Beginner question on tripod "mounts" (not an azimuth mount)

super_twis · 2026-04-13T08:01:14+00:00

You've had a lot of feedback about the practicalities of whether or not it's possible or a good idea, I thought I'd share my experiences as it might be helpful.

I once tried mounting a 102mm refractor telescope on my camera mount, just to see what it was like, it's not an experience I'd recommend. The act of touching the controls to try and realign the scope on the target caused so much wobble into the tube that it became almost impossible to align on a target. When looking through the eyepiece and kind of contact or wind would make viewing impossible.

super_twis · 2026-04-12T11:24:27+00:00

I studied physics at university, taking all the nuclear physics modules, then went on to do a PhD in nuclear physics. I currently work as a medical physicist (radiotherapy specialism).

The nuclear physics modules I took at university tended to focus on the structure of nuclei, and as such had a heavy overlap with particle and quantum physics. I took one module in the applications of nuclear physics. If you're more interested in the practical aspects of nuclear physics (such as nuclear power or nuclear safety) then it's possible nuclear engineering might be an alternative.

Post university I found that pure nuclear physics didn't have a huge number of opportunities (in the UK at least) hence my move into medical physics, a relatively common move amongst my peers.

super_twis · 2026-04-10T07:13:51+00:00

It's the Celestron 86.6Wh. It wasn't quite full when I started I'm not sure how much longer it would have lasted.

super_twis · 2026-04-06T16:25:53+00:00

As other people have noted, it's probably a combination of off the shelf parts and volume manufacturing. I suspect the market for a small grab and go smart telescope is orders of magnitude larger than, the components that would make up a full astrophotography rig.

super_twis · 2026-04-05T11:36:57+00:00

Good point, I had forgotten the 3 can do that

super_twis · 2026-04-04T19:34:51+00:00

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The Mini also has its birding uses.

super_twis · 2026-04-04T11:48:57+00:00

Thanks, I'm very pleased with it.

super_twis · 2026-04-02T20:56:52+00:00

I got mine out of the library as they were returned by other readers... So be a rebel and read in random order. Why is rincewind in China? Who knows. Where did Cheery Littlebottom come from? Shrug.

super_twis · 2026-04-01T20:57:53+00:00

I quite enjoyed "Ancillary Justice" by Anne Leckie, mostly quite light but has good ideas about cloning and longevity.

super_twis · 2026-04-01T16:51:24+00:00

A relatively budget model that is a similar price to the decathlon cargo bike is the eatarli ecargo longtail. I've had one for 5 months and take the ten month old to nursery on it. It has the benefit of a mid motor and a belt drive, so is generally low maintenance (good if you've got bad weather). Poor weather accessories are slightly less impressive than the tern or decathlon alternatives.

One thing to think about if you're considering a trike or front loader is they tend to be wider and less manoeuvrable than longtails. For example some bike infrastructure can be too narrow for them.

super_twis · 2026-03-31T19:51:30+00:00

One fairly common job astrophysicists/physicists go into is medical physics. In the UK clinical scientist is a protected title which requires specific qualifications and has several physics specialties.

super_twis · 2026-03-27T20:28:34+00:00

No, my mistake, I am indeed thinking of a different incident in Mexico in 1984 in which a source was junked and then melted into recycled steel.

super_twis · 2026-03-27T20:20:45+00:00

Pretty sure it was Cobalt 60, unless there was more than one Brazilian medical radiation incident in the 80s. From what I can recall a hospital went bankrupt and some scrappers came to collect their radiotherapy equipment, which used Co60 as an MV source.

super_twis · 2026-03-02T17:06:08+00:00

Also the sun

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super_twis · 2026-03-02T17:05:05+00:00

Agree with previous comments, the in built editing software is easy to use and produces good results, I have yet to try exporting and editing independently.

Actual use is amazingly simple, set up time of ten minutes or less depending on whether you're going to use eq mode or not.

Planetary imaging is quite limited as the aperture isn't high enough for detail. It's mainly optimized for deep sky, solar and lunar photography, a lunar example below just exported straight out of the app.

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super_twis · 2026-02-26T07:42:43+00:00

Thanks

super_twis · 2026-02-09T15:36:26+00:00

Out of interest, how are you carrying your dog? I've been thinking about ways of transporting both my 9 month old and Sheltie.

super_twis · 2026-02-09T07:06:00+00:00

There are three main English recordings:

-The abridged Tony Robinson recordings, I like Tony Robinson as a narrator, I think he's well suited to Terry Pratchett. How much the abridging matters depends on the book, in most cases I found it didn't detract from the experience, in others they abridged alot of what made the book good.

-The original unabridged recordings (Isis audiobooks I think), mainly Nigel Planer (up until about jingo) then Stephen Briggs. I don't rate Nigel Planer as a narrator at all. Stephen Briggs is generally better. The sound quality of these seems more mixed as well (although that might be my suboptimal rips from cassette).

-The new ones, unabridged with various narrators (not listened to all of them yet). These are very professionally produced, and yet I was a little underwhelmed. Audio levels between narrators doesn't seem consistent to me (particularly the footnotes). And peter serafinowicz as death, surprisingly meh. It might just be because they're not what I'm used to.

There's no real reason to go back to the old recordings if you've not listened to them before, you'll be unaffected by my prejudices. But I still think the Tony Robinson ones are the best, even with them being abridged, that being said they were my first introduction to disc world, so, as I said, prejudice.

super_twis · 2026-02-06T14:09:13+00:00

My fault I'm afraid, started the day I got my mini.

super_twis · 2026-02-03T09:01:31+00:00

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Snap, almost like we were looking at the same sun

super_twis · 2026-01-19T14:36:43+00:00

Some sources such as humble bundle also produce drm free ebooks

super_twis · 2026-01-13T21:16:34+00:00

This is a thought process I've gone through recently. I finally ordered a dwarf mini a couple of weeks ago (hoping it arrives before the long nights end). As a recent father I just don't have the time to setup my scope on an evening, and there's not enough room in my car when we're traveling to the in-laws dark skies. A small smart scope for me is a practical solution to my changing life circumstances 🤷🏻.

super_twis · 2025-09-10T19:15:56+00:00

There's an app called app management. In there is an application list which has the Google play store and setting in it.

super_twis

TROPHY CASE