knobby

Thanks Icesheet ! Very promising looking guided performance ... Shame that's the EC version though 😞 I'm waiting for some more stats on the base model.

Really not your fault Steve ... Even my wife struggles to understand me sometimes 🤣 Can't wait to see some real user feedback on the mount though . Apparently Ioptron have found a way to have PEC ?

Cheers Steve, that's what I was saying in my dodgy Essex boy English ... The HEM27 is in stock at FLO but not in stock without the Ipolar 🙂

The HEM27 is in stock on FLO website ... But not without ipolar.

🤞🏻

+1 for Siril, definitely worth persevering 👍🏻 Processed my Monkey head with it (it's on this thread somewhere)

I think ioptron do something similar Iguider ?

What mount Ian ?

Also, can't find one in stock ...

Have you read down to tis post https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/668785-adjusting-backlash-on-skywatcher-az-gti-mount/?p=10388057 Talks about removing the screw if it breaks ...

Cheers Lee, I must get round to weighing my current kit (similar to yours) ... I've posted on here before but never thought of trying planetary with it.

Amazing thread ... very long but very useful. Can I ask what the heaviest scope you've used on your AZ-Gti ? Thinking of trying some planetary with mine @elp perked my interest in another thread 🙂 I'm in EQ mode with counterweights.

Mmmm food for thought 🙂

Cheers Louis, yes I'm leaning towards a bit more saving up ( plenty of time as the harmonic mounts aren't readily available yet ) and choosing between the ZWO and the Ioptron, with maybe a used Mak for planets. Cheers David, It's more the mount weight that causes me issues, I can lift a scope up to around 10 kg easily enough, it's the mount that is awkward to handle. The Tak looks a stunning scope but way out of my price range 🙂

The C8 edge was a bit of a sacrificial lamb to help fund a lighter mount, honestly the edge isn't really needed for planetary as the planet is tiny and generally in the middle of field so it was sold with the intention of replacing it after the mount had been decided. Yes, I really like the specs of the GEM28, just a bit warey of the poor reviews and perceived quality control issues Thanks for all the replies 👍🏻

Forgiven 😀 The AZ-Gti will only carry 5 kg ... The scopes I'm looking at are both around 9

Hi all, due to an ageing body (mainly back) I'm in the process of planning a lighter rig. I've been using my AZ-Gti for a few years now but miss the ability to do any planetary imaging with it. I've sold my HEQ5 and C8 Edge as I just can't set it up without suffering the next day or 3 😞 I'm toying with getting a 180 Mak on an Ioptron HEM27, or a ZWO AM5 if or when they prove themself. Other options would be an Ioptron GEM28, still very light but would handle a large Mak well enough for planetary imaging. I've seen some bad reviews on the GEM28 so my gut feeling is to wait for a while. Budget around £2700 plus whatever I can get for the AZ-Gti so I'm probably looking at a used Mak or maybe even C925 SCT. All suggestions welcomed 🙂

I'm in no rush as I'm using the AZ-Gti currently but the planets and the money put aside are telling me otherwise 🙂

I can't wait to see some of these being used ! I'm resizing to lighter kit due to the old back getting creaky ...

For a second I thought it was going to topple over !

Just watching this ... looks very interesting.

Nice, what equipment did you use ? I had a first time white light dabble around the same time yesterday, when I was using wavelets I wasn't sure if I was seeing surface granulation or it was noise 😀 SW 72ED / ZWO 1600mm / DIY baader film / ZWO 7nm Ha filter. Approx 50 frames stacked from 200

Hard to tell on my phone but the streak appears to be in the same direction across the frame ? What exposure length was this ? Could it be tracking ?

That's sweet guiding 👍🏻

Cheers Ivo, excellent software ... well worth the money.