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Superb!

I always say, get an 8" and get most of the Messier catalog done with that telescope. Do some Solar System observing and imaging and then you will know if you should get a bigger scope. Been there done that.. and I know now! Bigger it is! So what is it??

M51 Wide Field Last image of the season from my Swedish obsy (no more astrodarkness). I did two unconventional things with this image. I used wide field 400 mm focal length RASA, which is rarely used for galaxies except for the few very big ones, and I used a dual-band (Ha + Oiii) filter (since the moon was out). I did manage to capture much of the weak tidal streams around M51, and numerous of the small galaxies in the neighborhood. I had hoped to detect more strong Ha structures but could only find some diffuse and faint dusty structures. I was inspired by the recent RASA image of M51 by @ollypenrice and tempted to do like him and add long focal length data to M51, but I was rather pleased to see how much detail the RASA could pull out, and by keeping it a pure RASA image I finally had something to contribute to this competition. Captured with my dual-RASA8 rig on the night 14-15 April. Cameras were ASI2600MC and filter was IDAS NBZ. 62 x 5 min (5.2 h) processed in PI and PS with the XTerminator tools. Cheers, Göran

If you're not aware, just check it's weight, its quite heavy so needs a good mount. I've had one and it was a great scope for sweeping the night sky and as an HA solar scope.. I've thought of getting another a few times and it's the weight that put me off.

I think Elena will nab those , Alan ... i think thats fair trade for letting me buy another one 🤣 Mark , i've got that damn song " my boomerang won't come back " in my head now ...lol

That long?

It can also be affected by wind which can cause the stars to trail. Even if there's a little wind I try to set up where it's sheltered. If it's too windy I leave it fir another day.

ZWO have parted with using Raspberry Pi boards and have their own using Rockchip processors so can be more flexible on their internals. Likely to be similar to what's in the ZWO Seestar but with more external ports.

I think there can be various causes, but the one that comes to mind is that if the target is very close to the zenith then alt az mounts have more difficulty tracking.

This is clever stuff Lee - the defaults in PI Image Solve & Annotate can be overwhelming! Another great job joining all four panes - seamless integration and a perfect background - to my eyes! Adrian

Hi I want to ask a question but don't know we're to ask it so I hope you don't mind me asking here , when I use my seestar most of the time I get messages like "stack failed star trails so binned" or not enough stars , any ideas why I get these ? Kind regards Neil

A very nice set of LVs indeed. You are only missing the 2” ones (30mm and 50mm). And of course, the 1.25” ones are brilliant in binoviewers, so you are only half done 😁😎🤣

Your gonna have to name these scopes 'boomerangs' Stu 😉 Mark.

The AZEQ6, 80mm refractor, 5” refractor and 8” Newtonian is a great combo and would cover imaging and visual nicely 👍

Sorry, I’m busy at the moment

Where’s @JOCwith her battery tools when you need her?

LOL I concur! This hobby has a high rate of gear and aperture fever, and it's more contagious than covid! 😱😂

I’ll give it 18 months until you’ve outgrown the new case, Alan 🤣

Bill Paolini, in his comparative test of diagonals had this to say about thermal settling: ‘ Diagonals absolutely require thermal acclimation time for best planetary performance! Going from a 70ºF inside temperature to a 30ºF outside temperature took a toll on the diagonals, particularly the 2" non-Prisms as they showed astigmatism even directly on-axis. The prisms did not show astigmatism, but did show a less sharp view until thermal equilibrium was achieved. Generally 15-30 minutes was required for optimal high magnification performance.’ Diagonals not eyepieces, but it seems reasonable to think that a chunky, multi-element eyepiece is going to need at least similar consideration. I don’t think it’s just about the behaviour of air in the tube and above the mirror surface, though of course those are always an issue. It makes sense, I think, that an eyepiece, especially one that is physically big and contains numerous lumps of glass with different thicknesses, figures and refractive indices, all supposedly ‘finely tuned’ to work together, stacked usually in a metal housing, is going to be subject to differential heating/cooling through its body - and it won’t perform as designed and intended until everything has settled down. FWIW, I expect to have to allow for this, especially when using big or complex eyepieces or the binoviewer with its GPCs, whenever I’m trying to get the best out of my frac.

First light yesterday evening for my Svbony zoom, which I received a few days ago. I only looked at the Moon early in the evening. I agree with everything people say about this eyepiece: it's really good! The views were amazing with my Tak FC-76DCU. Sadly Jupiter was very low on the horizon and not visible from my rooftop. I did try through the toilets window, but that wasn't easy I also agree with the minor annoyances, eye relieve at 3mm and the stiffness of the ring. But for 99€, that eyepiece is a bargain and definitely a keeper. I can't wait to try it out on planets once they're back into view! Here is a pic I grabbed (with a Nagler, so that's just for context!)

@Bivanus F**K YES!! 💪💪💪😂 ( Really sorry! I would never normally soil this mature website with foul language, but I just couldn't help myself! I think I have been exposed to too many American action hero movies! 🤦‍♂️😂 )

You should be able to reset the layout from options. Also check out you tube videos on how the layout works.

@Elp Definitely mate. Some would call us mad...I'd say we're simply passionate about the hobby! You're not alone there my friend, my data data turned out usable ( just ) but in no way is it adequate recompense for the grueling effort I made! LOL ( but then I say to myself...my recompense is the wonderful unique hobby itself, not just how good my data is at the end of the night! ☺️ )

I have some thoughts about that. I realized that both a Celestron CGX and an EQ5 OnStep GoTo mod are very accurate in aiming at the target once they previously performed a plate solve. I think we can just slew (without centring) to the Moon straight after aiming at any near DSO with the plate solve. I will try this idea (hopefully tonight) with my Starwave 102ED F/11 (planet killer), it has a very narrow FoV while my ASI 678MC has a rather smaller sensor. I hope the ASIair can do it because NINA will be busy with Lion Nebula. Maybe Venus? 🤔 No, it's too low.

Reason enough to purchase another one Stu.