Disaster Averted, just !!!

[DMouse]

HI, well after cleaning my mirrors in the NEWT I setup in hope of the sky clearing, but due to my new CCD being on the way, it of course clouded over. After a couple of hours on Call of Duty, it still hadnt cleared, so I started packing up. I took the OTA off the mount and as per usual stood it on its end. I turned to start removing the last few cables only to hear that sickening bang as the scope fell over, ahhhhhhhh!! I finished packing everything away, and inspected the focuser. I had left an eyepiece in there and it had a scuff mark on it but was otherwise ok. Then I noticed the thumb screw was snapped clean off. I have managed to find a temporary screw for the job for now but its looks very DIY.

So in checking out the OTA the following day, as I expected the collimation was a bit off, no really. I tried, and I tried but when I got the secondary looking good in the draw tube the laser was way off to the right. When I had the laser centre, and the primary aligned, visually the secondary was horrid. After an hour or two I gave up.

So after work today I stripped the OTA to nothing. Re-centered the focuser, re-centered the secondary. Put the primary back in. Centered the secondary in the drawtube, collimated the primary and this time the laser agreed, phew!!! So, new scope not required, one happy wife on that note Not yet anyway, eh guys

So all I need now is a clear night and I can chill with the laptop and get some imaging done. Hopefully next time it will be less stressful.

Clear Skies

Paul

[choy]

ouch... glad you were able to fix it up some

[jimg@sonic.net]

HI, well after cleaning my mirrors in the NEWT I setup in hope of the sky clearing, but due to my new CCD being on the way, it of course clouded over. After a couple of hours on Call of Duty, it still hadnt cleared, so I started packing up. I took the OTA off the mount and as per usual stood it on its end. I turned to start removing the last few cables only to hear that sickening bang as the scope fell over, ahhhhhhhh!! I finished packing everything away, and inspected the focuser. I had left an eyepiece in there and it had a scuff mark on it but was otherwise ok. Then I noticed the thumb screw was snapped clean off. I have managed to find a temporary screw for the job for now but its looks very DIY.

So in checking out the OTA the following day, as I expected the collimation was a bit off, no really. I tried, and I tried but when I got the secondary looking good in the draw tube the laser was way off to the right. When I had the laser centre, and the primary aligned, visually the secondary was horrid. After an hour or two I gave up.

So after work today I stripped the OTA to nothing. Re-centered the focuser, re-centered the secondary. Put the primary back in. Centered the secondary in the drawtube, collimated the primary and this time the laser agreed, phew!!! So, new scope not required, one happy wife on that note Not yet anyway, eh guys

So all I need now is a clear night and I can chill with the laptop and get some imaging done. Hopefully next time it will be less stressful.

Clear Skies

Paul

Glad you are not miserably disappointed with bad luck.

[sxinias]

Looks like you used up your good luck...don't buy any lotto tickets for awhile. Seriously, I'm glad you dodged the bullet. Look forward to seeing the photos you get with your new camera.

[jenniferchristine]

Moral?
Don't stand p the OTA - it's unstable!
OOOUcch!!
Glad it didn't die

[tedrampart]

obviously the important question here is.... which call of duty? haha

that's a tense moment! followed by tense moment after moment while trying to get everything back in order.. I bet that scope will be extra babied from now on.

EDIT - which CCD are you getting? I notice you're using a modified T2i, I'm interested to see what great capture you get with a ccd.. are you doing the full filter set as well?

[DMouse]

Thanks for the comments guys and gals. I bought an ATIK383L+ mono, the filter wheel hasnt arrived yet, but I plan on doing some testing tonight, as its gonna be clear for a change.

I must admit I dont like lying the OTA down, not sure why, probably becaue the deck get wet in summer and snowy in winter. Perhaps I should be less lazy and just take it straight in the house and not put it down outside at all, eh.

Clear Skies

Paul

[Astronewb]

Perhaps I should be less lazy and just take it straight in the house and not put it down outside at all, eh.

That works for me....eh? Glad no serious damage was done Paul, that would have been a heartbreaker.

Best,

Paul