Hi from Florida - Forums

Topic starter

Jul 21, 2020

Hi all, my name is Joe. I retired about 4 years ago and like everyone else I migrated from the cold north to the warm south. Way back around 2010 I bought an Orion 10" astrograph and mount. I had fun on my own trying to take images. I could never get polar alignment correct but managed a few really bad pictures, some of witch I posted here for laughs. Anyway due to a job change with night shift I put everything away. When I moved to Fl i dragged it back out. The mount quit on me. Just did what it wanted to do lol. Anyway I bought an Atlas eq-g mount and downsized to a 6" astrograph to lessen the weight on the mount. This sat for the next 3 years due to my inability to get good polar alignment. Fast forward to about 3 months ago when I discovered the Polemaster. I have now started imaging again with some more updated equipment and so on. Having a blast. My only wish was for a club or group in the area but there are none. So pretty much on my own except for the internet. Ok enuf rambling, happy to join the site and will be posting some of my rookie images as I get them.

Clear Skys
Joe

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Bruce Donzanti

Jul 22, 2020

Welcome, Joe! I am located in central Florida and just retired, "early"….sort of, :-). I think you will enjoy Astrobin and the help others can provide as well as you helping others.

Bruce

Well Written Respectful

gramos1219

Jul 22, 2020

Hi Guys! I'm also from central Florida and just started to update my 8" telescope that I've had for 20 yrs with a new mount, guide scope and ccd camera. Wanted to know do you keep your scope outside covered or bring it in after viewing. Don't know if this Florida rain will ruin it because I would like to polar align and keep it as it stands. Anyway it's great being a member.

Gil

Bruce Donzanti

Jul 22, 2020

Hi Gil

You can go see some pics on my site. I built an observatory on top of my 4-car garage. When i over here, too many bugs, snakes, bears, etc. I also don't care to do much traveling to dark sites. So, I decided to trade darker skies for a secure and really cool ROR with an adjustable steel pier that is 20 ft above street level.

However, when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, I left my scope outside on the deck all year using a Telegizmo 365 cover with no issues. That included tons of rain and many dewy nights. Under the cover I plugged in a dehumidifier golden rod and that was it.

Bruce

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joec.

Topic starter

Jul 22, 2020

I leave mine setup but bring it in and out of the garage. I got a scope buddy a few weeks ago and that was perfect. No more carrying it. The overall best thing I did was get a polemaster. I drilled some marker holes in the apron of my driveway. Wheel the scope out and line the holes up with the leveling bolts on the scope buddy and lightly turn them in to the shallow holes I drilled. Scope is now in the same spot every time. The alignment is barely off and with the polemaster takes less than 5 minutes to run the routine and get perfect polar alignment. When done just unplug the extension cord and usb and wheel back in the garage. I have a 20ft usb cable so I am able to do all imaging from in the garage. No bugs or stuff and I have been known to sleep in my truck on early morning imaging lol. I think the scope would float away with the rain that happens here, almost daily.

Joe

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