dark knight

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-cameras/zwo-asi-294mc-pro-usb-30-cooled-colour-camera.html

Can we please have a sticky for all the various threads we may come across, for example what does a t thread equate to, is it m48, m42 or some other thread, hopefully it may help someone other than just me when having to source compatible adapters.

Thanks for the help, duly noted Michael and i have done more research, it was the thought of having to get a custom adapter made that put me off the dedicated camera route due to the thread on the esprit 120ed flattener being m62 and would need to get it to m42 (i believe) for the zwo 294 cooled osc, however after looking into this i think i can use the dslr adapter (mine is a 2 part dslr adapter) which goes from m62 to m48 thread and just make up the rest with a m48 to m42 to camera to get correct back focus, hmm think that all makes sense

Ive thought about spending up to £1000 on a dedicated astro camera, ive been using a canon eos 1000d with correctly spaced m62 to m48 adapter up to now. My main issue is the flattener on my esprit 120ed pro has a m62 male thread camera side so any non dslr camera would need another custom made m62 to m48 adapter at the correct spacing for say a zwo 294 (very expensive from precise parts usa), so would a modded canon eos 6d be a good option?

Id go for an neq6 mount for that telescope

Are you saving images to laptop or the camera, also if a laptop are they usb 2 or usb 3 ports? Id try saving the images to the camera sd card as this will be much quicker than the images having to be downloaded to laptop causing a "busy" notification,,, maybe worth a try

Hi and a warm welcome to the lounge

If your already using APT, it has the ability to plate solve built in just need to download the platesolving star catalogues, it enables much more than PA, it tells exactly where your telescope is pointing and can be used by APT to sync your mount to any celestial object and put it in the center of your field of view

Since your already using a laptop (presumptuous of me i know) why not try plate solving and APT or nina, im totally converted to using plate solving now

+1 for backyard eos, very easy to set up and the interface is great with a common sense layout,.

Dont underestimate the need for a good mount, many of us have bought mounts which we end up over loading with more and more equipment as we progress further into the hobby and then end up having to buy another one. I'd look at the total weight of all the equipment you intend the mount to carry and then add another 3rd, use this to determine the most suitable mount, this would allow some future proofing. HEQ5 will carry around 11kg for imaging whereas say a eq6 r pro will carry 20kg, although the latter is heavier to transport and at the limit for most to lug around it is more stable. Id second using FLO an you can always email them for advice.

I think it was Space X Star Link satellites

went outside just before work at 6.15am this morning, looked up, clear sky to the north west and to my surprise spotted a satellite moving from the west to the east, a small gap then another and another and then more, all in I counted 24 strung out across the sky like a pearl necklace moving east!! I was gobsmacked but what a fantastic sight, well worth venturing out before work.

Hi and welcome to the lounge

Quite agree Stuf the sensor being rectangular will be better suited to my needs

Think in my head thats settled my choice. Thanks and amazing images

Looking at getting one of these to go on my esprit 120ed, has anyone any experience with this one shot color camera, would it be a worthy/suitable addition to my telescope. My main concern is finding a suitable spacer to go between dedicated flattener and camera, also would it work OK with a fairly low spec laptop with only usb 2 ports and 8g ram running windows 10 Thanks for any advice

Hi and a warm welcome to the lounge

I always used backyard eos for my canon camera control https://www.otelescope.com/files/category/3-backyardeos/

Finally got everything ready, just need a clear sky for a test run, new telescope new guide scope new laptop and even migrated to NINA with plate solving, just itching to get going now as not used plate solving before

Postman dropped this off yesterday, thanks Aunty FLO...

Hi an a warm welcome to the lounge Tiny

Ive just spent the evening loading NINA, eqmod, phd2, ascom drivers, windows.net framework, Cartes du ciel,, ASTAP plate solving plus star catalogue, QHY 5 camera drivers etc onto my new astronomy laptop, now I got to get them all working together and talking to the mount, to say I'm hopeful of it going smoothly would be a huge over statement, pass me the paracetamol!!!!

Looking good, guiding makes a huge difference, worth all the headaches once sorted

I just ordered a new laptop so I can run N.I.N.A, of course that also means I will have to put all the other software on there too!! Ascom drivers, eqmod, Bluetooth for wireless mount control, guiding software, plate solving, planetarium etc etc never a smooth ride but well worth the struggle, well done Russ