nephilim

I'm looking for some advice on planetary imaging. I'm slowly building up my AP set up (just saving for the last few pieces) but in the meantime i'm looking at trying some lunar/ planetary imaging. I've just bought the Evoguide 50ED & ZWO ASI 120MM-S camera as my guiding setup but would like to try it out with the Moon/ Planets (and get used to using everything before I start with DSO imaging) I'm looking at getting the above Barlow/ Extender but unsure which version would work best, either the 3x or 5x. Firstly, would this work well in the first place for planets (Saturn/ Jupiter) & secondly would the 5x be too much for UK skies. Tia Steve

Wow, I see you haven't lost your touch & it shows that the 350D is still a very good camera. those are some cracking landscape shots. I love diffraction spikes on stars & was torn between buying a reflector or refractor, in the end ive decided on a refractor mainly due to the size/ weight. As for my camera choice, im not going for filters as I dont have the time to be collecting data from several channels plus theres the added expense & yet more to learn. I'm looking at the ZWO ASI 533MC-Pro OSC, it has zero amp glow & I like the idea of a cooled camera to keep noise down, plus its a perfect match to the frac i'm looking at getting pixel wise. It's going to be a month or so until I have the money & I might change my mind back to a DSLR by then, I seem to be constantly chopping & changing my mind. I wasnt going to start guiding for a while to keep costs down but after reading about how much longer your exposures can be I just thought 'in for a penny in for £1000'😂 I'm glad you also have nice dark skies as it'll make a massive difference, especially when it comes to processing. I know very little on that side of things so i've bought Steve Richards latest book 'Dark Art or Magic Bullet' & at first glance it looks a very good guide. I'm very much looking forward to it all this time around having learned a lot from last time (although i've probably also forgotten a lot), it'll be good seeing how we both progress. For once im actually looking forward to the Moon making an appearance so I can finally get my first shot . Btw, I ended up getting rid of my salt water aquarium due to time constraints & a relationship breakup, there wern't many places for rent that would accommodate a 7ft fish tank 😂 (the break up was very amicable & we're still good friends plus been single affords me far more time to dedicate to AP😃) I ended up giving my fish away to a public aquarium that I know very well, I let them take them for nothing as I preferred knowing they were going somewhere that knew how to look after them rather than sell them to a random buyer not knowing their setup/ knowledge etc.

The 1200D should be a lot easier to work with, its a shame about the 350D as you had some cracking images from it last time around. I've just bought my guiding setup (I've never guided before so thats another thing to learn) i'll be using the Skywatcher Evoguide 50ED & ZWO ASI 120mm-S which was fairly expensive but the quality is amazing. I've finally got a proper GOTO mount as well this time around, the Explore Scientific EXOS-2 PMC-Eight GOTO Mount plus a dedicated laptop for AP, theLIFePO4 power tank for portable power & a few other bits & pieces. The main imaging scope & camera are next on the list so I should hopefully be up & running by around January. While I wait for those i'll be able to do some widefield, lunar & planetary (with a 3x Barlow) imaging using the guiding kit which will also help with learning how everything works (theres a hell of a lot to learn). My problem last time was I was to quick to rush at everything which is why I made mistakes. This time around i'm taking my time, even if it takes another 6 months before I get a half decent image I think it will be worth it. I hope it all goes well for you 🙂 I think the guidescope is a little bit dwarfed by the mount in the photo but at least it'll be nice & stable for lunar imaging 😂 Ive also moved house in the last couple of weeks to a place that has absolutely no light pollution & wide open, unobstructed views N/ NW at the back with a good patio to set up on, we had a clear night 2 nights ago (typical 🙄) & i've never seen the Milky Way so clearly🙂

Hi mate, I didn't realise you were using a Nikon (That shouldnt be a problem though). This is where i'll be getting mine from https://www.firstlightoptics.com/optolong-filters/optolong-dual-band-l-extreme-filter.html If you haven't used them already I highly recommend them, i've been using them for years & they've never let me down. I'd email them & explain your using an unmodified Nikon & ask which filter you'll need (i'm sure its the 2" clip in) Ive been buying quite a few bits over the last couple of months & asking a fair few questions & they've always answered by the next day. Have you thought about getting your camera modded? I know that a lot of places that mod cameras dont do Nikon as they cant shoot a true RAW image ( something to do with them still running dust & scratches filters when the camera is 'supposed' to be in RAW mode) Ive started 'following you' on here (not like a stalker though 😂) so its easier to keep in touch. Its good to be in contact with someone at a similar stage to me although you've actually started taking photos 😃 Ive still got to save for the main scope & camera but now i've got the guiding gear ( Skywatcher Evoguide 50ED & ZWO ASI 120MM-S) I can do a bit of lunar imagining with Sharpcap & if I get a 3x Powermate i'll be able to do a bit of planetary, that way I can start getting used to using all the apps. I'll be using NINA as my main capture software (Framing, focus, platesolving & image sequencing etc) which ive never used before. I'm also using ASCOM for the first time (to control my mount, camera etc) so ive no doubt i'll be spending a fair bit of time banging my head against a wall as its guaranteed nothing will work first time around 😬😂 Let me know how you get on regarding the filter, you could always ask on here as well.

As you know, I'm also coming back to AP after a long break & cant believe how many new pieces of software are now available. After using BYEOS last time around, I'm also going to be using N.I.N.A as it just seems to have everything all in one place. I've decided to finally buy a dedicated camera (ZWO ASI 533Mc Pro) as although its going to be hard at the start trying to learn how to use it on top of everything else I've to learn and also to re-learn, I've realised the benefits will be massive in the long run. As for the 350D, I've noticed that its not supported with quite a few things now. There's no list in NINA stating which are/ are not compatible as they say this changes all the time due to the program constantly developing, but I cant see them adding the 350D due to the age of it (I could be wrong) I'd seriously think about getting a newer model as they can be picked up very cheaply nowadays & it'll make your life so much easier than trying to muddle through with the 350D. Steve

Lynx 4 port Dew Controllor, I see FLO have changed their 'weather warning' sticker 😂

Nice one, i'd be pleased with those images. I'm pretty lucky that I live in the middle of nowhere & have no light pollution whatsoever. I will be getting the Optolong L-eXtreme Dual Band Narrowband Filter though. Its one of the best LP filters on the market & cuts out 100% of all unnatural light plus moonlight (It always seems to be totally clear when the moons out which is typical) It only lets in Ha & Olll & has a very narrow bandpass of 7nm. Its bloody expensive though at £239 for the 2"dedicated camera version (its the same price for the clip in DSLR one as well) but I think its more than worth it for the extra nights imaging you'll get from using it. Good idea saying the camera will be good for the conjunction 😂😂 My ex used to give me loads of grief for buying gear, she'd have a meltdown if we were still together now, getting the right gear for AP has cost me just over £1900 in the last 2 months & i've nearly another 3K that needs spending before i'm up & running so its a pretty good job i'm single now 😃 This hobby is far from cheap. I'm also into mountain biking so i'm pretty much skint all the time 😂

I think it's worth a shot while I wait for the proper imaging frac, chuck a 3x Barlow in there & & with theb ZWO 120MM it'll be a good little lunar/ planetary imager setup 😁

@Lockie put me into his thread so I felt it only right to add my little frac. Evoguide 50ED arrived today as part of my guide system. I think it's a little overmounted just on its own 😂

I was the same mate. I'd been interested in astronomy since I was a kid but back then scopes were way out of my price range. I kept the interest but only bought my first scope around 9yrs ago (Skywatcher 130m) when I saw how much prices had dropped. I then joined SGL (thats when I started headlong down that slippery slope 😂) & ended up buying the HQ5/ 200p & THEN decided I wanted to get into AP, at the time I couldn't afford kit that would be ideal for it so made do with what I had (You can do AP with it but its just so much harder to get anything half decent as your always fighting with the size of the scope & the limited tracking ability with the mount & added motors) I had some success with Jupiter, Saturn & the Moon (I modified an Xbox camera I bought off ebay for £4, removed the lens filter & bodged together an adapter to fit the scope 😂) but even that was harder than it should be) But its DSO's & star clusters that i'm really interested in imaging. In the end a mixture of not enough time, too much faffing about & crappy uk weather put me off entirely & I gave it all up. Now, 4yrs later i'm able to buy the sort of kit I should have bought last time around. I've been buying a couple of things every month (I hate using credit cards so ive just saved up) & all thats left to get is the main scope which will be next month (WO GT81 IV Triplet) & the main camera (ZWO ASI 533MC-Pro) in January. After that I know ive a massive learning curve ahead of me but at least i'll have the proper kit which'll make it not quite as difficult as last time, but not far off 😬 Steve

Whoops, that was from a few years ago (I thought i'd deleted that). I'm using a Explore Scientific EXOS-2 PMC-Eight GOTO Mount now & about to buy a WO GT81 IV APO Triplet. I tried AP with my last set up (200p/ EQ5) but it was near on impossible, so this time around i'm buying the kit I should have bought last time. I was using an Xbox cam for planetary at the time & that worked ok as a cheap option.

I've just bought the ZWO ASI 120MM to use as a guide camera, a mono camera is much more sensitive than a colour camera so it's easier to pick up a guide star.

More additions to my up coming AP set up Skywatcher Evoguide 50ED. ZWO ASI 120MM (The USB 3.0 version) planetary camera to be used as my guide camera. Steve Richards Astro processing guidebook Celestron LiFePO4 (13.2Ah) Powertank to run everything. The Evoguide & camera seem very good quality. Super fast and efficient service from FLO as usual, very happy.

I feel there's a big connection when it comes to AP. I find it amazing that these photons of light set off travelling from their source X amount of years ago, have spent all those years travelling quite literally at the speed of light from so far away, to end up hitting the sensor in my camera to produce the image on the screen. I find it quite humbling tbh. Sreve

Upgrading a Dobsonian style scope to one that tracks will be difficult with a dob base. Have a look at this thread. You really need a GEM mount for that. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/562874-dobsonian-tracking-systems/

Really nice set up Chris, I bet your really pleased with it. Looking forward to how it all finally works once electrics etc are installed.

Thank you for replying Vlaiv, these are 2 considerations & obviously both make sense. I've a couple of months for research before buying so still a lot to look into. I'll also have a look at the TS 🙂

As part of my upcoming AP setup I'm looking at buying a Triplet & so far I've narrowed it down to either the Sky-Watcher Esprit 80 ED Pro or WO GT 81 lV. Both these scopes are a similar price. The Skywatcher is slightly faster @F5 (WO F5.9) & a slightly shorter FL @400 (WO 478). The Skywatcher comes with a finder & star diagnol which are of no interest to me, 'extras don't figure into my decision as I'm only interested in the scope itself. I don't know why but I'm thinking the WO will be better quality although there's nothing wrong with Skywatcher as a make. Both will be checked & tuned by Es Reid. Does anyone have any experience with either or both of these? Obviously I'd be interested in other makes with similar specifications. Although I had originally decided on a DSLR, I'm becoming more drawn towards a dedicated camera (at the moment, as I keep changing my mind as I read up on all these things......Too many choices 😂). The 2 cameras I'm looking at are the ZWO ASI 533MC Pro & the ZWO ASI 294MC Pro. Tia Steve

Thanks mate, I was surprised at how cheap refurbished laptops are,

Thanks for the reply. I agree, the more I look into it the more I'm thinking a DSLR will be the best option for now . Ive seen a fair amount of images & videos about having it modified (appreciate this means it can't be used for daytime photography) so I think that's the way I'll go. I'm very familiar with DSLR's & have used one for AP before but my lack of decent equipment let me down Plus I also like the idea of using a DSLR /lens for wide field. Cheers Steve

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I understand what your saying there & agree it is a lot to take on, especially with our weather here in the uk, I don't want to be wasting hours faffing around too much. I'll be using N.I.N.A for framing, focus, plate solving & capture etc (this is another thing to learn), I used Back yard Eos last time around but N.I.N.A seems to have the lot in one place. I'm drawn to the CCD for a few reasons, better quality images, the low temp meaning far less noise to deal with, so potentially longer subs. But the added things that can go wrong plus much more to learn are putting me off (I would be looking at OSC rather than mono with filters as I just don't think I'll have enough clear sky time to be getting data for all channels) I won't be buying until around end December beginning of January so I've a fair bit of time for more research 🙂

As the title suggests, I'm after a bit of advice regarding a suitable camera. I'm in the process of buying my first proper AP set up. I tried this several years ago but my budget was small & the gear/ my knowledge at the time was not up to the job. This time I have a bit more cash & deciding whether to buy a decent DSLR or a dedicated camera. I fully appreciate how steep the learning curve is regarding AP so I'm half thinking to go with a DSLR as I'm familiar with these, or do I just go straight to a CCD (which I'll buy in the end anyway) My budget isn't massive (by any means) when it comes to a CCD & with around £1200 to spend does anyone have any recommendations? The scope I'll be using with this will be the WO GT81 IV Apo Triplet. Thanks Steve

Thank you and the same to you 🙂

I've been living in Penrith for the last 8 yrs & the new place is only about 20mins away. It's seems it the middle of nowhere but is very convenient for town etc & the back garden faces away from any skyglow from Penrith. Your right about clouds over here, that's the downside to living near mountains but when it is clear, the skies are amazing.

The North Pennines, on the border with the Lake District NP & Yorkshire Dales NP, it's perfect.