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  2. It's a very nice sketch Matt. If you'd drawn that at the eyepiece I'd be very impressed. The trouble with photographs, replicating them exactly takes a long time and lots of practice. Even more difficult is drawing even a simple crater as viewed through the telescope, as there's always far more detail visible than can ever be drawn. The speed of change of the shadows across the lunar surface is another difficulty the visual observer has to deal with, and no observer is fast enough to catch all the detail. Arguably, the lunar observer Johann Krieger produced the best lunar drawings ever. He used low contrast photography as a way of getting accurate scale and positioning of features, then he would add the detail seen visually through the telescope to produce previously unheard of accuracy and level of detail. It might be worth studying some of his work to get ideas of how he captured intricate detail and subtle features. I've attached a pic of his Mond Atlas along with a few examples of his work. It seems even he drew the line so to speak, when it came to recording the intricate terracing around crater walls! The book is worth having for sketch in reference, and I think its still available on Amazon.
  3. I found that surpassing the Seestar images using my other kit was not as easy as the 'experts' seem to suggest. I never wanted to go down the route of buying expensive deep-sky kit, figuring out how to make it work, and spending hours processing the result. The Seestar was exactly the device I was waiting for. A couple of years ago I acquired a DSLR body with the aim of trying out imaging with it. But it just seemed too much of a bother. Even when I bought a lens for it, lugging this big thing around for general photography just made me feel conspicuous. A Smartphone proved a much more practical camera for daily use. I agree that if you want to produce amazing high-resolution images, the more traditional non-Seestar route is the way to go.
  4. Indeed. I'm in a quantum state where I have both decided and not decided on the scope(s) I'm getting.
  5. I've just picked up a second hand HEQ5 Pro, primarily for use at star parties as a my AZ EQ6 GT is soon to be installed in my new observatory (when it's finished) and it would be great if I can just leave it in there. I want to get a compact case for storage and transport of the HEQ5 Pro. I'm looking at the case that FLO sell. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescope-bags-cases-storage/oklop-padded-bag-for-sky-watcher-eq5-heq5-az-eq5-mounts.html It looks okay. Has anyone got any experience of these bags? Can anyone suggest and alternative? PS - I don't have the original packaging foam, so the Geoptik's offering is not suitable 😞 Thanks
  6. TerraC

    Star names

    I've got 1691077 - Lepus My daughter got it for my birthday a few years ago RA 6h 6m 4.83s - DEC -17 7 25.64 Mag 10.227 Tried getting a shot of the area but it's quite low behind houses where I live.
  7. Never in the field of astro photography has one item been loved by so many and disliked by so few.
  8. Or if you are ever considering visiting the South African Astronomical Observatory near Sutherland then you might be able to pick up some wine made on a local estate. I got some of these from a cafe in Sutherland. Nigel
  9. Where are the diffraction spikes coming from in these images? I get how this would appeal to somebody looking for a do-it-all box that will point and shoot. No argument there. It's a low cost gateway into imaging. Seems to be quite popular with the visual crowd, who don't want the time, headache or expense of a full astro-imaging set up and processing learning curve. Also may appeal to some imagers who want a quick grab-n-go, or a n00b looking to get into imaging. But those low-res images confirm what is my opinion. It isn't for me, I went past that level a couple of years ago with a APSC DSLR and tracker, and I agree with Ed Tings opinion. But hey, horses for courses. You want to use this, not my concern. I just know I'd be looking to move on within a few months, and this thing is not upscaleable.
  10. You can normally sync the mount once you've done a plate solve though I've never felt the need to do this as you have plate solving at your fingertips.
  11. On some levels last night was disappointing and frustrating but at the same time I did quite a bit of work on my process so I'm claiming it as a win. Scope out at 1330 to cool as it looked like the sky was going to be clear. 1900 I got out with the finderscope on a tripod and had a look at Jupiter - when the clouds cleared I could discern some banding and 4 moons. It always surprises me when I can see something through the scope and look up and see the target is covered in cloud - but there is enough light that the telescope can pick it up.. About 2015 the clouds had cleared enough so I move the C925 and mount onto the terrace - first outside session with the Asiair - and the issues started. It wouldn't plate solve with the camera in the OAG suggesting the issue was the focal length, then I remembered the Focal reducer was in place - so I calculated the new focal length and tried again - still no go.. I was tempted to go back in the house at that point but persevered, replaced my finder scope with one I could put the camera on - and it plate solved. Went through the all sky polar alignment - which took ages with the clouds. While I was waiting I took the OAG off and on went a diagonal and an eye piece. With the mount polar aligned I started slewing to targets and realised that the guidescope was out of line.. Thought about calling it quits there but persevered and aligned everything - swung to split Lyrae and as the mount slewed total cloud cover rolled in.. So not much seen but a good evenings work in poor conditions which should save me time when when do get a clear night !
  12. Today
  13. My understanding based on how it works in Ekos is that the software maintains a mount model which takes into account the accuracy of PA etc. This is updated every time you platesolve and allows it to calculate the slew needed to accurately reach an object. The software has options to save the model on your computer so its reused the next time (this would work only if you havent moved the scope & mount, eg.in an observatory). I dont know if the model is saved onto the mount itself as different mounts may or may not have that capability to retain this info. Here is the explanation from Stellarmate page: Each time an image is plate-solved successfully, a Sync point is appended to the Mount Model. With more points added, the mount GOTO accuracy would improve especially if there are sync points close to the GOTO target.
  14. Quite astounding without any proper processing either and to think only £500
  15. Perhaps leave the assembly open in the fridge for a couple hours and then quickly seal it up while still in there but with the door open for access? That'd be dry and cold air filling it I'd think.
  16. Silica gel absorption is a very slow process. Give it time. Sealing the housing on a cold dry day minimses moisture trapped, reducing the burden on the silica gel. Something else to consider. Do you know anyone who has a MIG welder? With a cylinder of argon based welding gas. Standard argon shielding gas for MIG welders is an argon & carbon dioxide mix. Importantly no water vapour. In some equipment I get involved with, the electronics (and more) enclosure is purged using either nitrogen or argon. High pressure cylinders contain dry gasses. Feed the gas in slowly at one side of the box, allowing it vent at the opposite side. OK not a 100% air purge but a big improvement. HTH, David.
  17. I know how to bring clear skies, switch my Ritchey Chretien in the dome for my Lunt50 ready for the summer! That'll make sure there's permacloud daytime and clear nights! I like your profile picture, I want to image that but it was too far to the north in Portugal. Maybe I can do it when we go back next February. The weather was patchy in Jan and Feb, runs of up to 5 nights interspersed with hazy or wet and windy ones. At least it stays dark longer in the Spring and Summer. It was good to escape most of our winter! When sunny temperatures got up to 19 or 29 degrees in the day time.
  18. Although not for visual I've just got a pair of Askar 120 APO's I like that (if I ever go back to visual I can remove the back end and fit a bino viewer to one...) superb optics.
  19. Postman delivered quite a few packages today! I was looking for a telescope and mount that can fit in a backpack or small luggage. Looks like I have been hit with Takitis... So happy with my purchase. This is my first Takahashi telescope, and it is a beauty. The craftsmanship is simply amazing, and the first views of distant trees suggest how sharp these lenses are. I followed a seagull in flight, it was a beautiful sight! I chose this telescope (FC-76DCU) because of its weight (1.9kg !!) and the fact it can be split in half for transport. Very convenient. Likewise, I was looking for a good mount that doesn't take much space. My AZ-5 is fine but rather big and heavy. So I went for this Sightron Japan Zero mount, which is also very well built. I tried mounting my ST120 and it handled it perfectly, with minimum vibrations. I love the fact that this mount can be very easily folded down to a small package. And yet, it can take 7kg of payload. It has multiple configurations, the different parts can be placed and oriented in many ways depending on your needs. A very smart design! The mount itself is very smooth and can be tightened at different levels, so it can be used like a Dobson mount. I also added flexible knobs and a better saddle. Of course, all of this came with a storm... I guess first light won't come for another week or so!
  20. I'd suggest taking a step back. You are moving between choices so rapidly at the moment you will end up making a mistake. Most people, when they buy a scope, will have had that scope in mind for quite a while.
  21. A warm welcome to SGL and some cracking pictures there.
  22. Good view last night about 21.00. From core area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park International Dark Sky Reserve. Canon 15 x 50 IS binoculars. Tail about 2 degrees, maybe greenish tinge to coma. Rain washed and moonless sky Paul
  23. Had a look with the 20x80 binos last night. Very easy to find, definite hint of a tail. Well worth taking a look at this if anyone hasn't already. Not that the weather has allowed that lately...🥺
  24. There isn't really a wrong choice, but you have to make a choice regardless.
  25. Bit of a mixed result. About 21.00, March 27th, last night. No moon, tail about 2 degrees in 15 x 50s, maybe greenish coma. Sky 8 x 2s, f2, iso3200. Foreground 2 x 30s, f2.5, iso3200. Illuminated by nearby holiday let. LRC, Sequator and PS. Canon R8, Sigma 50mm. Cheers Paul. P.S. M33 quite obvious.
  26. Are you going round and round in circles ? 🤣 Too much choice these days 🤷🏻 BTW - checkout the planetary images posted by @Kon, he used a standard SW 8” F/6 Newtonian.
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