happy-kat

Oh I see, I'm assuming your tripod bolt still has a way to thread in, as a stop gap while identifying if the issue is with the extension thread or the tripod thread you could pad the gap with a washer or two to see if that is then firm fixing. (Just as temporary test/fix while identifying where issue is)

The star adventurer is an M8 thread you'll want an M8 to M12 adaptor, perhaps someone has a link to one to add to the post (az-gti hole you thread to is M12)

The extension needs a full size bolt UNC 3/8 to fit the extension thread, I don't know what size is on your tripod

Looking at satellite I'm cloudy but far west looks clear, hopefully it'll be captured by some

Hi

ISO your camera might peak at 1600 ISO anything above might be just too noisy.

Given your short exposures I would start with bright globular clusters, galaxies can be pretty dim.

Raw is raw the white balance is referenced when camera LCD viewing or to jpg when saved as far as I've read

Possibly lose the darks and bias with a Canon they can add noise. If you use SIRIL (free) for stacking you can play with a synthetic bias using the numeric 1028 (from memory I think this is the value) though you may find a different number works better for your camera specifically.

GIMP s free so would be an ideal place to start for post processing your DSS output.

you were fortunate it was clear (hardly any here) even if windy, perhaps when windy now you've seen your reject list % you could cut the individual exposure time further to see if that increases your keep rate, a kappa clipping algorithm can help round the stars a little, set your highest scoring frame as your reference.

It's just had a big update recently including the star datadase

I use it for platesolving mainly tied into sharpcap

edit: I also used it to try stacking a comet, liked how it scored my images very different approach

unfortunately the experience didn't go so well, tracking was pretty much none existent so first step as nothing to lose flashing the eq version and using in altaz, I will see how that goes before fishing around for the next resource to try as holding off for now opening it up as free movement is a bit tighter/stiff then I think it should be

the AZ3 tripod accessory tray mount worked great very stable

Checked the version on the mount, 3.36 (released Oct 21) so updated just now to 3.40 not EQ mode though as want to test it in az pure to start. Update went smoothly.

I'd like to see the percentage of recycled metal used in construction being part of product specification details going forward, especially as aluminium has such a high purity in re-meltdown I've read.

That's great, do you recall what your guiding was managing when you first got the mount before tinkering?

that's got the plough, is this an all sky camera in the making?

I missed you are in bortle 9, I don't have experience of that and goto, you don't need to see Polaris to setup, scope is horizontal but pointing north, magnetic north with compass would do. 1 star alignment will slew auto to star which helps if can't see anything then hopefully the 25mm will see more then by eye for picking out the alignment star and fine tune. If seeing stars is difficult I don't know but maybe a mount with star sense would be a different option though no experience of that. The mount tracks without goto use and has point and track too, app is on android and ios and windows can't recall if mac as well. Could check out stellarium to see where the main planets are for you now as not as prominent as late last year. If wearing glasses then I don't like less than 16mm eye relief but more is nicer. you might like this thread on the mount

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/383048-skywatcher-heritage-150p-virtuoso-gti-wifi-dobsonian-telescope

I've found the az-GTi wifi quite a weak signal, if I'm lucky there are two bars when used outside connecting some 20 feet away inside but it's weak and drops to one, currently using the synscan wifi dongle plugged in which gives full 3 bar connection from the same positions, I've tried all the channels and a bouncing one/two bar is the best achieved directly.

Hopefully the warming weather helps too

The rubber bands did hold a RDF but I use one star alignment (multiple times) with sharpcap plate solving now.

The mount slews slower then the virtuoso v1 and the clutches don't fully disengage but I'll sort that at a later date, but synscan didn't drop connection when using skysafari once though that might just be the latest app version.

For something different repurposed an az3 accessory tray, it already had 3 adjustable bolts, wobble free and very stable

In storage position not like this when in use, LHD mounted, the extension came with a nice shaped rubber washer

Within budget is the virtuoso 150p GTi, it's portable and at a height children can use (depending on age), place on a table or stool etc,

it's got freedom find, great with children as the mount can handle being nudged once aligned as it knows where it is

it's got goto, handy when wanting to share looking as can locate targets once aligned

it's got 6 inches of aperture, nice for visual

Attach a camera (ZWO astro camera can be controlled from a phone) and can have a go at EVAA with altaz tracking, see what others are managing with the same mount

An az-gti bundle might give more future change options where you'd have the mount just maybe swap the telescope later for a more imaging aligned one but it's surprising what you can start with.

The grab and place speed to observing sounds very appealing, when starting out I like the placement of the eyepiece at the bottom of a refractor as forgiving in just viewing where you're pointing

Have you got it right sided mounted for when in eq mode?

The mount looks odd as the weights look higher then the scope in the second picture

Nice to read your experience and enjoyment

it's on the no EQ DSO imaging thread, used in altaz mode

as there is foreground too in your image it would be worth a go to try stacking what you took using sequator, you can mark where the foreground/static objects are in that software

with DSS if there is a better frame with more round stars (probably have the highest score after registering) try marking that as the reference frame

if using 14mm lens then 15 seconds I would have thought might have been ok for little star trailing

Part of sorting the mount made a counter weight bar, the weight in the middle already had so got a M12 threaded bar and two wing nuts to go with it. I went for a 240 mm bar but I think I could have got away with 200mm as I'm staying light. Even though will be using in altaz mode wanted to balance the mount.

Hope you enjoy reviving your hobby, you might enjoy this thread too

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/387014-skywatcher-az-gti-mount-owners-thread/page/1