Townsville Astronomy Group

Hi Vinnie,
With regards to your Polar alignment tutorial, the places we've been to in Townsville don't seem to know of let alone stock an 'inclinometre' or engineers protractor. So, where would you go to obtain such an item?
Got a non-ferrous strip Ok! Good ol' Bunnings.

Thanks Mate,
Lex.

Mmmm. well its an either or scenario. You can do the accurate latitude with a plastic protractor and a plumb line. If you want a more convenient tool, then the "Engineers" protractor is a part of what is called an Engineers Combination Set and rather expensive.(do be aware that I am a tradesman fitter and turner so these are the sort of tools that I keep as a part of my kit, despite no longer working in the Engineering trade)

The Digital "Clino" (Inclinometer) that I pictured was picked up cheap ($65) at an obscure trade supply shop in Redcliffe Brisbane during a trip "down South". I know that they do mail order etc but for the life of me I can't remember the name of the place. Advanced Old Timers Disease comes into play occasionally. I can get my brother who lives near there to check it out if necessary. Meantime, your best place to start searching would be J. Blackwood and Son "Blackwoods" engineering supplies. They have a branch at Garbutt. If you have no joy (or the prices are outrageous) let me know and I'll chase up the supplier in Redcliffe.

While I have you on line, will you please pass on to Richard after a request from Steve that I have done a very thorough search for add on tracking kits for basic "Dobs" and the best I can come up with is the Tech 2000 kit at $1100 US so when you add exchange rate, import duty, freight and its not a simple thing to fit, at the end of the day it would be over $2000 Aus.

At this time that's hardly practical. For that sort of bucks he could buy a new SW tracking dob, or even convert his OTA (ie add a pair of tube rings and a dovetail bar) and mount it on a HEQ5 goto

Thank Vinnie,
We'll try Blackwoods, if no luck, we'll be in touch.
Will convey message to Richard as for the 'old timers' disease it strikes here with regular monotony.
Haven't spoken to Steve for awhile but intend to fix that soon.

Thanks Mate,
Lex.

Actually Lex I'll be down in Bris. in a few weeks so I'll check out the Redcliffe supplier one way or the other

Went to Blackwoods today, no digital but bought a manual one for now. By all means check out the digitals for us, not available in Townsville! When we set our EQ6 up we'll let you know the error. We were going to have a public viewing on the Strand tonight but the weathers the pits!!!
Thanks again, mate.
Lex.

Again, you don't really need to go digital but anyhow I remembered the name of the supplier where I got mine http://www.tampico.com.au/contact.php The brand of the clino is Digi-Pas

Hey Lex, Vinnie. I'm a Fitter/turner as well and have seen stanley versions in Bunnings and Mitre 10 if that helps