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I’ve updated now but using via an iPad. I’ve not had any problems since updating in fact I would say the PA and centring ops have been much better since the update. I’m driving an iOptron HEM27 mount with an 80mm f6 frac on top.

Thanks @TiffsAndAstro @tomato @Elp . Perhaps because my twin scopes are not perfectly aligned (and I doubt I'll ever get them to be perfectly pixel aligned) and my crops showed a slight rotation difference between the cameras, all of which I guess negated any need for dithering. Probably the slight rotation difference being the most effective.

I plan to make some mods to the platform this week to allow some tweaks to the alignment. I can then hopefully get that sorted during the moon's brighter phases and be ready for the next 'new moon' period!

Thanks for the comments - always welcome

Started out just after midnight intending a quick look round and found myself packing away at four fifteen because the sky was too bright to do anything else...

My first real play with my dual Askar 120 APO set-up each has an uncooled 585MC mounted with a 0.8x reducer/flattener, a filter drawer with an Astronomic L2 UVIR cut filter plus a motorised focuser. The pair are mounted on a single platform on an iOptron CEM60.

All images have been cropped a little as I still need to tweak the alignment of the OTA's slightly, no dithering was used as that has been a headache to sync between the two scopes. Omitting the dither and both run very well together.

I use two instances of NINA have one with a 20 second start delay and the other with a 5 second delay start one and when it gets down to 5 seconds start the second and I'm usually within a second of sync. Both instances are set up the same apart from the initial delays.

So.

M13 114x 60 second subs each was set to do 60 x 60 seconds but some frames discarded due to sat trails

M27 50x 120 second subs each set to 30x 120 sec

M20 20x 120 second subs used, more were taken but discarded as the sky levels were just too bright.

All processing undertaken in PI, RC Astro BXT, NXT and SXT routines were used BXT was 'correct only' for all images. Otherwise saturation and curves transform were the main tools used for colour correction. A mask was used when needed to control the background level and inverted to control the main subject. Images were then resized and saved.

Hope you like.

***link***

Imaged with my Askar 120 APO and ASI 585MC (uncooled) with a x1 flattener fitted and an Astronomic L2 UV/IR cut filter. Guider via a TS Optics 80mm guide scope and an ASI120MM guide cam. NINA used for capture. PHD2 for guiding.

M57: 24x 240 second subs (gain 252 with an offset of 25)

M64: 12x 240 S and 14x 120s (from March) gain and offset as above.

Processing in PI. Correct only with RC Astro software with noise reduction to finish off.

On 25/03/2024 at 11:29, vmh104 said:

I'm a little confused by the straight edge vignetting at the long borders. That must be caused by something else?

Very late reply sorry. As mentioned in the text above the Nikon itself is causing the vignettes all round due to the size of the opening. Later models have larger lens flanges I believe so this isn’t a problem.

I use NINA with the dual set-up. Running 2 instances the extra ram and multi cores should help. I was having a problem with downloads as one camera seemed to be being delayed while the first camera downloaded. See what happens once I get everything loaded and switch off the updates etc...

Okay all I've taken the plunge:

Beelink MINI S12: Intel N100 Quad-Core CPU, 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD, Dual 4K@60Hz HDMI, Windows 11 PRO

I was going round in circles from one model to the next trying to work out exactly what the differences were that warranted a fiver here or -£10 there I avoided DOS as it brought back memories of Commadore 64 days and tape machines...

17 minutes ago, Bivanus said:

I have a BeeLink and it does everything I want from him. I have no doubt a NUC can do the same. The only thing you must be aware is the voltage required to supply them , as it's not 12V rather 19V or 21V depending on the model. There are some older and a tad slower models that do run on 12V so it's a question of carefull selection.

My model is this : Amazon.com: Beelink SER5 Mini PC W11 Pro, AMD Ryzen 7 5800H(8C/16T up to 4.4 GHz),16GB DDR4 1TB NVME SSD Graphics 8 core 2000 MHz WiFi 6/BT5.2/DP+HDMI+Type-C Triple Display Mini Gaming PC Computer : Video Games

 

That model is probably a little OTT for me. There are some SER 5 units on *Bay atm which are just over my preferred budget tempted...

The Beelink and Remote Desktop sound a good option and I can use the current laptop for that task. I’ve always been dubious about electronics and *bay but will take a look…

11 minutes ago, Vroobel said:

The Mele 4C 16GB RAM and 512 GB SSD seems very good, Cuiv the Lazy Geek reviewed it. Amazon has a bargain now: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MeLE-J4125-Computer-Portable-Ethernet/dp/B09TKM8VGT/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=Jk602&content-id=amzn1.sym.f4bf6248-c25e-4846-ab32-07f8b3e1cc4d%3Aamzn1.symc.afd86303-4a72-4e34-8f6b-19828329e602&pf_rd_p=f4bf6248-c25e-4846-ab32-07f8b3e1cc4d&pf_rd_r=CCCNPE8M9DSCYZNGAW00&pd_rd_wg=k7dyo&pd_rd_r=e5c16519-1874-4b92-adcb-af857eab5508&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m

I'm not sure about it's powering. It works with USB C Power Distribution (PD), but I prefer just a simple 12V DC 5.5/2.1mm socket.

I would buy it, but have other priorities now.

 

 

Thanks - I'll go and find Cuiv's review. Only seems to have 3 USB ports and I'm not sure about the USB C powering....

16 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:

One question I have, does it have to be Windows, or could you go Linux etc.?  If so them that opens up a grater range from Raspberry Pi's (5), to Pine64 Rock64Pro etc. which give you a lot of bang for your pennies....

Hi Julian,

Ideally Yes. Pretty much all my software is windows based. Some I could download a Linux version of but that would be another learning curve I don't really want to climb.

I'm currently using a lappy in my obsy but only having 2 USB ports is making life a little awkward at times especially now I have a dual camera set-up running. Originally I've been running a USB 3 cable direct from camera to PC and everything else via a hub to the other PC port. I'd like to get more USB 3.# ports available if possible. Ideally I'd like to keep to a budget of around £200 with Windows  10/11 installed. Beelink seem to have offerings in that area, but there are obviously other brands/models that may be better ?

Not something I've really delved into before as an old laptop has always sufficed. Now with 2 imaging cameras and a guide cam plus all the other bits I think I need something with a little more 'capability'.

Cheers

Francis

Great stuff. Anything on a mono version of the 585?

Hi, This has worked really well, my only problem came with trying to use an older Baader filter that was too deep in the body but all the modern 2 inch filters I’ve tried fit okay.

Guiding I thought might present problems with NB filters (6nm) is my narrowest at present. Even then with the duo I have plenty of stars to guide with. At least I haven’t imaged anywhere that’s not given me guide stars. NB filters may need longer exposures for guiding that may be a problem with harmonic drive mounts. I have an iOptron HEM27 which is okay with 2 second guide subs but prefers under 1 second.

 I machined my filter holders in ali but they could be printed easily enough. 
 

Good luck with the build.

Clear skies 

Francis

1 minute ago, Horwig said:

Nice 5 minutes work. Can I take it the RASA was at play?

No. This was using my Askar 120 APO @ f7 with an ASI585MC uncooled camera

Another early morning M27.

Same set-up with much the same result...

I can't say what the Askar 120 APO's are like for visual use but I have 2 mounted as a dual set-up on my obsy mount and the optics (both 1x and the 0.8x) are superb with pin point stars right across the FoV.

+1 for the 585. I'm using the uncooled camera with my Askar 120-APO. Waiting to see if a mono version is in the pipeline...

M51  is a great target for the 585 plus lots of other galaxy's and smaller neb's.

Put me down as an opposit - photographer - visual is out for me. Tried it, got the tee shirt (didn't fit!)

What to do when you wake early! Well today I thought go for it it was gone 4 am but I managed to get the obsy open camera mounted and fired up, hoped the focus was good from the previous session as there was no time for an auto focus run. Set NINA for M27 hit slew and centre 20x 60s ... I got 5 mins before the sky got too bright.

Now its all packed away again, I've had a play with PI and it's still only half 6!

Breakfast calls....

Good session last night even with the first quarter moon high and bright.

I've stacked a mix of 120, 180 and 300 second subs total of (37) used with 6 having sat trails and being dumped.

Scope was my Askar 120 APO with an ASI 585 MC (uncooled) camera, Baader UVIR cut filter on an iOptron CEM 60 mount guided via PHD 2 and a TS 80mm guidescope piggy backed on the 120.

Processing was done in PI.

Hope you like

Yes working fine...

Yet it can still show 100% cloud cover with a starry sky forecast...

Dakota Starry Nights reviews on YT are quite in depth for these Dobs...