Robny

What region is this? North American Nebula?

Setup Platesolving in APT, you can then use an image from your previous night to platesolve and you'll be bang on target. Pointcraft is Platesolving, but it just needs to be setup first, the APT documentation describes how to do this quite well. Rob

Maybe have a look into plate solving rather than doing star alignment. Much quicker and accurate.

As Dave said above. Its my understanding that APT will just slowly reduce power to the cooler, until the cooler is basically off. At which point, unless your camera has an heater, you're at the mercy of the ambient temperature to continue warming the camera...you may be waiting a while. I normally warm mine after an imaging run, once it gets well into positive figures then I just shut it down and pack up, at which point the risk of thermal shock is no longer apparent (I hope) Rob

Hi All Does anyone know of a good resource for tutorials that walks you through N.I.N.A, I tried it a little while back and couldn't get on with it. I want to try it again. Rob

I have the GT71 which has the same awkward focus lock screw, I habe put my scope on risers to get balance which helps to clear the focus lock. Rob

Try not to overthink the process too much... So long as the mount is levelled, the polar scope is aligned (centred in the housing) and your time, date and location is correct in the app you are good to go. You need to rotate your DEC axis so you can see through the polar scope, then to make it a little easier rotate the RA axis so 12:00 is at the top of the polar scope. You can get this by aligning Polaris onto the cross hairs in the centre of the scope then using the altitude bolts, place Polaris directly above centre where 12 would be then, then rotate RA until 12 is sitting on top of Polaris. Once this is done, look at your app and using the altitude and azimuth bolts place the star in the polar scope in the same position to match the app, then you're done. You can use the setting circles (I never have), but it is quite convoluted in my opinion...However, it would be a good skill to learn in case you are out with no signal and cannot use the app. But the above should get you going, this was my method until I started using Sharpcap PRO to polar align - GAME CHANGER Hope this makes sense? Good Luck Rob

Yes...this is normal for a Newtonian Reflector, the spikes are caused by the spider veins that hold your secondary mirror in place

One step closer to going remote...this will allow me to use my desktop in the house rather than having the laptop outside. USB over Cat5e up to 50m, works a treat under initial testing...very happy

Hi from not too far away, no stupid questions...I ask them all the time haha

Thanks for all rthe feedback, I think in mt own mind and from the feesback I have been given AND despite my recent post in the other thread I'm edging towarda OSC and possibly the duo banf filter. I know people say OSC is no faster, but I just can't get my head around that. I underatand its more sensitive, but image gathering is just one aspect. The cost is a factor for me, although I can stretch to more I don't particularly want to. As far as my aspirations go...I love seeing what is there, I have no preference to any subject. I would like to photograph what I fancy at that time "easily". My reasoning may be confused but it feels rite to me that I go for Altair Hypercam 183c Pro Tec Cooled. Maybe when I retire and kids have gone I will reconsider, but I think for me now...that is the rite choice Thanks - just gotta wait for PAS now

Thanks for that Adam....interesting and it helps a lot. Just one last thing, you mention at the end you have lots of light pollution, me too. So when shooting LLLRGB could a light pollution be used also screwed directly into the imagining train? Thanks Rob

.....also, with my imaging train with any of these cameras, does it make a difference if I go for 1.25 or 2" filters, what am I sacrificing by going for the smaller filters?

Thank you for the feedback guys, definitely food for thought. Especially the duo band filter, will have a closer look at that, pity it has to be used with OSC, if there was a version of that filter that could be used with a mono camera that would be AWESOME! So by the sounds and feel of it I am edging towards the 183 sensor, I really want the mono but the only thing that puts me off is the additional imaging time required, it feels I have so little time as it is, especially waiting for the stars to align (pun), with weather, work, children etc the imaging time is very precious. Just don't want to regret what I buy especially at this value. Thanks for the heads up regarding the cheaper ZWO filters, will stay away from them.... Hmmm Edit: - If it makes a difference I am in Bortle 8 skies

Hi All I'm upgrading from a DSLR, I have come up with three possibilities - however one of them is just outside of my budget. The kit will be used on an HEQ5 Pro with a mounted William Optics GT71, so weight at the stage doesn't really play a role. I like the practicality of the OSC, as I don't have lots of time so I like the idea of getting a full colour image from an limited imaging run, with this I would use the IDAS D2 LP filter. However I am still a little concerned with LP in my area and the corner shop has just installed some "lovely" LED lights on the outside of his shop shining on a white sign board. However despite using the IDAS D2 filter I'm still a little concerned with LP and feel that Mono NB would be better, but is it worth the extra expense and time it takes to finalise a nice colour image. I have been going back and forth for "ages" and cannot deide which is rite for me, but now I need to make a decission before PAS. Here are the links to the cameras and my scope and also an excel screen shot of my workings out. Any input advice would be awesome and greartly appreciated.: https://www.altairastro.com/Altair-Hypercam-183C-PRO-TEC-COOLED-Camera.html https://www.altairastro.com/Altair-Hypercam-183M-Mono-PRO-TEC-COOLED-Camera.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-cameras/zwo-asi1600mm-pro-usb-3-mono-camera-efw8-125-lrgb-filters-125-ha-sii-oiii-filters-bundle.html The next link is a link to me scope: https://williamoptics.com/gt71-71mm-f-5-9-apo-refractor#additional ...and finally this is costing summary of what I would purchase What re peoples thoughts and advice? Many Thanks Rob

Thought I would join in Here is mine