

[Dawson]

Thanks both. That is great. Really useful resource. We are after one in colour with a graphic of the Milky Way too and some Messier objects.

James

[Dawson]

Thank you Patrick. Your image is too very nice.

[Dawson]

David,

Thanks for the link, that does explain a lot. Appreciate your help.

James

[Dawson]

Peter, I tested the 20mm glass filter and you are correct, it does block IR. I’ve lost my UV LED so can’t see if it blocking UV too or not.

But as you say, still seems odd for this to sit behind the etalons.

The glass filter is now at least clean so at least I can use it even if I can’t source a new one.

Thanks.

James

[Dawson]

Peter,

Thank you very much.

I think that is my confusion. If only 656nm gets through the etalon, why is there a UV/IR blocking filter behind it, as the etalon will have filtered out those wavelengths already.

James

[Dawson]

It has been purposefully painted to look like a glass cylinder; the white paint strategically placed to show it reflecting light coming from the left, and to give the appearance of glass. So I don’t think this represents an unfinished telescope. I would be skeptical that it is a telescope as I’m not aware of glass refractors, or why you’d want one. The end cap of the glass tube is different to the ends of the telescope near it on a mount.

We need an expert in glass artefacts of the C17th to indicate what a glass cylinder might have been used for. I was wondering what other material it could be; plastics weren’t known, rock crystal seems unlikely, ice again seems unlikely. So I would have thought it does represent glass.

Interesting story.

[Dawson]

There looked to be a few potential candidates, but most bright things were not meteors

[Dawson]

Maybe a 50% reduction after 50 years, one percent for each year of membership?

[Dawson]

Personally, I think if a society pays for affiliated status it shows a certain amount of commitment. I would have kept paid affiliated status which only entitles the society to a paper journal and the handbook, no access to online stuff other than membership stuff. Unless affiliated societies pay up, and maybe the cost should be related to the number of members like the FAS, there is nothing special about affiliated membership, and all those societies who have been paying and supporting the BAA for years will now just get the same as everyone else jumping on the free-bandwagon.

James
Nottingham Astronomical Society (affiliated to the BAA)

[Dawson]

Fascinating post, thank you.

James

[Dawson]

Well you’ve done your bit and raised the issue on this forum for all to see, and to show how passionate you are about the matter. It is up to Council to decide if it is worthy of their time to discuss it further and/or take action.

[Dawson]

Steve, the obvious answer is for you to join the Council, debate the matter, and convince everyone else to vote a different way.

I can see you are annoyed by this, but I suspect it is VERY low down anyone else’s priority list.

James

[Dawson]

A great day of talks and catching up with people, and a great venue too. Well done to the organisers and speakers!

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