The place to discuss finders, binoculars, software, and all other tools for astronomical observing. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:33:37 +0000 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:33:37 +0000 AstronomyConnect https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/node/all-other-observing-equipment/ Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:38:18 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/2-dielectric-comparison.13095/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/2-dielectric-comparison.13095/ invalid@example.com (Mak the Night) Mak the Night

Above, left to right top row: Tele Vue Everbrite, Baader Planetarium ClickLock. Left to right bottom row: Sky-Watcher, Altair Astro Posilock.

At 390g the ‘Sky-Watcher’ 2” dielectric diagonal is the ‘no frills’ plainest and lightest of the four dielectric diagonals featured here. I have no idea who the OEM is. It may actually be manufactured by the Suzhou Synta Optical Company. The main body appears to be an unpainted anodised silver...

2" Dielectric Comparison]]> 1 Mon, 28 Nov 2022 03:07:47 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/new-heating-pad-for-my-primary-mirror.14131/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/new-heating-pad-for-my-primary-mirror.14131/ invalid@example.com (Nebula) Nebula
It's 2.49w total, very gentle but also very effective for slow heating.



]]> 19 Wed, 18 May 2022 13:28:07 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/the-90-amici-prism-diagonal.13620/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/the-90-amici-prism-diagonal.13620/ invalid@example.com (Mak the Night) Mak the Night
...

The 90° Amici Prism Diagonal]]> Tue, 26 Apr 2022 21:43:42 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/wo-binoviewer-case-umpteenth-revision.13451/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/wo-binoviewer-case-umpteenth-revision.13451/ invalid@example.com (Mak the Night) Mak the Night View attachment 7729

1.25” Long Perng Amici prism diagonal

1.25” Long Perng twistlock dielectric diagonal

William Optics Binoviewer

2x 20mm WO SWAN's

2x 15mm GSO SuperViews

2x 12mm GSO Plossls (WO barrels)

2x 10mm SvBony Aspherics (Synta barrels)

WO 1.6x Barlow

WO 2x Barlow

TSO 2.6x Barlow

View attachment 7730]]> 7 Sun, 26 Dec 2021 17:36:21 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/1-25-prism-comparison.13091/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/1-25-prism-comparison.13091/ invalid@example.com (Mak the Night) Mak the Night
Above, left to right top row: Baader T2 2456095 Zeiss specification, Baader T2 2456005K. Left to right bottom row: Celestron 94115-A, Takahashi TKA00547.

The Celestron 94115-A prism diagonal weighs 150g with about 29mm of clear aperture. The aluminium eyepiece holder is 32mm tall and features two set screws but no compression ring. The housing is resin or polymer with a metal baseplate. I have two of these diagonals....

1.25" Prism Comparison]]> Mon, 25 May 2020 23:14:36 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/binoculars-decision.6302/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/binoculars-decision.6302/ invalid@example.com (Leonard) Leonard
My Celestron Nature 10x50, which I have had for appx 9 years, performed very well and in fact did an excellent job for astronomy purposes. Their cost was reasonable (under $100), they were nitrogen purged, had BK4 lens, and were fully MC.

However with use there were some issues: Focussing was not smooth and often threw the views out of culminations, and they were not durable. One minor bump and there was a problem. However, until recently...

Binoculars decision]]> 9 Mon, 04 Feb 2019 21:05:04 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/black-diamond-spot-headlamp.5478/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/black-diamond-spot-headlamp.5478/ invalid@example.com (Pleiades) Pleiades
I use the red led for astronomy, and the white for everything else. I gave my last one away. I hunt, camp and fish as well as general use around home. These things are amazing. The stepless light output is very handy.]]> 13 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 13:45:09 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/binoculars-by-niche.5767/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/binoculars-by-niche.5767/ invalid@example.com (Seer) Seer What binoculars do you have and what role(s) do they fill?
The following is a list of my current binoculars and the roles that they fill or are intended to fill.
Simmons SCL Model 1139 8x21 / General Purpose Day time nature.
Pentax 8.5x21 U-Series Papilio II / Day time Nature Up-close and at a distance (the best there is).
TASCO BRK Essentials Model: 169735 7x35 / Night time augmenting of finders and to be as least intrusive as bossible.
CELESTRON COMETRON 7x50 / Basic GP Astronomy....

Binoculars by Niche]]> 16 Mon, 12 Nov 2018 21:28:32 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/solar-projector.5768/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/solar-projector.5768/ invalid@example.com (Seer) Seer ]]> 9 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:49:01 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/cross-staff.5766/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/cross-staff.5766/ invalid@example.com (Seer) Seer Mathematical Astronomy for Amateurs by E.A.Beet. You will find it on page 125.
Is this One giant step backwards? I don't think so. Not for me anyway and probably not for others learning how to do things and how they were done. I did not understand some...

Cross-Staff]]> 1 Sun, 23 Sep 2018 14:36:02 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/binoculars-blinded-with-science.5577/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/binoculars-blinded-with-science.5577/ invalid@example.com (Pleiades) Pleiades
So here goes. I understand that as we get older, we lose some of our low light seeing ability. I've seen this expressed in the exit pupil. A young person will be able to open the pupil to 7mm, where an old guy like me can likely only reach 5mm....

Binoculars - Blinded with Science]]> 57 Sun, 09 Sep 2018 03:48:20 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/skysync-gps.5575/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/skysync-gps.5575/ invalid@example.com (PXR-5) PXR-5 A bit pricey being that it just down loads time and location, but I'm still thinking about it

Could save time and increase accuracy I guess.]]> 8 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 18:40:34 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/agenas-guide-to-selecting-a-guide-scope-and-autoguiding-camera-for-astrophotography.5239/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/agenas-guide-to-selecting-a-guide-scope-and-autoguiding-camera-for-astrophotography.5239/ invalid@example.com (Agena AstroProducts) Agena AstroProducts
Agena's Guide to Selecting a Guide Scope and Autoguiding Camera for Astrophotography]]> 2 Wed, 01 Aug 2018 22:09:13 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/red-light-district.5504/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/red-light-district.5504/ invalid@example.com (Pleiades) Pleiades little red Christmas light bulbs will fit the bathroom nightlight!! And, while i'm at it, I can place a few more of these along my path to the porch, so I don't stub my...

Red Light District]]> 2 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 17:57:22 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/diagonal-to-paperweight.5470/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/diagonal-to-paperweight.5470/ invalid@example.com (Mak the Night) Mak the Night
http://longperng.com.tw/goods.php?act=view&no=79

View attachment 5722

Try to unthread the drawtube ...

View attachment 5726

It takes some doing, then you find out it doesn't actually have a thread, unlike most diagonals.

View attachment 5724

Luckily, I had another. I didn't attempt to 'unthread' the drawtube this time....

Diagonal to Paperweight]]> 12 Wed, 18 Jul 2018 10:48:03 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/celestron-star-pointer-pro-unity.5264/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/celestron-star-pointer-pro-unity.5264/ invalid@example.com (Mak the Night) Mak the Night
View attachment 5188

I've ordered one for my modified Sky-Watcher ST80.

View attachment 5189

I already have an RACI for it, the reflex will go in the right hand finder shoe. I just couldn't resist pulling the trigger on this Celestron Star Pointer to test it lol.

Watch this space ...]]> 31 Mon, 21 May 2018 18:00:45 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/a-bit-crazy-perhaps.5150/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/a-bit-crazy-perhaps.5150/ invalid@example.com (Pleiades) Pleiades
I'm working on a project that may be a bit strange. I'm wondering if anyone has ever attached a binocular eyepiece to a scope with an eyepiece in one ocular and a video feed in the other? Would this work?

The maniacal plot is as follows:
I'm putting up a 10x10x9 screened canopy in the middle of a field. placing a scope with the aid of a mirror to observe the celestial skys, with a video feed into a laptop, while not denying my eyes the candy they must have. Mosquitos and critters...

A Bit Crazy Perhaps]]> 19 Fri, 11 May 2018 10:13:55 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/agenas-guide-to-selecting-a-baader-planetarium-star-diagonal.5240/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/agenas-guide-to-selecting-a-baader-planetarium-star-diagonal.5240/ invalid@example.com (Agena AstroProducts) Agena AstroProducts
Because all the light from your telescope objective is reflected by your star diagonal,...

Agena's Guide to Selecting a Baader Planetarium Star Diagonal]]> Fri, 11 May 2018 10:07:19 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/agenas-guide-to-upgrading-the-focuser-of-your-schmidt-cassegrain-telescope.5238/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/agenas-guide-to-upgrading-the-focuser-of-your-schmidt-cassegrain-telescope.5238/ invalid@example.com (Agena AstroProducts) Agena AstroProducts
Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes, however, are a little different. They use a single external focusing knob attached to an internal mechanism that moves the primary mirror itself, at the back of the tube, to focus the image. This clever scheme has the advantage of keeping...

Agena's Guide to Upgrading the Focuser of Your Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope]]> Fri, 11 May 2018 10:02:23 +0000 https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/a-guide-to-imaging-filters.5237/ https://astronomyconnect.com/forums/threads/a-guide-to-imaging-filters.5237/ invalid@example.com (Agena AstroProducts) Agena AstroProducts color filters, broadband and narrowband filters for light-pollution reduction, and spectral line filters for maximizing detail in images of emission and planetary nebulae and supernovae remnants. Once you read through this article, you will have a better understanding of which filters to choose...

A Guide to Imaging Filters]]>