StevieDvd

Is that you in the last image, or did you get a man in to do the job and uploaded the wrong image? 😀 But to be serious I'm happy to see the end result and can't wait to see your astro images in further posts. Bravo Monsieur

I think the jury is still on a long lunch break.

In my head I had the AR127L & AR127S models so did a qick google to see if I had that right. In a review for the AR127S there was a mention of getting a focus with a 2" diagonal but not a 1.25" So I'd agree with the others that either the scope is missing some included 'as new' parts or the tube has been shortened (this is often done to get a working binoviewer setup).

If it helps a post I made back in 2011 was basically on the same subject as your question See here It's quite appropriate as that was also in a credit crunch period and the same eyepieces are still being recommended today (I still have mine).

To be fair to the software authors they are using the open source drivers, and unlike ZWO have to support a myriad of different hardware running many protocols. If they had to test each variation the cost of the soatware would be a lot more. However, I had a look at the available indi-lib mount drivers and there is one for the virtuoso listed here The synscan and skywatcher alt/az should work especially if the mount can use a synscan handset.

I think you have a typo surely the Optolong Armadeddun.

Have you got an eqmod cable to use instead of via the handset? That's been my solution before when wifi firmware updates have failed.

It'll probably happen on one of the few clear nights we have.

Update My PC was built by a local computer shop for me back in December 2021 and I could not find the invoice, so called them to ask what PSU it had fitted (would have had to take it apart to get to the psu). Glad to say it was 750W and I mentioned I was finally going to add a GTX card. As it happened they had a used GTX 1650 4gb in store so I popped out the the PC under my arm and had it fitted/tested. Compared with the onboard graphics this has given the PC a much needed boost and the RC XTerminators now running much quicker - in one case 22 seconds instead of 2mins 40sec.

@powerlord I rescue my photons and help them re-generate in other media So astroimagers = photoncopiers 😉

Similar to my family except it was 'Your's don't look like the images in a book" to "They now look like the images in the book" and "Send your comet picture to the BBC" ( as if I was the only one who captured it 😀) I can;t gie all the credit to the XTerminators as I have a new mount/scope/camera & filter but the processing is now getting easier and I'm getting the hang of it bit by bit.

I share you pain in the stacking & processing involved. How did you create the video? I started with Blink in PixInsight but found a better tool to get a smoother video from the saved blink images. Steve

Each capture was 60 seconds and this was a made with the best 48 of 50 shots (last 2 made it jump a little too much). Used an ImageContainer in PixInsight for the files to process and ProcessContainer to run a stretch & crop on them all. I tried the video maker in the Blink viewer and saved each as a png file, but ended up using a program from GitHub (makeavi.exe) to convert them to an avi.

Not the best image, but one of my most onerous processing sessions to get anything half-decent from the stacking. A bit over processed, even for me, but I've learned more about PixInsight that will come in hand later. From the same data as the video we get this from the first 50 of 100 stacked images. The rest were interrupted by a dither or re-centering by Asiair so decided not to try to add them in as well.

Is that just the GPU? My GPU score is 554 Intel UHD Graphics 630 - in low 😢

Thanks, My typical English understatement of 'a little less' was me trying to be ironic. My budget for a card is on the opposite end of the price range - more like a GTX 1050 😉. I'm not a gamer and no longer use a flight simulator so graphics have not been an issue for me.

It seems the advent of the new AI assisted tools, like the Russ Croman XTerminator add-ins for PixInsight & Photoshop the GPU is starting to become more important. Having just followed a tutorial to process my comet images I grabbed the trial version of the StarXTerminator to use in Batch mode and stacked 50 images. Having only tried it only a single image before I had not noticed the time it takes. But in batch mode it ended up taking hours and putting my i7-10700 CPU 32gb Win11 to max cpu. The video guide I was following paused for that process and said it could take a while! After some further reading up on StarXTerminator use the consensus was that it was optimal to use a high spec GPU - preferably one which can use a feature called CUDA. So explaining why my onboard graphics was not helping and left the CPU to take all the strain. So now I'm on the lookout for a Graphics card that will help, but not one that costs more than my PC, as I don't expect to be exterminating stars in the stacking stage. Perhaps a little less than one of these Quadro 5000

I'd taken my images before I realised perhaps there were methods to use the comet itself to guide on. See https://openphdguiding.org/man-dev/Tools.htm#Comet_Tracking So it seems there are options to keep the comet steady and let the stars trail, but most post processing is for a standard guided session from what I've read.

comet.mp4 comet.avi A quick video of comet data from 30/1/2023 not stacking well.

That would seem to point to a software issue. In the Synscan app have you got it set to connect on app launch in the connection settings. And has it saved the com port number? If it works when eqmod has already enabled the port, then presumably it is not enabling it on it's own first attempt.

Do you know what driver the cable uses? There are serial cables which use FTDI (better) and others that use Prolific. The better ones reme,ber the port number last used, the others can select different ports each time. If you check in device manger for the port used and the driver we may be able to help.

Yes, I've left off the part where that is done using an app wirelessly and no handset used - it's been a while since I used an Evolution setup.

Did you get the model with the Celestron Starsense option, that will align/set the date & location of the mount automatically on each startup. It does need an initial setup alignment so it is facing the same sky portion as the scope.

The specs on the RVO say "The tube features superior FPL-53 specifically chosen by us to give the sharpest and most widefield images possible. "

Hi Tezz, If I summarise your requirements first before even mentioning any equipment it may help us suggesting options. You will be indoors so not expecting to view via an eyepiece outside yourself. Presumably, wanting to image live views with as much detail as possible. And an ease of setup out of consideration to your friends helping you. Have you seen images you could refer to as examples of what you want/expect to see? Some of the best images on the forum are heavily processed (indoors which may be part of the fun for you) and can't be seen in such detail even with the best cameras. There is a group who like to see almost instant images - Electronically Assisted Astronomy who get to see more than the naked eye but not always captured for post processing, an in the moment image. Perhaps you have a local astro society which may have members doing something similar, albeit their setup is similar as they want it portable. A member may be more than happy to pop along and show you their setup as a contender for your needs. We like showing our stuff off, hence forums like this. One aspect to be considered is the view from your garden and any light pollution/nuisances. So your options would seem to range from the single piece EAA scopes such as: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/unistellar-telescopes.html https://dwarflab.com/products/dwarf-2-smart-telescope Or more likely a recent light-weight mount and a small remote computer (or network lead to inside) with a mid-range dso/planetary camera with the scope(s) of your choice. More on this later if that's the way you think you are looking. Given the UK weather then depending on your PC skills and patience may be the image post-processing would be just as interesting for you. Steve