Lastsplash

Hi Geoff no I haven’t fitted the motors yet. This is the next job. I have an onset kit still in the box waiting to be fitted hopefully this should help

Sorry forgot to say I did 1 second exposures

Hi Thanks for all the advice - this has been great. I agree - a EQ5 would make my life a lot easier - the EQ3-2 came with the scope so I am seeing what I can do before upgrading - it will be my next step. I have not had chance to fit the onstep motors yet but did take advice and took shorter exposures to reduce drag and stacked in deepspace stacker. It did help and the motors may improve it even more. Once again thanks for this great advice and I will save for a better mount. See attached for last nights try Orion 2.TIF

Wow thanks for the responses it gives me a lot to think about and try. I may fit the onset motors and see if it helps. the weights I added did not make much difference which seemed strange. Also I found balancing was easier when the clutch wasn’t on is this normal? I found that moving the counterweights when the clutch was on did not change the movement. Will tightening up the worm gear help or hinder? once I have the motors fitted I will report back. I agree my life would have been a little bit easier if I got a better mount I think this will be the next step once again thanks again

Hi all I have been using a eq3-2 with a skywatcher 150p for around 6 months now for planetary shots - using a canon 450d (videoing and then stacking) and I am pleased with the results. I find the balancing of the scope difficult when the camera is attached and I think that is due to its weight and pushing the limits of the EQ3-2. I find that I cannot get the image to stay completely still - I try to balance with the weights but it either goes one way or another on the RA axis - the dec seems fine. I have tried a few things including strapping a weight to the opposite side of the camera and having the camera up or in the down position. It does move quite slowly but as you can see from the image of Orion (2 seconds) I do get star drag. I have purchases an onset motor kit, but have not fitted it yet. From your experience would this resolve the movement or do I need to get better at balancing the scope and then move onto the motors?

Ideal thanks for everyones help - the EQ3 is not the pro version. What I am thinking then is to get an EQ5 to reduce wobble and movement and then look at upgrading the telescope when I get a little further. Thanks again

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, the amount of equipment available can be quite daunting. If I could ask one more question. Would it be of benefit to upgrade my existing mount. I have difficulties balancing when my dslr is attached. The celestron mount is a little wobbly would upgrading to an eq3 or eq5 make much difference?

Hi all i have been getting into this great hobbie and a few months ago I got a Celestron 130eq. I bought this second hand and did a few repairs to the gears and it has served me well. I have done some photography of planets which I am happy about but would like to have a better view of deep space objects. I have been looking at a skywatcher star travel 120. With this being a refractor would it be better suited for the task. It will be on an eq3 mount. I have the opportunity to purchase one second hand. does anybody have a view on. Whether this would be a good plan? thanks in advance