Fairly recently I’ve started using EQMOD software with EQASCOM to control my Synscan Goto Upgrade Kit for my EQ5 telescope mount with my C6-SGT scope. There are various advantages to using EQMOD. It’s free for a start, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is average quality software. EQMOD has quite a few [...] Read more »
So we’re back from our short caravan break to Kelling Heath in North Norfolk this weekend just gone, where the 2012 Autumn Star Party took place. I enjoyed 3 good nights of clear skies and stargazing, using a combination of my EQ mounted Celestron C6-SGT scope, my Orion XT10i and my 20×80 big binos, while [...] Read more »
Good nights for astronomy are often few and far between in the UK. We’ve had the usual run of miserable, rainy, cloudy nights. Sometimes when the early evening sky looks promising, inevitably the clouds roll in by the time we’ve had our supper!
So when a good, clear, cold night comes along you grab the opportunity, [...] Read more »
I’ve not long had my new Celestron C6-S SCT XLT Telescope, but following a minor problem with the Backlash setting in the SynScan Pro V3 Goto Upgrade hand controller (which was fairly easily fixed by a firmware update to correct the excess Backlash adjustment), my interest was piqued and I wanted to check at an [...] Read more »
Tonight at first sight looked promising with stars out, but not very good transparency.
I started by setting up my 20×80 binos to try them out with the ScopeTeknix Zodiac ST90 counterbalance binocular mounting which I bought at the same time as the binos, but until now have not had the opportunity to use them. The [...] Read more »
Red Dot Finder Scope from ScopeTeknix
The latest mod I have added to my Skyquest XT Mods section is for my Orion XT10i and details the simple addition of a new dovetail mount so that I can have both my standard 9×50 Finder Scope, and my new Multi-Reticule LED Red Dot Finder Scope mounted to my [...] Read more »
I have added a new page to my site describing the modification to the Orion XT10 to replace the original Teflon bearings with a Lazy Susan turntable bearing.
This is one of the primary mods Dobsonian owners are interested to learn about, in their quest to achieve the smoothest possible Azimuth movement. The standard Teflon bearings [...] Read more »
Today I modified my Orion XT10i telescope by adding a second dovetail mount to accept a multi-reticule red-dot finder scope on the main telescope. I purchased the red-dot finder as a new accessory a few months ago now, but obviously could only use one finder at a time with the single dovetail mount installed on [...] Read more »
A friend of mine (James Billings) who is also into astronomy, has some pages on his web site dedicated to his telescope and astrophotography. He uses a TAL-2M telescope (solid Russian build) on an equatorial mount, and a webcam and a DSLR camera for his pictures. James has been doing astronomy a couple of years [...] Read more »
Someone emailed me about how well the XT10i fares for astrophotography, and I thought our email conversation might be useful to other people considering the XT10.
Hi James, I am currently looking into re-starting my astro hobby (I used to have a - self built 15cm F/5 newton) and while binoculars are nice, I am looking [...] Read more »
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