SmokeyJoe

+1 for this please

1st night out with 1st scope, pointed it at the brightest light in the sky and there was saturn in all its splendour, spent hours at the eyepiece that night. Never forget it. Watching the various encounters of the voyager probes when I was growing up wowed me for most of my teens. The images of Pluto. Still spend lose myself in them. What really makes me think though is the fact that I can hop on the Internet and look at photos taken on Mars, thousands of them, I can watch the sunset on another planet...... Mind blown.

I feel your pain. I believe the Romans called Britain 'The Misty Isle' things haven't improved much!

I got a second hand 450D for £80 from mpd about a year ago , does me fine. It has live view. Just keep an eye on the shutter count

Well done Dave, been looking for that for ages!

Worry about your mount before your scope, especially if you are looking at AP. EQ6 or better is the minimum I would recommend. Then you need to decide if you want to do planetary or deep sky AP. Different equipment needed for each. Maybe look at a star adventure mount for your cameras first. Not used one myself but they seem popular and produce good reults. It will allow you to do some exploring of the hobby without a huge layout. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-star-adventurer.html

+1 for the EQ6. I currently use an Ed80 frac plus Camera etc on an EQ 5 and it's not capable of any more than 2 min subs, 3 if I'm really lucky.

I ran my Eq5 through my Asiair Pro for a few nights (before I came across the info about not doing it) seemed OK but I'm limited to 2 - 3 min subs until I get a better mount.

Hi Adrian, dew heaters are no problem (you can control them from the ap). But some where in my extensive research into the asiair Pro I'm sure I read something about NOT powering mounts from the unit because they couldn't guarantee a smooth supply. Here is the addy of the zwo/asiair Pro forum if you want to do some digging. https://bbs.astronomy-imaging-camera.com/

First clear night for ages. Set up before dark, polar aligned, focused just after dark. Left it till just before ten in the hopes of reducing light pollution. Went outside horrible Norfolk fog, can't see any stars, can only just see my scope, kit soaking. Living in the UK is just not compatible with AP. Grrrrrr. 😡

Maybe if we all agree not to buy any kit for the next month we might get some clear skies (sorry FLO).

The screws on the EQ5 are famously bad, I managed to completely mangle my mount by adjusting with a 8 inch newt on it. Don't know if it is the same for the HEQ5. Bob's knobs do replacements made out of decent quality steel. http://www.bobsknobs.com/

Hi Ade, The Asiair Pro certainly integrates with all versions of sky safari (even the free one). When using the Asiair to PA or slew to a target it plate solves via the main camera. I don't know if it can do this via the guide cam I suppose it might work if you connected the guide cam as if it where your main camera. Sorry I can't be of more help. There is an asiair Pro Facebook group and a forum here https://bbs.astronomy-imaging-camera.com/t/asiair?sort=top Maybe they might be able to help.

I'm afraid live stacking is exactly that, the camera stacks pictures over many minutes, as far as I know you are not going to get instant images no matter where you are or what equipment you have. However the better the equipment the fewer images you will need to stack. I'm currently using a Dslr with my Asiair and no guiding it takes a few 2-3 min exposures to start building a decent image. I don't have experience using the asiair with a dedicated astro cam so I cannot give an opinion on haw good the 1224mc would be. Maybe someone in the EEVA community can suggest a better option.

From FLO website : Supplied with a 150-degree wide lens so you don't even need a telescope to start imaging the stars! Note: It is possible to screw the 150-degree accessory lens in too far resulting in a scratched optical window! Please adjust focus slowly and don't focus beyond infinity.

I'm sure somebody will be along soon to give you a definate answer, but I believe it is an all sky lens, for use without a scope.

There are loads of light pads listed on amazon. Will a 10 quid one do for flats or am I better off with a more expensive one?

Thanks all for the useful info. Found what I was looking for buried in the depths of the Zwo forum. Tp link WR902-AC.

Hi can anybody recommend a WiFi extender to use with an asiair Pro. I'm sure I came across a recommendation at some point in the last month or two but can't find it now.

How about something like this. I have not used one myself but have head good things about them. It sits on a garden table so the is no expensive mount (tripod). No expensive or complicated electronics, just point it at what you want to see. A little maintenance will be required now and again but nothing beyond an interested intelligent 14 year old. https://www.highpointscientific.com/sky-watcher-heritage-130-tabletop-dobsonian-s11705

Thanks all, just trying to find the easiest, cheapest upgrade path. Don't really want to buy kit that isn't going to be of use in the long term but I guess I should have learned by now that 2 birds with 1 stone doesn't really work in astronomy. 120mc it is then.

I am led to believe that the 120mm is better for guiding, also looking to buy a mono camera to replace my dslr eventually

I am slowly improving my rig and will eventually like to replace my Dslr with a decent mono astro camera, complete with filter wheel and filters. The next step is to aquire a guide cam, a Zwo Asi120 mm mini is my preferred option at the moment (it has to be a Zwo because I am using an asiair Pro). As a secondary use I would like to do some planetary AP using my sw200p newt. Can I get a set of filters that I can use for planetary AP using the 120mm mini that will also be useable with a mono astro cam (eg asi 1600mm) for dsos in the future.

The only way I know of (and I know very little) is to use a Zwo Asiair Pro or possibly an Primaluca lab eagle. I love my Asiair and now wouldn't be without it but it does restrict you to Zwo camera's although you can use a Dslr for imaging. Does a lot more than guiding, PA, runs the imaging session, controls a Zwo filter wheel or auto focuser, plate solves and all through your phone or tablet.

This is the address of the official Zwo asi studio forum. https://bbs.astronomy-imaging-camera.com/viewforum.php?f=30&sid=d26a2444ca1e90e4b99573679260f97b