Received the Dual Axis Drive today for my New Orion Skyview Pro 6".
So now I will be able to start tracking, finally. I will have to learn first how to align the scope. I have not tried it yet as the sky is very hazy this evening, I see the moon and stars but its covered in a thin ugly haze, so I figured taking photos would have been a waste of time.

this weekend I will be starting to build my mini portable rolling observatory, does anyone think a Tee, Triangle or a Square Platform is best for this, we drew up a couple of designs but I am not sure which one to go with.

Also, does anyone know if there is a standard size solar filter for a 6" Mak-Cas, Orion wants like 125.00 for one, I know I could probably get one for half that.
Thursday I am going to the B & H Photo Center in Manhattan to do some scope bits and bobs shopping, any suggestions on some goodies I can pick up for myself that will help with my astrophotography. I love shopping for this stuff, my wallet doesn't, but I do

Thanks

So, just how much is your eyeball worth to you? $125.00 sounds reasonable to me in that context!

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Any day you wake up on "the right side of the dirt" is a good day.

T. Anderson

I know it can damage your eyes, I was just looking to see if it was cheaper other places than from Orion directly. Some other posters recommended that I can make one myself, but since my eyeball is worth something to me, i did not think that was the correct route to take. I just wanted to know if anyone thought 125.00 was steep for a solar filter

The BAADER AstroSolarTM Film filter material is superior to an aluminized glass solar filter or Mylar in resolution. Kendricks sells complete filters using it.

http://www.companyseven.com/astrophy.../apasolar.html

http://www.nexstarsite.com/Reviews/B...oSolarFilm.htm

Dave Mitsky

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De gustibus non est disputandum.
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

Dave gave you the best solution for image quality with a solar filter.

On alignment; for planetary photography you don't need to be accurately aligned. Exposure times are short so approximate alignment is fine. By that I meant tilt the polar axis to your latitude by eyeballing it beside a protractor. If it has a scale use that. Then plop it down on fairly level ground and point it using your best guess for north. If you see polaris stand back and give it the eyeball test, does it point at it? If so you are plenty fine for planetary work or visual use.

Now for deep sky you need to go through drift alignment which requires you have a good shot at either the eastern or western horizon, within 20 degrees of it anyway as well as where the celestial equator meets the meridian due south. That takes about 20 to 30 minutes once you are experienced. All night the first try -- at least for me it did.

If you can plant a permanent pier in the yard you can cover the mount with any good waterproof cover. Once you have good alignment just haul the scope out. No more setting up.

For years our club's 12.5" f/6 Newtonian sat under a small home built shed just large enough to cover it when pointed due south at the horizon. Shed was about 4 foot wide by 6 foot long as it was a big heavy beast. It was hinged at the back (north) and counterbalanced. You just lifted the south end and held a short rope as it rotated back and laid on the ground to the north upside down -- OOPS I meant on end not upside down. When done you just pulled it back over the scope. It worked well until a tornado went through. The shed ended up here and there with the roof someplace. But oddly the scope sat right where it was, wet but unharmed. Sometimes big is good!

Rick