This guys way over the top, nothing wrong with this unit. What, 30, 40 pounds of payload, that pier would likely hold a car engine and never move. 🙄

Its called a rat cage because he can see his reflection in it. A crook like him took my saved pocket money as a kid for a supposed Kellner eyepiece. Turned out to be taken off a microscope.

Hi, Great video, however : I am gathering it is not possible to mount a SkywatcherEQ6R mount to your Pier that only accepts downward bolts. My EQ6R Mount with a C8 SCT f/10 attached for prime focus photograph requires a bolt from under the mount going upwards to hold it to a mounting plate. This is why a rat box is often used between a pier and itself to access this bolt for tightening or removal. I welcome your solution for using the EQ6R with your mount.

What brand of digital camera is that?

My "Rats Nest" works just fine. It's been a proven design for many years.

Love those haircuts reminds me of the 80's

I have a stupid 12" LX90-ACF GPS. The computer freezes up. I have to reboot and realign it to get it to work again. Headache. It started after I had it for 2 months. It's still under warrantee and Meade says they will fix it if I pay $400 for shipping! I will never buy another Meade product!

Its a shame that you didn't use the actual Picostar product in the collimation demo

How does one order your Picostar?

That could be my pier! I searched high and low and finally got one, now installed in my backyard in Somerset.

I got one of the last of these beauties and it sits now as a living memorial to the wonderful Ralph. I hope one day Astro Engineering will rise again. Love and best wishes

Why you need Picostar artificial star? What is the purpose? You only need the light that come out that is all, why need extra? Do camera have picostar artificial?? If not, then why not? And I notice the gap hole, so you have telescope with a gap that is block, so you show a light with a block. Well, what we see, were you looking at the light of any kind or looking at the star?? So, if ya are looking at the star, so there is a diameter gap that is blocking which show gap hole in a star, right? Need more explain to understand it.

Lunar images seem very soft for a quality telescope. Collimation still off?

Very well explained. Extremely professional presentation. Great work

You said it would go into oscillating vibration because there is nothing to stop it. What would stop it ?

Where can we find AC 710/ What is the cost

what happened to Astro-Engineering? I can't find anything recent about them or their products. does anyone know where I can aquire their products?

Is there anywhere to purchase this in the USA?

Its nice to know the small acute angle of the wedge points north celestial pole, I like the feature of the polar finder becomes part of the wedge. I don't think my Celestron wedge has the feature for ncp but I am sure I can cnc one.

You say 1mx1mx1m and then a metric tonne of concrete, considerable way off. It would be a tonne of water but about 2.4 tonnes of concrete. You then go on to say a tonne of concrete is adequate, the dimensions of the hole would therefore be much less than, in fact only 0.42mx0.42mx0.42m. So my question is this, which are the correct figures?

Hi, I'm just getting into astronomy and I'm trying to get my head around the vast subject area that is collimation! I was wondering if I could *make my own* picostar as I have access to optical fibre of varying sizes, as well as fibre optic connectors/ferrules. Any suggestions? My thoughts would be to affix a white light source behind a single-mode connector (I'm thinking an adjustable maglite mini torch or similar?) and place into a simple housing/box? Just wanted some clarification on what size you mean when you say 'sub-50um'? I can get hold of ferrules designed to house 125um fibre with approx. 9um cores? The fibre endface would be cleaved, and polished to international standards. Sound feasible?

Any chance you could pop that 12" meade back on and show us you pointing the telescope to the east or west set at say 40 degrees?... I bought one of these and that claim of 35-60 degrees is fine if you don't have a scope on it, if you do the forks catch on the walls of the wedge long before you get anywhere close to 35... My scope is the 14" so more clearance than the smaller 12" but I bet you a packet of chocolate biscuits it catches too...

Is their any polar alignment tools for the southern sky like the small wedge aligner you got there

I WANT ONE! I have been looking around for one to buy, they are all either discontinued or WAY to expensive. I think I am going to end up making my own, so I REALLY appreciate this video. This sure will help! Thanks!

Are these Picostar units still available? Cannot seem to find anywhere.

thanks for the good info you provide