bomberbaz

On 20/08/2022 at 14:43, F15Rules said:

It was optically a nice eyepiece..but with even a short Barlow, at the highest 5mm setting, the combined stack was around 8" long!😱

Dave

to be fair dave that wouldn't be far in front of a baader zoom and 2x focal extender

23 minutes ago, herne said:

 

I’ve no doubt the WO wedge is a great piece of kit.  Personally I’ve never had any issues with the SW one (4 mins to PA last night thanks to me accidentally knocking the tripod and I’ve previously taken 10 mins subs) and so see no need to change 👍.

I get that, had I not been having tracking issues I doubt I would have swapped.

TBF  as it turns out the issue appears to have been more electronic rather than mechanical, but at the time of purchase I had been unable to verify this. Damn tracking 🤬

10 hours ago, herne said:

Quite possibly yes.  For myself and the results I get I see no need to swap out my SW wedge for the WO one 👍.

I have both wedges, the WO version is vastly superiour IMHO. 

Now I have got the hang of it I can align it very quickly but more importantly,  it feels far more steady once aligned than it did with the SW version. 

11 hours ago, CKP said:

How do I check if the mount is on daylight saving? I use the app on my phone (galaxy s9) and my phone is on automatic time settings. When I put it in manual mode it is gmt + 01:00 british summer time.

The connection between the mount and tripod is solid, I will try using a real spirit level on the tripod to compare it with the built in bubble.

At the point where the legs join the tripod to mount connection, this is where your free movement is likely to be.  There are two hex bolts either side of the joint which probably need a good tightening. 

7 hours ago, Yubnub said:

using the included tripod. the flex is all in the mount components. the interface between mount and tripod is rock solid. 

Sorry I disagree. I have the skywatcheer tripod Sky-Watcher Tripod for Star Adventurer | First Light Optics which is advertised with the mount. I also have the extension pillar. The mount > pillar > tripod connection is solid, however there is a big amount of movement from the legs to tripod joint as these easily work loose through constant use. As mentioned above I re-tightened mine with a hex key and now leave it fully set up to avoid it loosening itself again.

3 hours ago, johnturley said:

Was that by any chance with 'Night Skies Tenerife', we are going to Tenerife next month, and thinking of booking a tour with them. 

Last time we booked a tour with 'Vulcano Teide' which should have included a trip to the Solar Observatory on Tenerife, but they let us down badly, we waited over an hour for a coach that didn't turn up. When I subsequently contacted them, they said that they had cancelled due to bad weather (just sent an email (which I didn't receive), informing me of the cancellation, no attempt to contact me by phone, or the hotel we were staying at). They supposedly cancelled due to bad weather, but we doubted this as couldn't see any problems with the weather on the day. In addition while waiting for their non-existent coach, one for 'Teide by Night' (operated by a different company) pulled up at the same pick up point. Suspect that they had just cancelled due to insufficient numbers to make it viable for them.

John

Honestly cannot remember and cannot find anything about it on our holiday pictures. It does sound familiar but that isn't saying I am right. 

I have checked their website and none of the tours look familiar either however things change. A quick look at all available tours seems to point to a lot of them doing the meal thing, might be a recent collaboration between island entrepreneurs. 

They (NST) look like a good outfit though.

we got a guided tour by what I presume was a astro society of some description. They had half decent gear of I think an 8" dob, 4" frac and they were taking some pictures to show people too. It wasn't cheap, think about 60 euros or maybe more PP but it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

1 thing, whatever you decide on wrap up well. It was blooming freezing up there.

38 minutes ago, Louis D said:

You can see how my two traditional zooms stack up against fixed focal length eyepieces in various images in this post of mine:

If you open up the individual images in a separate tab, you'll be able to examine the full resolution images in detail after expanding them.  Honestly, the zooms hold up at least as well as Plossls, if not better.  They're certainly better than the various Kellners, MA, RKE, and 25mm Ortho eyepieces in those images.

The SW Zoom spanks most of the other eyepieces, but it should for the original price I paid (about $400 in today's currency).  It's more of a varifocal, though, in that it is not at all parfocal.

That's one heck of a post and a lot of great data.  You can read all the retail blurb you like but nothing stacks up better than good research and user reports. 

47 minutes ago, AstroNebulee said:

Haha yes, in ps I can get the same colours, doing it this way I can send straight to starnett and leaves no artifacts behind. 

Lee

Could you send me your current process workflow up to starnett Lee, I am still getting starnett artefacts and wonder if I am going wrong somewhere.

cheers pal

Just now, AstroNebulee said:

Thank you Steve, that is so kind of you to say, it was an absolute pig  to process, I just couldn't get it how I liked and just got infuriated with how it was looking, tried processing it 8 or 9 times over and over. So stepped away, then came back to it and got it to this in the end. 

Cheers 

Lee 

 

I note you have started using Siril. How you finding it and what you using it for.

I really do find it helps with my processing to run it through Siril before I do anything manually.

16 minutes ago, AstroNebulee said:

Finally added my extra data and processed. 

Lee

 

Very nice work Lee, very nice indeed. That is one you should be having framed and put up on your wall it's that good. 

4 hours ago, Yubnub said:

Hi, AZ GTi owners and experts.

Sorry to interrupt this discussion with a basic question but I have been using this mount with a Skymax 127 and have been slightly underwhelmed with the Go-To accuracy after alignment and the subsequent tracking of objects.

I am using it with a TalentCell as recommended on here.

Have checked my auto location Lat/Long with google maps and its very accurate. Once aligned by using Altair and Arcturus, using Go-To to find Saturn, it only just puts it in the eyepiece (the included 25mm) and needs further adjustment to centre. Is this acceptable?  

Leaving it to track sees Saturn disappear from the field of view after only 4/5mins

Can I ask; do I need to adjust my set up method or just my expectations? 

I have noticed the spirit level bubble in the mount doesn't match the tripod bubble at all!

I have also noticed a decent amount of flex in the mount (housing flexes in all vertical directions around the mount to tripod base plate) which lets the mount sag towards the telescope.

 

Thanks everyone 

Just checked your alignment stars, they are a touch close being around 5 hours apart.   A key to alignment is try to have your stars inbetween 30-45 degrees elevation and ideally 12 hours apart, E & W being best. This for a start does help tracking accuracy a little and improves finding accuracy loads. Arcturus is slightly low, so try Izar just above it if your can see it (Arcturus would still work ok if not)  and also use Caph in Cassiopeia or Scheat in Pegasus. Caph is probably easier to find though.  Finally, use an high powered eyepiece once you have centred each star which is out of focus as this helps make sure the star is centred.  You can use a zoom if you have one but best of all is a illuminated reticle eyepiece as this ensures you are well  centred on your chosen eyepiece.  Sounds a lot to get a good alignment but it's a simple process once you get used to it and all the above really does set your stall out for the rest of the night. 

You say Saturn disappears from the FOV after a few minutes, if this is at high magnification then it does happen without tracking, mine does the same during solar although it lasts longer than 5 minutes however it is at a lower magnification of around 60. Make sure your power pack (which I am unfamiliar with) is fully charged. (Just checked online and it looks good quality)

Try to get it as level as possible, this also helps accuracy. Use a cheap spirit level instead of the in built bubble jobs and finally if your tripod is this - Sky-Watcher Tripod for Star Adventurer | First Light Optics then they are not the best.  I got a hex key and tightened mine right up and now I leave the tripod permanently set up as setting it up and down again cause the bolts to constantly loosen.

1 hour ago, Louis D said:

Here's a brief review of the Orion on CN.

thanks Louis, I started reading that before but accidentally closed the page. I read it right through this time and found the review which was quite revealing.

Seems to me it is a good step up from the budget zooms from the likes of SW, OVL etc and possibly at the level of Baader which I already own.

If I do decide to buy one I shall run a shoot out between my celestron (Solar) zoom, the baader and this one. Could be a fun exercise. 

Hello all.

I might be in the market for (another) zoom and I was looking at this offering from StellaLyra.

Now apart from it looks different to other zooms in the market and the Lanthanum glass sales pitch, I am wondering if it so different to others in the market from the likes of SW/Celestron/Baader etc

I have looked but can't find anything that refers directly to the eyepiece.

So has anyone got one as a personal review/overview would be helpful.

cheers

steve

Good idea Steve, could do to find out what my up to date size is. I shall give this method a try.

8 hours ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

I certainly "third" it !!! There is an underlining traditional theory that purists insist on an HEQ5 as "an absolute minimum" set up for astro photography . In reality , as this thread proves , and indeed for people using other AZ goto mounts photographing the planets and stars is very much achievable , with top results from our smaller rigs . 

Stu

inline with the rest of you on this. I have often seen people say in the getting started with imaging section that the mount is where you should sink all your money, I think this is clearly not the case but depending on your overall ambitions this definitely needs a lot of consideration.

If like me your happy with a 50mm (ish) OTA as your main scope in a wider field configuration and expects it to remain so, then I see no real reason to go to huge expense of big heavy duty mounts, the AZ Gti should be on your shortlist. If however your expecting to upgrade to a 200PDS or similar then it's another thing entirely.

On 10/08/2022 at 21:48, Priesters said:

Barnard’s E (142)?

Should have updated on this, sorry for late reply. It  is actually the Tarazed dark nebula. 

1 hour ago, Don Pensack said:

List of H-ß targets.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/477453-h-beta-filter-is-it-any-good/?p=6232667

Thanks Don, much obliged.

4 hours ago, scarp15 said:

I asked my optician if he could measure mine, but he didn't quite seem to understand what I was getting at 🤔, don't think he had the right equipment anyhow and certainly don't that my exit pupil particularly age related is that great.  

A target that benefitted from it however (41mm Panoptic / 14" dob), popped out with quite immense clarity (when fully dark adapted). This being the California Nebula that when culminating, added yet more value to scrutiny. Also the very faint veil that is Barnard's Loop.  Out of curiosity last time out (which was a good while ago), I tried the 41 Pan without the Paracorr attached, to which I haven't even reckoned on the exit pupil (over 8mm) and it was still responsive. 

Nice topic by the way, like Shane, I hadn't been involved in much astro for quite some time, due to all manner of things, so nice to re-engage. Thing is with amateur astronomy, once hooked it never lets go, too much out there to explore. 

Horsehead BTW typically as mentioned, around 4mm to 5mm exit pupil with a moderate sized scope, these things can be fussy. 

I bagged the nag recently using a 4.9mm exit pupil, an astronomik HB filter coupled with my 14" dob. Wasn't a brilliant thing to see but it was bagged.

My intention, when conditions allow is to look for a number of dimmer DSO emission nebula objects and find which EP size my eye responds to best for both OIII and HB.  I expect OIII to be slightly smaller as typically they are brighter, Jones Emberson 1 would be a good target as would or pelican. For HB I am wanting diffuse objects and thinking california or the Cocoon.  Thing is with HB objects, like the cocoon, is a lot of them also emit in the oxygen bands too and to get the best test you really want a pure HB emission nebula like california and HH.  (Just remembered SH2-235 in Auriga as another HB object)

Anyway, when I do manage my comparison test I shall report back on my findings.

17 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

Yes. The book is basically loads of linked essays grouped into chapters. Being Tyson he wanders through theoretical astrophysics, to the potentialities of alien life, science education, religion and everything in between.

found it on amazon, think I will give it a go, cheers

11 minutes ago, maw lod qan said:

How do you expect a weather service predict something 10 days out when ours can't get landfall right for a hurricane that is 1 day from the coast? 🤣

haha yes I know that's very optimistic of me and somewhat arbitrary but that was what my BBC weather forecast said yesterday, today it is forecasting tomorrow night as a maybe clear 🤣

9 minutes ago, ScouseSpaceCadet said:

To be honest I'm not much of a tinker. Kit stays away until I need to use it or something new arrives... During weather downtime there's plenty of other stuff to do, however my favourite toilet reading is an astro related book. I've just finished Death by Black Hole by Neil de Grasse Tyson and started On The Moon by Patrick Moore.

Sounds interesting, was it a good read?

Well that is what I heard will be the length of time before we next experience clear skies again, 10 days!  

Yes we have experienced far longer in the past and the last (very hot) clear spell didn't really fall at the best lunar period but astronomy wise I made very good use of the latest clear patch.

What will I do you ask? I am going to tinker with my AZ Gti mount to tighten up RA slop and have a general tidy up of all my visual kit. SWMBO has reminded me a few times (as she does) that there are bits all over the place. TBF I have to agree.

Your turn!

2 hours ago, scarp15 said:

With the H-B filter and under dark transparent skies (of course), I have effectively applied this filter at 7.73mm exit pupil (45x mag). 

That's an exceptionally large exit pupil Iain.  I don't doubt mine won't dilate that far but I can guess it would work very well indeed.  Personally my largest EP size I go to is 5.8mm although my optician measured it to 6.1mm under near dark conditions.

cracking image that, lots of lovely detail and great control of your stars