michael8554

Hi Steve If you want to look at images almost "live" on a monitor, I think you need a sensitive VIdeo Camera rather than a DSLR Have a browse through the vuideo imaging section here on SGL Michael

Hi Steve Hard to describe this, but the moon is a very bright object, so can cause reflections on the various optical surfaces, visible on the black background. This will also be happening during the day, but there's no black background to see them against. A neutral density moon filter might help. And Knighty's point about the diagonal is also as likely. Michael

For my 450D, I've lightly counter-drilled one of the marks made by the microfocuser clamp screws on the 2" nosepiece. One for each orientation. Even in the dark you can feel when the screw has popped into the depression. May not be precisely lined up with RA, but it's a very repeatable setup. Michael

i've seen your filter thread size quoted, but also 1.125" x 42TPI But doesn't help you find your adapter I'm afraid. Michael

Sandy, he said it was going to be remote operated, so why not use the Polaris to put the Obs into orbit? Simples Michael PS Tim could use it while he's up there...

I assume the item you have is a "SCT Visual Back". If you had one of these or similar: http://www.bluefireball.com/product-p/c-07.htm You could make a hole in your new backplate that the male thread on this item would just pass through from behind. Then when you screw on the female-threaded SCT Visual Back from the other side of the backplate, it will hold the two together against the backplate. You might have to shorten the male threaded part if the female part runs out of thread before it tightens, or make the backplate thick enough. I guess there is enough focus range on the scope? Michael

For me, life wouldn't be worth living without a Telrad AND a 9x60 RA finder Michael

Does the cable work? If yes, I wouldn't worry what the unplugged state is. I would worry if TXD was, say, 12V Michael

At a guess I'd say you're getting 4.98V data back from the mount on RXD, but the chip you have bought is only putting out 3.5V data to the mount on TXD. According to the EQMod website, the EQ6Pro, HEQ5 type mounts will only work with 5V, the AZ-EQ6GT and EQ8 mounts have a 5V tolerant 3.3V signaling interface. Michael

I watched this youtube today by a PHD2 developer: Its 90 mins long but from it I gleaned: Try Guiding Assistant in Tools menu. This turns off the drives, but PHD2 carries on showing star movements, so will show you what the RA drive is doing, and Trendline will show how good your PA is. Guiding Assistant offers settings for Min Mo after each run, but I found it would alternate between the new and old settings, so not helpful in my case. RA above or below the line - this is due to under-correcting, it's not keeping up with errors. Shorter exposure time, more Agression, less Hys, less Min Mo, are the settings to play with. Balance slightly heavy so that the backlash is taken up. ASCOM should be better than ST4. Michael

Your RA Osc figure of 0.01 is very low. I don't have the PHD2 instructions to hand, but I seem to remember it should be about 0.5. Above or below that required an adjustment to one of the settings, sorry can't remember which. Michael

As I understand it, compared to the old Meade SCT's, the ACF is already "coma corrected", so the standard Meade, Celestron etc F6.3 focal reducers are not suitable and will only worsen the images. So ab6110 is asking for a FR only without coma correction, there are a couple of brands who make special reducers for the ACF. Michael

Looks very interesting My Meade LX F6.3 + Canon 1000D gives 1.1 arcsec/pixel. I see your taster is working at 21.98. What sort of range does PPA work over? Michael