neil phillips

I know i polar aligned recently with that mount. You have to slow down, and make sure its engaged before turning. Even then it still slips occasionally

I doubt it. its really just out of view trust me. setting it at 52.5 gets you in the ball park. but it can still be slightly too high or low. A small turn of the lever hardly registers on those scales

First try up and down before east or west. its most often too high or too low

It sure is. It gets easier with practice. don't tell anyone I sometimes physically tilt the whole mount to see if it is on the periphery It always is

Your problem i will wager is either declination isn't straight, Which cuts off the scope, or Polaris is just outside the field of view. I've polar aligned a 1000 times. And even i can sometimes play cat and mouse up down left right. When its just out of view. 80% of the time its up and down that needs adjusting. If the mount is facing the general direction of Polaris. Hence explaining that's the first port of call a mount can be in the home position. But Polaris can still be slightly out of view in the scope. The scope also should be checked for alignment. But didn't want to complicate this until you can see it in the scope

In the daytime test the polar scope on a far away object a building or roof or Ariel. Focus the polar scope so the far away object is sharp, that should at least determine your not grossly out. I also find it difficult to get under the polar scope. I have to raise the mount somewhat to make that easier. or i just can not do it. I don't turn the illuminated reticle on. when finding Polaris, it can make it difficult to see. first thing i do is try to eyeball the direction of the mount facing Polaris. just stand behind. look at the mount and where Polaris is, try to guess the direction of the mount facing Polaris. A compass is another option. Setting the mount elevation. will only get you close. Polaris could be slightly too high. or low in the scope. In which case first going up and then down with the levers to see if its just out of view. It could also be slightly out of view on the sides. East and west. As was mentioned earlier if there is no obstruction in the scope, Make sure declination is straight, as that can cut off the polar scope if it is not. the declination locking lever has to be straight behind or in front of the mount. If all this is ok. I am guessing polaris is just out of view either up down left or right. Also to find your feet try all this on a dark sky. no lunar full moon. or foggy night. you want polaris to be bright so it jumps out to you the first time

Its almost a mythical pursuit. But your observation and the way you describe it is actually tallying with Venus putting on a great show at the moment. Some color visible light images have shown cloud recently. So that coupled with the good conditions recently add a lot of weight to your report. From anyone doubting. I think its highly likely you are seeing cloud. So excellent stuff Nik. Its a rather special thing to be happening with any certainty. But i will wager you are seeing cloud on Venus. Amazing really

Superb result. Its just getting better and better. Cant get any better than this surely. Lovely fine wispy UV cloud. Amazing result

Its a great reminder isn't it. Summer Saturn (and Jupiter) for all

I'm certainly cuckoo. But strictly astronomy related Cheers

Sure is Michael. Jupiter and the best UK opposition for many many years is trailing not too far behind. Doubly sweet

Already tested. And i have the tower as a backup. I believe it was lappy related. Not camera. As soon as i tested this morning. The Dell was fine. 10 mins and i will be back in action. We hope lol.

Will be a challenge to get the Cassini at the front in UK skies when imaging. But larger optics and superb seeing will make it possible. But As you say visually it will generally appear on the tips, and going in. Great to see Saturn emerge. It heralds the beginning of a great planetary fest this year Cheers Nik

Much prefer them open. But still its interesting seeing the rings go through this change. cheers

Its going to rapidly improve. If the conditions allow the next 3 or 4 weeks i am expecting Cheers

Happens a lot here actually. Maybe a coastal thing.

Lol i wish she blew a bit harder. So she wasn't playing cloud hide and seek 🤣 Hope to get a reasonable one by the time jupiter is up. That's not long trailing behind.

Well sort of. Everything that could have gone wrong did. Cloud came in so managed 1 shot that i was pausing as cloud rolled over. unpausing in gaps It kept killing the histo. Despite high pressure, cloud causing seeing disturbance, was another consequence. Sharcap also decided to get stuck on 17 FPS. I needed to do a system restore. which luckily cured the problem. But it was too late to carry on. For the life of me i couldn't figure the cause. I suspect a driver corrupted. It wasn't USB TRAFFIC. Am i disappointed. Not really. Its early days. Long time members are probably aware its a bit of a tradition of mine to capture Saturn and Jupiter Low and early. Its usually quite bad and this is no exception. But for me it heralds the beginning of the outer planets season. So for that the ice is broken. hopefully this will be the worst capture i post this year

Much appreciated. Your a gentleman. Will have a read what Chris says, sounds interesting. Will think about that offer. Your very generous. But really should try and get a new permanent mono camera. The 462c is still very capable i think. So a more sensitive mono would be a good addition perhaps. Probably not a total replace cheers

Great capture. And congrats on the competition. Well deserved. Its usually a advantage i find to reduce gain somewhat if its excessively high. But this is a somewhat seeing dependent decision. It may not always produce the best result. The more you need a fast exposure to beat average seeing, and wind. ( with higher frame rate ) the less slowing the shutter down will benefit. So its a adjustable variable considered approach. Not a blind always follow those settings type approach. Under certain conditions your original approach could produce the better result. despite the extra problems with noise. Focusing can always be done with lower gain. But adjusted higher for capture. I think that's what i was trying to convey the most. One other thing i was trying to convey is, if possible try both approaches during the same session, that way you can tell which settings were, or are more optimal at any given moment. You get to see the effects of your decisions more readily. It improves your skill and understanding of these things during the same session not a week later. From that you can tell what you did or didn't do that worked better at any given session. Basically you start to become more in tune with your equipment, and location and variable seeing outcomes. Anyway at this stage your getting beyond advising. But you asked me to elaborate earlier. And i am trying to make sure i am not misunderstood. That helps no one. One thing i haven't really considered is how the camera behaves. Because i don't have one. You and Stuart will know more. If i can can get one i will at some point

Strange that i found the same distinction with the bresser 127l and a 80mm Meade i had. But 4 surfaces is another good point

I think the situation appears to be somewhat variable. But generally tolerances could be better with many of the lenses I've had my hands on. But to answer your question. Could it be attention to detail has been somewhat better with the mainstay of sales, namely Newtonians. With achro refractors being relegated to a sufficient level of performance type attitude. That many customers will just accept. It also creates a good distinction between that and the somewhat better ED lines. It is strange. when you see the reputation Mak cassegrains seem to garner Though. With a much more consistent reputation amongst armatures. Could it be there is little incentive or presumed need to improve the achro lines ?

Not so easy to figure good ones. As we would like. Agreed

All good points. I was wondering about double stars halfway through reading. But to up the anti throw in a 6 F8 and for double stars i will bet it will do well ( hypothetical of course ) As you didn't mention owning one Price still much cheaper

I only got the 495 after what Neil English was finding using one. Seems like you agree. I was surprised how much the elimination of out of focus blue light using it. Tightened up the image. But from what ive seen seen with numerous achromats over the years, under and over correction of mass produced Chinese lenses, can be quite damaging to there optical performance, If i ever get another achromat again (i sold 4 a while back) would likely be a f15 scopetech As i may enjoy trying that.. But EDs are coming down in price. So for not a lot more. might be a better proposition. But i come from a time where long white refractors. Just look so darn cool. Sucker for old school maybe ?