Any star gazers and amateur astronomers ?

Yes, but I need get it in the spot for prime focus and I'm not sure how long of an extension I need.

 

Some adapters have fine focus abilities but many are hooked up to the camera and slid into either the diagonal or focuser like an eyepiece would, secured, then focused using the scope’s adjustment knobs.

I don’t think you need an extension in addition to the adapter as the telescope is now acting as a big ass lens.

 

Going to need an extension, at the minimum, so that the adapter clears the focus knob (it's really tight right now).

 

Speaking of star gazing:

Saw The ‘Christmas Star?’ How You Can See A Rare ‘Triple Conjunction’ Of Three Planets This Weekend (forbes.com)

 

I got nothing further...
Good luck

 

Could you slap a diagonal on the scope then use the adapter?

 

Could. I picked up an extension tube, hopefully I can get it focused.

 

Any progress?

 

Got my mount problems solved, can focus, but heh.. maybe this is too nice a camera for this little spotter scope. Not that there's been a ton of observation time.

 

1) You might try asking for advice on an astronomy forum like Cloudy Nights for fixing your t-mount issues. I have found them very helpful. Another option is to check if there is a local astronomy club near you. Many have public events for people to bring in their telescopes for help/advice. Unfortunately they are usually scheduled shortly after Christmas time.
2) There are some really fantastic photos on this thread. Well done.
3) I just got a 2017 Tacoma last week largely because there was not enough room in my Jeep Renegade for my new 12" Skywatcher Flextube and accoutrements. Any Tacoma suggestions or experience related to star gazing? For example securing a large OTA and other equipment would be helpful.

I am new to both astronomy and Tacomas. I bought a AWB OneSky and joined the Boise Astronomical Society about two years ago. Hopefully the Tacoma upgrade items won't be on backorder ike the astronomy gear.
John

 

https://twitter.com/spacedotcom/status/1450822680035225600?s=21

 

https://twitter.com/spacedotcom/status/1451878167203942409?s=21

 

Aurora expected for Halloween down to the mid- latitudes.
https://twitter.com/tamithaskov/status/1453828408983449612?s=21

Also, check for aurora anytime at the “Current Auroral Oval” link at the lower left here:
https://www.spaceweather.com/

 

https://www.space.com/beaver-moon-lunar-eclipse-2021-guide

Visibility will be excellent across the Americas, much of Asia and parts of Europe and west Africa, and with the long event time you'll have maximum opportunity to dodge clouds or crowded schedules to see the event unfold.

 

well I hope everyone is ready for the Eclipse Friday night. I know this is an old thread but I thought I'd post anyway. I have 2 telescopes. The first is an 8 inch Skywatcher Dob that I purchased from a Canadian site way back in 2000. About 3 years ago pulled the trigger on a LX200 ACF 10 inch. The only problem turned out to be a 12 inch LX200 ACF. It needs a permanent home, because it's a beast to put up and take down. I think the seller on Ebay listed it as a 10 inch in hopes of getting rid of it. I should have been smart and contacted Ebay to have it returned. but aperture is King in the Telescope world, so I decided to keep it. I haven't used it much because of it's size, but I'm going to rectify that this winter. I recently had a proc 2 trap error, and thanks to cloudy nights forum, I found a fix that worked and it's back to normal, thank you cloudy nights. Having a bad back with a 80lb Telescope is not a good combination. I told my brother, we need to find a location in the back yard and build a small house for it to live in.

 

Big time amateur astronomer here. I know the OP well from amateur astronomy circles (we meet at local star parties), and have consulted him quite a few times for truck tips even before I got my Taco, knowing that he owned a Taco before. Got tired of hauling astro gear in my sedan. My Army Green Taco is the most expensive piece of astronomy equipment I've ever invested in.

 

https://twitter.com/spacedotcom/status/1461305715348418565?s=21

 

Kinda like the elderly, just cause it’s old doesn’t mean it’s useless.

I don’t know of any better threads to share this info. Thanks for jumping in!

 

I just finished laser collimating my 8 inch Dob, just to find out that my Orion 32mm 2 inch eye piece won't fit in the 2 inch hole on the Dob. Ask me how much that really pisses me off. I've never had a 2 inch eye piece until recently, so I never needed to check and see if one would fit. I was going to screw my variable filter on that eye piece to use on Friday Night for the Lunar Eclipse. I'll take another look at it tomorrow, but I have a back up plan just in case. Guess I'll have to use my 1.25 eye pieces and try using a pair of dark clip on glasses the Eye Doctors gave me when my eyes were dilated. I'm hoping that in a pinch, they'll block some of the bright moonlight before the eclipse starts. Time to look for a new Rack and pinion focuser for the Dob.

 

Because of my own stupidity, I missed the eclipse. I hate the way Astronomy Magazine worded the article. It stated on Friday November 19th the total eclipse will happen, or something like that. Well I'm thinking Friday night the way my brain works. Why didn't they word it like this. Thursday the 18th after midnight, which will be early Friday morning around 1:00 am, the lunar eclipse will start. I pissed and bitched all day Saturday over missing this. Then my brother and neighbor both told me it was cloudy here after midnight, but like I told them, the eclipse was over 4 hours long, so i might have caught the tail end of it. Looks like I'll have to wait until May 2022 for the next one.
It seems like every time I want to use my scope, the sky doesn't cooperate in my favor. No moon, dark skies, cloudy or rainy. Full Moon, everything washed out, unable to view anything, super clear skies. I feel like Eeyore with a dark cloud over my head when it comes to viewing.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiec...icas-twin-totalities-in-2022/?sh=5d55deb51a18