KEJ

On 07/11/2020 at 21:56, Phillyo said:

I went with the ASI533 and I'm really happy with it. Might go mono further down the line but for now working with these clean files (bias and darks are a thing of the past) is just so lovely. Shooting with fast optics (f2.8) and a wide 135mm lens gave me really clean results with only 3-4 hours of data on M31.

Thats pretty outstanding - nice work

You should be able to get it lower, have you tried or it just does not appear on the pulldown list ?

I'm also pretty new, but I always try to use a x2 Barlow if you have one and play with the histogram to get it away from the left(Blacks/darks) and no more than 80% along to the right.

By reducing the ROI, it also enables you to whack up the FPS, I did manage over 500fps the other night(poor seeing mind) with my new ASI462MC with a small ROI.

Raw8 and I still tend to stick with avi, although the experts use Ser 

Seeing as the weather is bad, I am going back through some video clips and stacking less frames, apart from the nasty artefact on the side, a bit more detail.

Only 30 clips to go!

3 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

You have to beware of the F ratio myth when you bring focal reducers into the story. Binning would also speed up capture. You can hardware bin a mono CCD but you can software bin data from an OSC camera of any kind. The real purpose of the focal reducer is to open up the field of view and, in the case of the Meade-Celestron one, to flatten the field - which will be necessary on anything but a very small chip.

Guiding does have its limits. An EQ6, working well under guiding, should deliver a guide RMS of 0.5 arcseconds or so. You need to double that to estimate the resolution your mount will support when the seeing allows. So you will probably be limited to about an arcsecond per pixel at the imaging camera. This calculator is helpful. http://www.12dstring.me.uk/fovcalc.php

To be honest the non ACF Meades are not great for DS imaging and will add to your difficulties. I wouldn't let your decision be too heavily influenced by DS imaging with the scope. It will never be good at it.

Olly

Thank you

22 minutes ago, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

I have a Celestron GP-C8, which has a slightly lighter OTA than the Meade equivalent you have, whereas the Vixen Great Polaris mount it sits on is generally considered sturdier the the SkyWatcher EQ5 (which is one of many GP clones). This combo is fine for planetary imaging, and visually on DSOs, but I would not want to do DSO imaging with it. The GP mount works nicely with a short refractor, and at a pinch with my Meade 6" F/5 Schmidt-Newton, but DSO imaging at 1280 mm focal length would not work well at all. Even the EQ6 might struggle a bit at that focal length

Thank you.  Part of me is thinking, right for planetary no more manual controlling to keep it on target(so a tick in the box), then I was assuming for DSO with a reducer so down to where you mentioning, I thought it would be fine especially if I was guiding!   Sounds like more researching required.

1 hour ago, SmokeyJoe said:

+1 for the EQ6.  I currently use an Ed80 frac plus Camera etc on an EQ 5 and it's not capable of any more than 2 min subs, 3 if I'm really lucky. 

Dom thanks........I must admit I thought it would do better, is that with or without guiding.

1 hour ago, masjstovel said:

3) I bought the EQ5 for a SW 150PDS newtonian when getting in to this, and sold it 6 months or so later to buy an EQ6. EQ5 was just too lightweight for a good enough job. Besides, down the road you will probably wish to do upgrades and add-ons which increases the payload. 

When starting this hobby, and not knowing how it will be like, and not knowing if you mean business, it can be scary to put in so  much money, and tempting to go for the cheapest options, but i would argue hard that the place to leave the money should be on the mount at first. I recieved that tip and didnt listen to it (read first sentence).

Wise words and my gut feelings are with you...........thank you

I have a Meade 8" LX10 (Old RA clockwork drive), I like the scope and was thinking of de-forking it and mounting it on a GoTo mount.

Then using it for planetary, but also for with a reducer for the more faint/distant DSO's or am I wasting my time.

However,  I cannot seem to be able to find the weight of the actual telescope tube on its own, so that I can determine which mount to buy based on payload.

Questions:

1) Does anyone know the weight of a Meade 8" LX10 Telescope (Tube only) ?

2) Has anyone out there done a similar conversion and is it just a case of de-forking and then adding a dovetail bar?

3) Would a SW EQ5 be man enough for the job or would something bigger be required(adding a ZWO cameras and guide scopes) usually pretty light weight.

Thanks in advance

KEJ

On 08/11/2020 at 16:09, CCD-Freak said:

Here is another image from the New Mexico trip.  B150 The Sea Horse  300 x 60 seconds (5 hours shot over three nights) with the ASI-533MCP through a SS 150mm F2.8 Hyper Newt (420mm FL)

I am not quite ready to "stick a fork in it and call it done" as I am still trying different processing in Astro Art. 

John Love
CCD-Freak
WD5IKX

A different target than the more popular choices, nice work.

On 07/11/2020 at 21:56, Phillyo said:

I went with the ASI533 and I'm really happy with it. Might go mono further down the line but for now working with these clean files (bias and darks are a thing of the past) is just so lovely. Shooting with fast optics (f2.8) and a wide 135mm lens gave me really clean results with only 3-4 hours of data on M31.

Really impressive.  I must admit I have recently ordered a ZWO to Nikon lens adapter, I assume you have used something similar ?

Great picture though.

On 07/11/2020 at 12:58, happy-kat said:

(not related but Autodesk sketchup is brilliant)

I was curious about the noise on longer exposures as I'm interested in the potential for helping me capture galaxies and broadening the use beyond planets

I haven't tried the 462 for any long exposures and for DSO work I did in the end buy the 533 - sorry.

1 hour ago, GazOC said:

I got this last with an ED120 + Barlow. First real attempt with the camera and lots to learn on the software/ settings side of things 

Nice picture and that's pretty clear.

On 26/10/2020 at 00:08, CCD-Freak said:

I went with the ASI-533MCP and have not regretted it.  I like the square sensor, the no amp glow, 14 bit ADC and good well depth.  It produces clean data which is usually easy to process.

This is one of my favorite images I have made with it so far.  The Horse Head and Flame Nebula complex  60 x 60 seconds (1 hour total)  taken with a Sharpstar 150mm F2.8 Hyperbolic Imaging Newt.

 

John Love
CCD-Freak
WD5IKX

Lovely picture

That looks pretty good to me.

I was out on Mars again last night(ASI462MC), at the same time had a crack at a few other objects with the ASI533 MC Pro, M27 (image taken from the iPad)I fired off a load of 1min exposures, the others less time.

I will revisit another night!

C11, C30, M27(WO Z61 533) & Mars (LX10 8" Barlow 462).

On 30/10/2020 at 13:56, happy-kat said:

I've been looking at this camera, if you are testing while it's cloudy what's it like on longer exposures please, thinking of noise

I haven't had chance to test it on longer exposures, conditions were not 100% here(hopefully that will change tonight).

Cloud grounded me last night, the night before I got out early between 19:30 and 20:30, so Mars was lower in the sky and again cloud put a stop to proceedings.

However, with a tiny ROI had it up to 750 FPS(RAW08) and for a normal Mars shot up to around 450 FPS, It's brilliant getting 10000 frames in well under 30 secs(but genuinely not great seeing) Fig01.

Unlike, Damien Peach Fig02 (BBC Website)

But, I am hoping for better things, I'm also on my LX10 (Meade 8") with clock work RA and manual control to stay on target ! all great fun..........maybe next year I will save for a better mount.

Fig01 (stacked and PS etc)

Fig02

On 30/10/2020 at 12:21, Sir_Lancelot said:

This is good to know especially as my ZWO ASI462 is due to be delivered between 2.30pm and 3.30pm today.

Did it arrive and have you had chance to try it out ?

28 minutes ago, AbsolutelyN said:

What res did you get it to 400fps at? I find I need 350x350 which seems to be in the 200fps area. Just tried lowering it - got 600fps at 100x100 but not sure that's a useful res. 

I might have been on one of the Raw settings and a small ROI

So, my new planetary camera arrived today, ZWO ASI462 MC.

 As the weather currently leaves a lot to be desired(overcast, dull and wet), I quickly set the scope up in the conservatory and pointed it over the Valley at some houses, I’m guessing approx. 1 mile away.

 FPS(Frames Per Second)

Got it up to over 400 FPS just messing around with a small ROI(Region of Interest) – 15 secs mental for 6000 pics.

Test Shots

So I pointed it at some houses and fired off 6000 frames at pretty much 400FPS.

Just quickly stacked them and quick clean in PS etc.

Conclusion

Really impressed with the initial tests! Just need the weather to play ball.

Blimey, that is a great picture.

Unfortunately, lots of cloud, wind and rain here in the UK.

Nice pictures.

I better not spend anything else for the minute, but a reducer would come in handy or do I look at create mosaic.

And as you say the post processing makes a big difference.

On 14/10/2020 at 14:04, Adam J said:

I think your colour balance is shifted towards the green and needs addressing. But you can clearly see that the 533 is pulling in much more signal. 

Adam

Adam

I think you are 100% right.

Cheers

1 hour ago, symmetal said:

Not bad at all for the first try with the camera. 🙂

Alan

Cheers!

So, probably not the best, first outing last night with the ASI533 MC Pro.

M33 (NGC598) Trianglum Galaxy (Fig01)
2.73 million light years from Earth.

22 x 3min Exposures, 101 Gain.

Bortle 6.

M31 Andromeda Galaxy (Fig02).
Testing the new camera - 2nd night.
ASI533MC Pro, WO Z61 360mm FL, AZ-GTI.
Gain 101, 37 X 2 min Exp.
Bortle 6 sky.

Fig01

Fig02

6 hours ago, Tiab said:

Just bought the same. Went a step further than you since the 183 was already in the mail when I decided to go for the 533.

Now they are both on the way I have time to think of  

A ) Additional lies for the wife

B ) Which one of these will automatically enable me to get hubblesque images from my 6" Ritchey-chretien 

I've spent all of my money which I've heard is the key to success

 

 

 

Hide the knives as well 😉  blimey you are brave, I do also have a ASI462MC Pro on order, no more spending for me then for a minute.

I think you are correct, can be an expensive hobby.