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Hi, I've just added a ZWO EAF focus motor unit to my set-up. Although I've jogged the focuser back-n-forth and found a 'focus' with ASIAIR, I haven't been able to find a how-to or do a calibration of the EAF focus motor. I'd like to know the extent of it's 'numerical travel' rather than just the position it focus' in after being attached to the focuser and switched on/connected. Other focusers I've had give a calibration routine to take the focuser fully one way set either a max or zero point run the motor in the opposite direction and set the opposing point. The awkward thing here is that I've fitted it to a rasa so visually there is no movement of the focuser to know when a min or max position have been reached. Using: ASIAIR V2.1.1(10.74) Any help greatly appreciated.

Splendid imaging Gorann.

Waiting for my HEM27 to arrive that 10-15 days seems to have been there a long time FLO… Any further set-up hints/tips guys while I wait for the postie…

@DrStrange Thank you. A wedge. Necessary to get the length of sub frames.

Ordered an HEM27 from FLO. Will update and a review in due course.

I know that feeling. But for me a result like that was back as a teenager in the 60’s after holding a film camera to an ep and getting my first moon shots. I’m still doing it, you get hooked…

I've come to the decision to sell my AZ-GTi in the New Year along with my home made eq mounting. It's been great for the 80mm scope I've been using it with but I'm looking to get a longer and heavier scope and I think that will just be pushing things a little too far. Definitely retaining the 80mm that's a great little scope but my next scope up is my 10 inch f4 newt and that is way too big for the GTi. No I'm after something in the 115 / 120 frac range. I've had an Altair Wave Series 115 and like all things you sell you wish you hadn't. https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/408199-diy-pantilt-tripod-head-for-my-az-gti/ So keep an eye on the classifieds in the new year... NOW IN CLASSIFIEDS

Decided to get the HEM27. Hoping one of the shows in the new year will offer a discount on one but given the cost of getting there it’s probably cheaper to just order online anyway. Here’s hoping 🤞 Santa 🎅 makes you all happy this year!

@Elp and @knobby many thanks for the link and the notes on the HEM27. I currently use the ASIAIR Plus's PA routine to align my AZ-GTi so would be more than happy to carry on in that mode. My thoughts just went along the lines of will I use the mount without the AA+ in which case the iPolar would be useful... Jury out on that ATM. Thanks

Hi, I've been dithering for a while now about changing my grab-n-go mount for something that will take more weight, will operate via an ASIAIR Plus and last for 3-4 hours on something like the smaller Celestron battery pack. Originally I considered the HEM15 and the AM3 (I've seen the iOptron video of the mount swinging an 8 inch ScT around) but I don't like running a mount at it's maximum therefore I've since been thinking that possibly the HEM27(A) would give me more than enough grunt to handle my 8 inch RASA which would be the largest scope I'd look to use for grab-n-go. The AM5 is too expensive although it is getting good reviews? I currently use an AZ-GTi on a Surveyors tripod as my grab-n-go kit with an 80mm f6 triplet (1x & 0.8x red/flat) and either an ASI585 or ASI 2600MC Duo cameras, ASIAIR Plus, EAF and 9x 50 guidescope +120mm camera. If there are users here of the HEM 27 how are you finding the mount. I've read some reviews which seem mixed on CN but I'd like to hear from users this side of the pond preferably. Many thanks

Hi Lee, I use an ASI585 MC uncooled camera normally with the 80mm (Altair f6 Ascent triplet + 0.8 Red/Flat) I sometime use an ASI2600 Duo for big FoV's. Dither I think is set for 5 pixels every third sub, but I need to check that. It's just it seemed to do its dithering in one direction? Image with the ASI2600Duo + 80mm+0.8 red. on the AZ-GTi

Short break in the clouds last night so out with the AZ-GTi with my 80mm frac mounted. Control via ASIAIR Plus and captured letting it live stack 30 second subs. 1st was of NGC281 with 24 subs collected. 2nd was part of the Califoria nubula (NGC1499) with 63 subs collected. These were transferred to my desktop PC via usb stick and processed in PI. Really pleased as it is a quick and easy mount to set-up. Provided you take it back to its 'home' position after a PA alignment goto's are very close and ASIAIR alignment completes the job. I need to cut down on the dither movement as it's ended up needing a good crop on the California neb image after 63 subs. Hope you like

Treated myself to a new Celestron battery pack to replace my old motorcycle lead acid battery which has really had it's day. Set-up went as normal so no problems with the battery and I just left it chugging away while I went and did the washing up! (one has to be practical to get brownie points). Scope used was an Altair 80mm triplet with 0.8x reducer fitted and an ASI 585 uncooled camera. The AZ-GTi was controlled via an ASIAIR Plus. No filter other than a UV/IR cut filter (Baader) the moon had risen but still quite low and was about ¾ illuminated. I used 30s live view stacking via the ASIAIR Plus. I used GraXpert to remove the moon gradient and PI to stack and the remaining processing. Main stars have blown out but it's the surrounding nebulosity of M45 that's the main feature. Hope you like.

AZ-GTi service video

It’s likely to be a wire catching in the spur gear from the ra motor it’s about the only thing moving at that speed in the mount. The mount is east to maintain, there are numerous videos . Definitely a good idea to change the grease to a lithium based paste/grease. theres a video by astrobloke that’s very good

I’ve just got an ASI2600DUO. It would only work with the supplied red cable not any other usb 3.# cable whether connected to my ASIAIR or my laptop. My 585 not a problem…

Your eyepieces should be fine. The 10 inch will obviously allow you to 'see' fainter DSO's but it really depends on what your daughter (& you) want to observe and whether the extra physical weight and dimensions of the 10 inch will be a burden once the initial Christmas effect wears off...

A couple of weeks ago we had a few nights with strong northern lights in the UK but at home each night I was clouded out. I had to go out one evening following one such display and was driving back through rural countryside and decided to stop as it was clear and see if there was any sign of the 'lights' that night. I pulled off the road, got out of the car and walked a short distance from the car and looked up. Realising I was looking too far west I swivelled round towards north only to find myself flat on the ground completely disorientated... I go out at home and there are familiar trees and building outlines forming part of the view (dark against the polluted skies) but out in that rural setting not giving myself any time to settle in I don't think my head could take all the darkness in ?

Probably helpful if you say it's an 11" RASA you're mounting onto....

I've just copied his photo's into Photoshop. Firstly they have both been illuminated from different directions which is misleading. The one showing what is supposedly scratches appears when magnified to be nothing more than back illuminated finger marks or reflections, the more contrasting lighting making them appear to be surface marks.

That’s sanding dust and probably too fine unless a really coarse graded abrasive is used.

First imaging test with the filter drawer 15x 240s filter: Baader UV/IR cut. Parts still to be black anodised, star images are good right to the corners. This has been cropped a little for composition but pleased with things so far.

Great result. Something to build on rather than it all going wrong and first light being a disaster. I had an MN190 many years ago. It's a good scope and your result proves it. Look forward to more results from that combination in the future.

Blackboard paint mixed with sawdust… it doesn’t have to be dead black just kill reflections