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I'm using an HEM27 (no encoders) with a RASA 8 mounted no counterweights, tripod mounted (braced surveyors tripod) camera asi2600MC Duo so guiding at 400mm subs are usually < 0.8" on good nights circa 0.5" using 1 - 1.5 second guide exposures with no filters. Narrow band filters require longer guide subs of 2 - 2.5 seconds but still around 0.8" guiding. I do balance the dec carefully and avoid using a dew shield if possible. I keep the tripod legs as low as possible and locked out once levelled.

Same with HEM27...

Superb. Simply Superb!

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/starizona/starizona-rasa-8-filter-holder-for-larger-sensors.html FLO it seems do a filter holder for the RASA that fits the 2600MC.... At present I'm happy having the two set-ups. this is my second RASA 8, I regreted selling the first the second it went out the door.

I have an 8 inch RASA and have just acquired an Askar 120 APO with 0.8x reducer flattener. I capture with an ASI 2600MC Duo on both the FoV of the RASA is larger (3.36° x 2.25° v 2.00° x 1.34°). Personally I've had no problems with collimation with the RASA. Your biggest problem with the RASA will be fitting filters and retaining image registration if you have to remove the camera to fit a filter. There are filter drawer units for cameras with 6.5mm back focus (asi533MC) the 2600MC has a 17.5mm back focus there are filter slip-in units which means you retain image registration. Not sure where you would find them in the UK. I have the 120 APO permanently mounted in a obsy the RASA I now use as a mobile scope so I can get the most photons in the shortest time available. Note: your FoV with the RASA is fixed. With the 120 APO you have the 1x and 0.8x options...

IC434 image added. 3x 300s subs details as IC 443 above. IC434 was the scopes First light image.

This is a quickie just to get the feel of things. Askar 120 APO with 0.8x reducer, mounted on iOptron CEM 60. Camera ASI 2600 MC Duo. Manual focusing. Guided subs 3x 300s. Filter: Askar HaOIII 6nm dual band (D1) This was grabbed between cloud cover and one of the frame has suffered from cloud ingress. Processing in PI only NO RC BXT. Stars and background processed separately, RC Noise reduction has been used.

Thanks all, I’d already ordered a direct replacement from FLO, as I’ve doctored my ZWO one that came with the duo which seems to be working well tonight (between clouds)!

@symmetal thanks Alan, I’ve just got an Askar 120 APO and want to use my 2600 duo with it and that means using the 54mm mountings. That also means taking the 48mm fittings off the scope which adds 18mm to the 55mm back focal distance (73mm) now. With my current extension tubes and filter holder I need to turn 1.4mm off the length of one extension tube that will then incorporate the extra back focus needed. 73.6mm. Camera bf 17.5mm + filter drawer 20mm + 21 + 16.5 extension tubes = 75 I need 73.6 = 1.4 mm. I’ve ordered an extra 16.5mm extension tube £19 rather than pay £190 for the variable bf adjuster Askar are selling…

I'm guessing add circa 1/3rd the filter thickness to the back focal distance so 55mm becomes: 55.66mm ?

Check you have the right ASCOM version installed too. The commander software is different too!

Rotate it 45° anti clockwise might help Olly (or twist your head t'other way!)

Hi Don, yes it’s a regulated 5 amp power supply. I’ve been using it with various Astro gear for a number of years.

@Tomatobro Probably around 130mm at closest to one wrap, circa 300mm to the other. @StevieDvd Both straps set at 30%

@Budgie1 @Elp @bosun21 Thanks guys. Firstly they're 12v dew heaters (short wrap round for a 50mm finder and 60mm frac) but as they're pluged into the AIR + and I can't connect to the A + surely they can't be connected ? My AIR + has a reset button which I did try last night but at the time didn't seem to make any difference. I have tried again to duplicate the things this morning but everything connected and worked like clockwork so I still have no real clue as to what caused the connection failure. I've been using the AIR + for a few months now and that's the first time I've had any sort of issue with it. There was one other issue after I'd got things working when doing a PA where the mount just stopped on the west side and refused to go back to it's home/zero position from the AIR. I had to send it there via the mounts handset. Ask the mount to seek it's zero position and save it before the AIR would do the PA. I'm hoping it's not going to be one of those annoying little glitches that doesn't seem to have a cause and works in some random routine to catch me out...

Had a problem last night. Air+ connected via battery pack (charged) to mount, cameras etc but I couldn’t get a Wi-Fi connection. I could get everyone for what seemed like miles around but not the Air + next to me. Switched to mains power to ensure full 5 amps available still no connection. As I started disconnecting first the dew heaters the connection became live and I was able to carry on. I didn’t try reconnecting the dew heaters just in case I lost connection again. Does anyone know if this is a known problem with the air + ?

Playing with some short exposures on M42 with the rasa 8. No filters, full moon and took 24x 5 second subs. It was a night I was just trying out a new mount (HEM27) and just sending it here there and anywhere and just decided to stop and take a few subs...

Hi Rodd, superb imaging great imagination and processing but what object is it please. Sorry my big gripe when images are put up without some ‘common’ I D.

The 8 inch RASA is probably the largest kit I’ll use tripod based with the ‘27, at least that’s my thinking at the moment. I need to get a short losmandy plate to mount my 80mm f6 refractor on which will probably be the main grab-n-go set-up. I don’t want to get involved with counterweights, the RASA set-up is easy to Dec balance as the guide scope/air+ assembly is on a lockable slide on the RASA’s top rail. If I have the 585 mounted I can slide the assembly forward compared to when I have the 2600 Duo mounted on the RASA. So at present I’m getting a new routine sorted for setup. once I have all the bits in place and stored together as ‘a kit’ things will go much quicker. Spent a good deal of time taking cables from different kits for the test run. As the ASIAIR Plus is the common factor I’ll keep all the cables with the air regardless of which scope/camera option I decide to use. Hopefully then the muttering will become a little less frequent…

Tried the HEM27 out last night: Full Moon, no filters, IC434 (Horsie) not the best subject with no filters under a full moon! Mount control via ASIAIR Plus. RASA 8 mounted with an ASI 585MC camera fitted, guiding with a 9x 50 guide scope. PA taken into AIR+'s the smallest circle ? then straight to IC434 centred on the chip with minor framing alteration. Focus adjusted and 20x 30 second 'Live' frames stacked. I moved on to M45, then M42 and a couple of other targets moving each side of the meridien framing on chip each time with minor adjustments. Pleased with this first test of the mount under stars (shame about old blobby). Although it didn't actually perform a flip on the same target I did take it each side and it found what it was asked for. As a precaution I kept the max slew rate down a notch at x512 as I 'm tripod mounted but it all handled well so next time out I'll change the settings and let it slew at max. IC434 image attached. Colours are a bit washed out from the full moon. Processed in PI.

Tried the HEM27 out last night: Full Moon, no filters, IC434 (Horsie) not the best subject with no filters under a full moon! Mount control via ASIAIR Plus. RASA 8 mounted with an ASI 585MC camera fitted, guiding with a 9x 50 guide scope. PA taken into AIR+'s the smallest circle ? then straight to IC434 centred on the chip with minor framing alteration. Focus adjusted and 20x 30 second 'Live' frames stacked. I moved on to M45, then M42 and a couple of other targets moving each side of the meridien framing on chip each time with minor adjustments. Pleased with this first test of the mount under stars (shame about old blobby). Although it didn't actually perform a flip on the same target I did take it each side and it found what it was asked for. As a precaution I kept the max slew rate down a notch at x512 as I 'm tripod mounted but it all handled well so next time out I'll change the settings and let it slew at max. IC434 image attached. Colours are a bit washed out from the full moon. Processed in PI.

My HEM27 has now arrived. It works well with my ASIAIR Plus or with my laptop and NINA. Just a quick test run at present but no real snags to contend with. I just have to remember it uses a different commander software to my CEM60.

My HEM27 has arrived. I’ve had some fun today making an adapter for the top of my tripod to take it. Weathers closed in so I’ve just been setting up my laptop and NINA with its drivers, my ASIAIR Plus’s too now recognises it. Bit of a fiddle changing the saddle over to take losmandy plates. It now doesn’t go back in it’s case without removing the saddle clamp screw. Aim to get the rasa on it tomorrow and drive it around a little indoors.