Ventured outside last night

[Fay]

IT was patchy cloud, so ok for testing.
Had a flashing orange light and beeping on the QSI, looked online and it was to do with the filter wheel. one of the filters was loose inside. good job for the beep!

Tried the Lodestar for the first time with the ZS66., was surprised I had to have the tube fully out and 2 extension tubes to get focus! I then used the diagonal, and got focus with that, although dont think it will be as stable as extension tubes.
did get a lot of stars in fov.
Always found it difficult to get my subject in fov with the 8", great using the Telrad for alignment, clusters central every time.

Clusters looked a bit soft, anyone any ideas why that might be? The Meade is an ACF, tried the AP fr, wondered if it was to do with that or perhaps collimation is slightly out.

Fay