Doc817

@glafnazur thank you 

@carastro  thank you

I first captured this back in February and wasn't happy with my results, so I spent 4 nights in April capturing 18 hours worth of data.

Link for full resolution https://adobe.ly/3MjX1zt

Capturing info,
Ballynure 13th-26th April 2023
17 hours 55 min total integration time. 5 min sub frames

Imaging equipment

ZWO ASI183MC Pro
William Optics Zenithstar 73 iii
2" Optolong L-Pro filter 
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro 
ZWO EAF
ZWO ASI120MM
30mm f4 guide scope
Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance gen 2
Mele Quieter 2 mini PC

Software
NINA, DSS, Pixinsight, PS, LIGHTROOM

🤓💻📷🔭✨

#nerdlife #skywatcher #zenithstar73iii #zwoasi183mcpro #optolonglpro #WilliamOptics #optolong #zwo #astrophotography #space #photography #nightphotography #irisnebula #ngc7023 #nina #zwoasi #clearoutsideapp #clearoutside #clearskies #DontLookUp #nebula #nasa

@Elp@drjolo thanks for your feedback, I have to say I am leaning more to SW just with the history and any issues have all been resolved or there are fixes for. Thanks again

Thanks Steve for providing the guiding details.  Great insight.

2 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

Bumping up your numbers is called post farming and is against the CoC. You may find as a result your post count reduced or access to the classifieds blocked. 

Sorry I didn't realise that but noted thanks

I haven't had the chance to get the stars with my L Pro filter, weather has been terrible here since I got this in November

Here is my mosaic captured over 2 nights during November last year.

Tadpole          5 min subs x57 c/w cal frames totalling 4hrs 45min with L-eNhance
Flaming Star    5 min subs x 92 c/w cal frames totalling 7hrs 40min with L-eNhance

Bortle 4
Canon 550d modded 
2" L-eNhance filter 
William Optics Zenithstar 73 iii 
AZ GTI, EQ mode guided with PHD2
NINA 
DSS, PS, Starnet++, NoiseXTerminator

Link for full res https://adobe.ly/3FQD7ZN

Health to enjoy, 

Update, the HEQ5 with Rowan Mod that I was inquiring on has now gone.  So do I wait for another or buy new or take a chance on the GEM28 or just get a EQ6 R

Just jumping on here to bump my post numbers up lol

@SteveNickolls Yes I have read your post a few days ago and thank you for you indepth detailed reporting, I look forward to seeing your guiding update.  As I use NINA for my PA I don't think I would go for the ipolar but in saying that the price difference is actually not that much so it might be worth it fr resale value.

@Stefek Thanks for the info on weight, and your input in payload capacity.

My delima is now this, Do I purchase a new GEM from Flo or, I am currently talking to someone about their HEQ5 with Rowan Mod which has only had 10 hours of use for a little more than half the price...

@Stefek Thanks for that, really helpful.

I read alot of variation on the payload capacity for imaging isn't what ioptron state it should be can you confirm what your experiences are?

LOL Thanks

@Ratlet Thanks for the feedback, do you use the Wifi or USB to connect to the iCommander?

@Elp Thanks for the reply and your feedback.

My guiding with my AZ GTI is about .8 to 1.3, but I think that can be improved if I wasn't using the SW wedge and instead with the WO wedge. It does jump to 1.6 after a filp and takes a while to settle and again it jumps after a dither. However I do not want to fork out for the WO wedge to find out that I should have just replaced my mount with either the GEM28 or HEQ5 with Rowan mod.  I am more than happy with my current setup while using it with the Canon 550D.

However I do think I am best to try and rule out living on the edge of possible issues that I might have tracking while using the 183MC Pro.  The reason you may not be seeing any issues is that the ZS61 has a shorter focal length than the ZS73 therefore your resolution is 1.38" per pixel which is why you do not seee any trailing with your images when guiding at 1.2 RMS.  While I may start getting the signs of trailing with a resolution of 1.15" per pixel when guiding at over this pixel scale.  Thats my understanding of it.  As for setting up I do all my imaging in my garden so that is not an issue for me.

This is in no way saying I am unhappy with my AZ GTI, I just think this upgrade in camera would be beyond its capablities and I am asking in peoples opion whats better the HEQ5 Pro with Rowan upgrade or the IOptron GEM28.

Hi all, 

Looking to upgrade my mount currently AZ GTI and I've narrowed it down to these 2 but I don't know enough about the GEM28 to make a fair comparison. So if anyone has any experience with both your views are welcome. I'm currently using WO ZS73III and a canon 550d modded but am in the process of getting a ZWO 183mc Pro so my pixel scale is changing from 2.06" to 1.15" so getting the best guiding is my main concern. I use NINA for all of my needs PA, imaging plate solving etc and use the pegasus pocket powerbox advance v2 to minimise cables running down from the mount. 

Thanks in anticipation 

Andrew 

Elephant's Trunk Nebula IC1396

Really chuffed with this one, Imaged on the 7th October in my back garden in Ballynure under a very bright moon.  Used YouTube's AstroEd's Astrophotography Channel workflow for editing in PS.

4 hours 40 min total integration

56 x 5 min subs c/w cal frames (40 darks, 30 flats, 30 bias)

Canon 550d modded

2" L-eNhance

William Optics Zenithstar 73 iii

AZ GTI EQ mode guided

NINA DSS, Starnet++, PS

It's got 2 m.2 slots so was just going to put a 1tb in the second one as they're not that expensive and around same price as a good external ssd. Staying clear of hdd as my 2tb has just failed from a small knock

Ended up buying a new one from dell as the price was near what older good spec second hand ones are going for, just a wee RAM and SSD upgrade required at some point. Thanks again for the help @The Lazy Astronomer @Clarkey @Pompey Monkey @Grant Fribbens

@The Lazy Astronomer @Clarkey @Pompey Monkey @Grant Fribbens Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated

Hi Paul, thanks I'd be running it from cmd prompt or the GUI that's available as I do not have PI.  So like you, Im not worried about having to wait for it to remove stars within minutes.  Just broadens my options for a replacement laptop if its not required.

@Pompey Monkey so a dedicate GPU is not essential then?

Hi, can someone please help, I know my laptop hardware is too old to run starnet, but what I find hard to get info on is what minimum requirements is needed to run it when I'm looking for a second hand laptop. Can anyone help point out a few key specs I should be including in my search?  Its going to be a windows OS I'll be looking for and using the cmd line, Thanks

I ended up purchasing the WO 73iii thanks for all the feedback.... Lol