JimFR

Aha… think I’ve found the cause of the lock nut slipping… It’s in (maybe light) contact with the RA motor cover, which is causing it to drag and loosen.

Thanks, I’ll give it a go. I have had the mount nine years now, so it could just be that it’s getting on a bit…

Imaging M57 last night, I noticed some frames looked to have started nicely tracked then the stars and nebula all streak off in the same direction. It seems the locking nut between the RA drive shaft and the slow motion knob loosens after a bit. bit of a pain to have to keep an eye on that as well, but also because otherwise I was getting 1 min subs unguided! any ideas?

Just to chip in: the only daft question is the question never asked!

Job done!

I was going to say! I guess lenses don’t complain as much…

That’s really nice! I had intended to do something like that but had forgotten my K mount T-adaptor! I doubt the focuser on my old skyhawk 4.5” would’ve kept my DSLR up though...

My plan is to use the 9x50 as a guider too - managed to find an M12 webcam adaptor and have achieved pretty good focus with my trusty Philips SPC900 webcam. However, I’m struggling to find a way to connect a modded handset to PHD2 so will likely use the bigger brother of the ASI120mm, the ASI120mc-s (I already have the T thread adapter), and multipurpose it as a better planetary cam - probably retiring the webcam to its original purpose!

@newbie alert yes, 180mm is what I’ve seen too

These are really nice! I dug out my old Skyhawk, and took these at a Wolvo AS sesh this morning, via iPhone and crappy H20mm eyepiece, so not great:

That’s really nice!

Fabulous! Those are excellent - I have been looking at that camera, so that’s useful. Did you ever use a webcam with that scope?

Thanks! Yes I agree, things are looking up for planetary astrophotography (ahem). I was looking for alternatives to Registax, but it feels like most people use it even if only for the excellent wavelets part! I have used PIPP in the past, very useful.

Welcome to SGL! I’m jealous too - I saw astronomy on the exam timetable when I was doing mine, and wanted to do that one! Ine thing it won’t teach us that the best telescope is the one you’ll use most

I think it’s something called C3=0, I’ll look it up, it’s a little bit counter intuitive but by slowing it down you reduce the orbital period. Good result though!