tooth_dr

That’s a nice image. First thing I would do would be take flats. Once applied they won’t remove the big gradient but they will remove some optically-induced gradients and dust bunnies and make processing overall much easier. 

Very cool Mariusz.  Very cool indeed (figuratively and literally!)  Keep us updated.

Richard, really stunning. You have your kit singing a fine tune ??

I took my first images at the weekend with a debayered 20d. I will post the results here.  I only got 4 x 600s as I was manually controlling. I’ve a lead ordered to automate the exposures. 

27 minutes ago, David_L said:

Here's my rig tracking M31 from 1830 to 2200hrs - fantastic run over the last two nights ?

But it was a lot warmer in the "warm" room ?

David

Really nice ?

1 minute ago, geordie85 said:

My 2 year old son had his first telescopic experience tonight. He was so excited since he's seen me setting up, but never looked through my scope (neither have I though as I only use it for astrophotography). 

He couldn't see anything but said he could see stars then it got too cold for him. 

I was over the moon at his excitement though. 

My 3 year old is like that too. Even if he sees nothing (he hasn’t quite got the eyepiece / face angle right yet!) if he’s in the thick of it, he’s happy. 

1 minute ago, geordie85 said:

Looks like you've got really nice skies to image under. 

Mine are orange. 

They aren’t too bad! Tonight was really nice, I was able to get the kids out in proper darkness due to clocks going back, so they had a quick tour of the sky before bed. They are 4 and 5 so normally it’s bath/bed time before dark.  I’m pretty sure they will be the only kids in school who know what a Bhatinov mask is used for ?

About to pack up here, took a quick snap, even picked up Orion

Exquisite. 

EFW2 with filters 1.25”

Taken a few night ago, using my dual ED80s to image the Veil nebula.  30s exposure, 18mm kit lens, ISO1600, using a Canon 400d.

1 minute ago, souls33k3r said:

I totally get that Gina but my question was with regards to the issue of focusing the oag (guide and main camera) during the day time when the max distance I will be able to see and focus both the main camera and guide cam is about 200m and that’s it. I know the recommendation is something that is a mile away 

Even 200m will get you in the ball park area. Then use the moon or a bright star. 

5 minutes ago, fozzybear said:

astroboot.co.uk have one for sale £7-90 plus shipping. you will have to check that it comes with the rubber o ring a must

Actually discarded my o ring (it was perished anyway) and added more bolts instead. 

1 minute ago, souls33k3r said:

I remember a friend told me a great Olly's method of bolting everything down ... i can't seem to find a way to do such with this unless i weld it down somehow

Mine is held in the finder shoe as normal but I've removed the springy screw and added additional screws.  The cable of the camera is attached to the findscope bracket also to eliminate at snags.  I'm not by any means an expect imager, but I'm getting reasonable results 600s+.

Some info here on a thread on mine:

5 minutes ago, souls33k3r said:

I'm pretty sure it isn't. Looks exactly the same but thought i'd drop that in there in case if it was.

It looks the same in the photos.  There is a plethora of info on the use of a 9x50 finder as a guider! Search button is your friend!

On the note of adapters - you wont need to spend £50 but around £28 should get you a nice adapter from Modern Astronomy.  If you want to get good guiding I wouldnt scrimp on the connection of the camera to the finder.

I guide my ED80 rig with a finderscope guider, and it seems fine at around 520mm FL.  I plan to guide my 1500mm newt with one was well, but just havent had a chance to try it out yet.  1500mm seems to be quoted as the upper limit for the 185mm FL finderscope.

You'll need to change or modify the mounting bracket too, to eliminate flexure.

19 minutes ago, souls33k3r said:

Hi All,

Has anyone tried to convert a Celestron 9x50 finderscope in to a guidescope?

It's just that i'm getting slightly paranoid about losing stars / decrease in SNR (i'd be lucky if i get 30ish SNR and between 40 & 60 the star is saturated) and in the hunt for getting good guiding.

Is this a good option? How will it stack against some other 50mm guidescopes out there in the market?

Just wanted to find out what parts (sizes) do i need?

I currently have a QHY5L-II mono camera.

I'm not looking to spend £50 on adapters to convert something, any ebay El-cheapo adapters will do or a friend of mine has offered to 3D print the adapter for me.

Thanks in advance

Is the Celestron finderscope any different to the Skywatcher one?

1 hour ago, scitmon said:

Postie just delivered my new IDAS D2 Light Pollution Suppression Filter:

Excellent! Keep us posted. 

The all important adapter ?

I guess this makes me a ‘proper’ astro imager now ?

EFW2 arrived today. Ordered an M54 to M42 adapter from FLO.

I wonder what to put in position #5? 

59 minutes ago, smr said:

Thanks. I have imaged before but not on an advanced level (ie. guiding, PHD etc.) but guiding is something I want to do and if I'm going to be using longer focal lengths in the region of 500-600mm I'd need to be really. Which would be easier from what I gather with a scope as you can just attach a guidescope on the tube rings. With a Camera lens it's not as easy as that in that they don't come with tube rings.

There are a few ways to do it even with a camera and lens.  But this moves the goalposts on your original question.

41 minutes ago, smr said:

Thanks for the replies, indeed the logical thing I suppose would be to try it but then I was thinking if there is a good reason why I shouldn't then I wouldn't have to waste a few imaging sessions trying to see what the results are like. I have imaged the moon with it before

Moon by Joel Spencer, on Flickr

That is a nice shot.

I wouldn’t worry about wasting imaging sessions. If you haven’t done deep sky imaging before there will be a lot more to go wrong than just lens choice, be prepared for just about anything to go wrong ?

4 minutes ago, RichM63 said:

Nope Toothy, you are not missing anything, that was exactly my first reaction. (ps any news on T/Brush)

I do have a 150-600 Sport but have not tried deep sky, Moon is good on static tripod so give it a go at least.

Rich

I haven’t forgotten Rich! This year I promise ?

1 hour ago, smr said:

I am wondering which refractor to buy and whether it is indeed necessary for me to buy one.

The most logical thing to do is to get the HEQ5 mount and try the lens for imaging since you already own it. Then if it doesn’t meet your expectations get an ED80. Or am I missing something?

I decided to make up a small visual/imaging travel kit. Here it is:

Tasco 44TR - picked this up on Tuesday.

Apart from dust it’s nice a tidy.

Have to finish fitting it to the L-Bracket tomorrow, but just popped it up for a quick photo.

@Stu Big thanks to Stu. I googled for 60mm scope rings and your SGL threads on this topic popped up. You suggested Munsen Rings which I had never heard off.  In a shop beside my work I picked up 2 x 62mm rings (exact diameter of scope) for £2.40 today. Result ?