#vixen — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

Stella-Luna Observatory @[email protected] · 2026-07-15 · 18:08 UTC

A near disaster

The Vixen VC200L Modified Cassegrain telescope on a good evening in 2020. The Sky-Watcher mount now sits atop a permanent pier inside the observatory, no longer on the grass.

On July 12, we had just finished installing the Vixen telescope on to a new rack that attached to our Sky-Watcher mount, and were fine-tuning the system’s balance when it happened. There, in front of us, out of reach for rescue, the telescope slid along its railing, down the new rack like a skier down their ramp! Horrified, we watched as it cleared the bottom of the mount, plunged five feet to the floor, bounced, and landed upon its side just outside the observatory door!

Expecting the worst, we lifted the poor thing up and looked down the tube to check the primary mirror … and it was intact. The outside of the tube showed a long, thin scratch and a little scraped spot, and the finder ring was loose and ajar but looked repairable. A set screw for the visual back had sheared off. Fortunately, the finder scope was undamaged, and the flip mirror eyepiece accessory had not been installed so it escaped the crash. Apparently the telescope, which slid bottom end first, struck the polyethylene observatory door threshold, bouncing from there possibly softening the impact — a bit better than directly hitting the concrete floor!

The next day, after thoroughly examining the OTA, straightening out the finder rings, and removing the offending mount rack, it was time to see whether we could see. It being daytime we clamped the scope directly to the solid Sky-Watcher mount atop its pier, attached the solar filter, and aimed skyward. Surprisingly, the two large sunspots present could be seen clearly in full-disk viewing and the edges of Sun looked good; the telescope was actually usable! Higher magnification and later imaging were not as impressive. After dark we attempted photography of M57 — the Ring Nebula — to look at star shapes. Not surprisingly the stars showed distinct signs of a telescope out of collimation. The scope needs work.

We will attempt collimation soon after we receive a replacement visual back for the telescope but would really prefer to have the instrument checked and serviced by professionals.

#2026 #astronomy #observatory #telescope #trouble #vixen

#astronomy #observatory #telescope #trouble #vixen

Stella-Luna Observatory @[email protected] · 2026-07-15 · 18:08 UTC

A near disaster

The Vixen VC200L Modified Cassegrain telescope on a good evening in 2020. The Sky-Watcher mount now sits atop a permanent pier inside the observatory, no longer on the grass.

On July 12, we had just finished installing the Vixen telescope on to a new rack that attached to our Sky-Watcher mount, and were fine-tuning the system’s balance when it happened. There, in front of us, out of reach for rescue, the telescope slid along its railing, down the new rack like a skier down their ramp! Horrified, we watched as it cleared the bottom of the mount, plunged five feet to the floor, bounced, and landed upon its side just outside the observatory door!

Expecting the worst, we lifted the poor thing up and looked down the tube to check the primary mirror … and it was intact. The outside of the tube showed a long, thin scratch and a little scraped spot, and the finder ring was loose and ajar but looked repairable. A set screw for the visual back had sheared off. Fortunately, the finder scope was undamaged, and the flip mirror eyepiece accessory had not been installed so it escaped the crash. Apparently the telescope, which slid bottom end first, struck the polyethylene observatory door threshold, bouncing from there possibly softening the impact — a bit better than directly hitting the concrete floor!

The next day, after thoroughly examining the OTA, straightening out the finder rings, and removing the offending mount rack, it was time to see whether we could see. It being daytime we clamped the scope directly to the solid Sky-Watcher mount atop its pier, attached the solar filter, and aimed skyward. Surprisingly, the two large sunspots present could be seen clearly in full-disk viewing and the edges of Sun looked good; the telescope was actually usable! Higher magnification and later imaging were not as impressive. After dark we attempted photography of M57 — the Ring Nebula — to look at star shapes. Not surprisingly the stars showed distinct signs of a telescope out of collimation. The scope needs work.

We will attempt collimation soon after we receive a replacement visual back for the telescope but would really prefer to have the instrument checked and serviced by professionals.

#2026 #astronomy #observatory #telescope #trouble #vixen

#astronomy #observatory #telescope #trouble #vixen

Stella-Luna Observatory @[email protected] · 2026-07-15 · 18:08 UTC

A near disaster

The Vixen VC200L Modified Cassegrain telescope on a good evening in 2020. The Sky-Watcher mount now sits atop a permanent pier inside the observatory, no longer on the grass.

On July 12, we had just finished installing the Vixen telescope on to a new rack that attached to our Sky-Watcher mount, and were fine-tuning the system’s balance when it happened. There, in front of us, out of reach for rescue, the telescope slid along its railing, down the new rack like a skier down their ramp! Horrified, we watched as it cleared the bottom of the mount, plunged five feet to the floor, bounced, and landed upon its side just outside the observatory door!

Expecting the worst, we lifted the poor thing up and looked down the tube to check the primary mirror … and it was intact. The outside of the tube showed a long, thin scratch and a little scraped spot, and the finder ring was loose and ajar but looked repairable. A set screw for the visual back had sheared off. Fortunately, the finder scope was undamaged, and the flip mirror eyepiece accessory had not been installed so it escaped the crash. Apparently the telescope, which slid bottom end first, struck the polyethylene observatory door threshold, bouncing from there possibly softening the impact — a bit better than directly hitting the concrete floor!

The next day, after thoroughly examining the OTA, straightening out the finder rings, and removing the offending mount rack, it was time to see whether we could see. It being daytime we clamped the scope directly to the solid Sky-Watcher mount atop its pier, attached the solar filter, and aimed skyward. Surprisingly, the two large sunspots present could be seen clearly in full-disk viewing and the edges of Sun looked good; the telescope was actually usable! Higher magnification and later imaging were not as impressive. After dark we attempted photography of M57 — the Ring Nebula — to look at star shapes. Not surprisingly the stars showed distinct signs of a telescope out of collimation. The scope needs work.

We will attempt collimation soon after we receive a replacement visual back for the telescope but would really prefer to have the instrument checked and serviced by professionals.

#2026 #astronomy #observatory #telescope #trouble #vixen

#astronomy #observatory #telescope #trouble #vixen

Australia News Beep @[email protected] · 2026-07-13 · 15:00 UTC

SA coroner calls for changes after man died while paramedic waited outside

A paramedic who chose not to force entry to a house, despite being told a man was inside…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #amandaweaver #ambulance #AU #coroner #coronial #DarrylSparrow #DavidLow #findings #inquest #power #saas #vixen
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/797678/

#newsbeep #news #australia #amandaweaver #ambulance #au

Australia News Beep @[email protected] · 2026-07-13 · 15:00 UTC

SA coroner calls for changes after man died while paramedic waited outside

A paramedic who chose not to force entry to a house, despite being told a man was inside…
#NewsBeep #News #Australia #amandaweaver #ambulance #AU #coroner #coronial #DarrylSparrow #DavidLow #findings #inquest #power #saas #vixen
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/797678/

#vixen #saas #power #inquest #findings #davidlow

Australia @[email protected] · 2026-07-13 · 12:20 UTC

SA coroner calls for changes after man died while paramedic waited outside

A paramedic who chose not to force entry to a house, despite being told a man was inside…
#Australia #amandaweaver #ambulance #AU #Austrlia #coroner #coronial #DarrylSparrow #DavidLow #findings #inquest #power #saas #vixen
https://www.europesays.com/australia/49709/

#vixen #saas #power #inquest #findings #davidlow

Musings of a Stardust Vixen @[email protected] · 2026-07-03 · 20:20 UTC

Now up on
Another Day in Vixenville:
A Vixen at Pride

https://foxistrans.wordpress.com/2026/07/03/a-vixen-at-pride/

#Pride2026
#transgender #LGBTQIA #Foxes #FoxCostume #Vixen #DragQueenFoxy

#pride2026 #transgender #lgbtqia #foxes #foxcostume #vixen

Musings of a Stardust Vixen @[email protected] · 2026-07-03 · 20:20 UTC

Now up on
Another Day in Vixenville:
A Vixen at Pride

https://foxistrans.wordpress.com/2026/07/03/a-vixen-at-pride/

#Pride2026
#transgender #LGBTQIA #Foxes #FoxCostume #Vixen #DragQueenFoxy

#pride2026 #transgender #lgbtqia #foxes #foxcostume #vixen

Musings of a Stardust Vixen @[email protected] · 2026-07-03 · 20:20 UTC

Now up on
Another Day in Vixenville:
A Vixen at Pride

https://foxistrans.wordpress.com/2026/07/03/a-vixen-at-pride/

#Pride2026
#transgender #LGBTQIA #Foxes #FoxCostume #Vixen #DragQueenFoxy

#pride2026 #transgender #lgbtqia #foxes #foxcostume #vixen

Musings of a Stardust Vixen @[email protected] · 2026-07-03 · 20:20 UTC

Now up on
Another Day in Vixenville:
A Vixen at Pride

https://foxistrans.wordpress.com/2026/07/03/a-vixen-at-pride/

#Pride2026
#transgender #LGBTQIA #Foxes #FoxCostume #Vixen #DragQueenFoxy

#pride2026 #transgender #lgbtqia #foxes #foxcostume #vixen

Musings of a Stardust Vixen @[email protected] · 2026-07-03 · 20:20 UTC

Now up on
Another Day in Vixenville:
A Vixen at Pride

https://foxistrans.wordpress.com/2026/07/03/a-vixen-at-pride/

#Pride2026
#transgender #LGBTQIA #Foxes #FoxCostume #Vixen #DragQueenFoxy

#dragqueenfoxy #vixen #foxcostume #foxes #lgbtqia #transgender