Springles

Started imaging April 2023 with an ASI224 on a C8 (wow, that was difficult to find anything with!). Since then I've added more equipment (including a reducer and an ASI533 camera). The Bubble Nebula was taken on the 7th of August from Edinburgh, UK. Celestron C8 with a 0.63x reducer, on an AZ-EQ6 Pro mount, ASI 533MC Pro with Antlia Triband filter and guided (PHD2) using an Askar OAG with ASI 174MM Mini. 13x 900s Lights (Gain 100, Temp -10C), 50 Flats, 10 Darks (not sure I needed those with the 533, but it hasn't hurt), 50 Dark Flats and 50 Bias. Taken with SharpCap and Processed in APP and Photoshop.

Another M101. Just starting to learn and couldn't resist taking a look at the SN! This was all I could get in the field of view without a reducer and with the 224. C8 SCT, ASI224 on an AZ-EQ6. Unguided. 243x29s exposures (about as long as I can get without having to throw away too many). Taken in SharpCap and stacked in APP. Tweaked (not very well) in Photoshop. 50 bias, 50 dark, 50 flat, 243 (more or less!) usable lights. Had to crop off a small amount on the edges due to the stacking artefacts (it moved a lot in the field of view over the few hours of imaging). Dave

Just on the off chance that someone looks for the same answer in future: Farpoint finally got back to me and said the thread required is 1/2 inch with 13tpi (same as the ADM weights, so they should all work together).

Hi, Does anyone happen to know whether these counterweights (https://farpointastro.com/products/farpoint-extra-3-pound-counterweight?_pos=4&_sid=7bb2dfdee&_ss=r) will fit on the threaded ADM counterweight rods (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-counterweight-kits/adm-stainless-steel-threaded-rod-3-inch-length.html)? I believe the ADM rods are 1/2 an inch diameter, but I can't find anywhere what size the Farpoint weights' threaded holes are (Farpoint haven't replied to my questions, so far). I'm trying to balance a very tail-heavy C8 SCT and I'd like to figure out if there's a cheaper solution than the ADM counterweights (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-counterweight-kits/spare_adm_counterweights-2.html). Thanks, Dave

M81 and M65, taken on the 20th of April 2023. Still figuring out the whole setup (mucked up the alignment so was pretty pleased to even find these!). Live stacked in SharpCap (29s exposure, can't remember how many exposures for each) and tweaked a bit in Photoshop. Totally out of focus and I screwed up the colour balance, but I was pretty excited to actually image anything! Celestron C8, ASI224MC (probably had the UV/IR cut filter attached at the time), AZ-EQ6 mount (EQ mode). It's great to see examples of improvement like @Astrocarms M31 images above. It's very encouraging!

Thanks Nigel. Dave

That's great to know, I'll get them ordered! Thanks Roy. Dave

Hello, I was wondering if anyone with a TAL-1 can tell me what the outer tube diameter is? I've a TAL-1 sat in my parents' loft (several hundred miles away) and was wondering if these Skywatcher mounting rings (https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/20412.html) would allow me to attach the tube to a modern mount. Does anyone know this, or have easy access to a TAL-1 and is willing to check? Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to provide! Dave