knobby

Hi Gary, you'd have to define 'easy' For me I'd say a 150 dob, not too heavy, quick to set up and view. Is this just for viewing, back garden or take to a dark field etc ?

Post a pic of the saddle, we'll be able to see from that if it takes both.

PHD2 makes assumptions about your equipment, usually correct but not always due to manufacturing variances. And yes, you use the main scope length if using an oag.

Stuart uses an oag I believe. As suggested by Starflyer, try lowering step size.

Agreed, too far for me but I think it's a reasonable price. When I wangled a blipper to access a farmers land a few years back we paid £45/year but that was 4 years ago.

Aaaah, It depends how old the HEQ5 is ! But surely if it has a Vixen saddle, the CGE wont fit anyway ?

Pretty sure the HEQ5 has a dual saddle that takes Vixen and CGE ?

Not 100% sure but I know poor polar alignment can cause the non 90 degree appearance as can backlash.

If anyone has problems with connection issues on Win 11 or updated Win 10, Ioptron have released an updated Commander. https://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=337

@StuartTAre you using an off axis guider ? as your focal length in PHD2 looks about correct for a 150ED / Reducer. Focal length in PHD2 should be of the guide scope.

Actually, you're probably right, looking at It on a PC rather than a phone It looks like It has a very long focuser tube inside the ota. So in fact quite the opposite, It's very sturdy ?

That's a lot of strain on a focuser and unless it's very well made is begging for some tilt !

That's an interesting camera, had to google it ... It syas It's like a OSC and Mono all in one. The bayer matrix is apparently transparent to light over 850nm so in theory, for your sensor anyway, it shouldn't effect resolution. As you've realised, using the IR pass will cut down on the amount of light hitting the sensor therefore needing longer exposure times. How are you capturing ? your images look very nice on Flickr, maybe the Lunar pics could take more sharpening ?

Mine looks straighter, but yours is still doing the job well.

60 minute ?

Very nice 👍🏻

Slightly unusual looking bahtinov pattern but looks bang on in focus 👍🏻

Very nice 👍🏻

Hi Lee, nothing fancy but ASTAP has tilt graphics and Is free, for a little 60mm scope with a DSLR hanging off It, looks pretty sound.

You could try ASTAP, that has a Mac installer . https://www.hnsky.org/astap.htm

Very nice.

Also, check the flexible coupling is not over stretched, it works better when almost closed if that makes sense. If it's pulled open you'll get random uneven backlash.

The atom pro is rated at 25Ah, you need to check how many amps your equipment uses somehow.

Li-ion is usually 3.2v per cell so unless that thing is regulated in some way It's going to be pushing out approx 12.8 v, I'll admit that 2 kg is nice and light though 👍

It's not that hard If you have a few tools ... It's evolved a bit over the years, now has a 14 Ah for the mount / camera and a separate 12 Ah for the dew heaters.