Coastliner

May I ask what might seem a dumb question as a complete beginner as I am seriously considering the Skywatcher MAK 127 with the go to system (SKYMAX-127 SYNSCAN™ AZ GOTO) can the go to or auto feature not be disabled or over-ridden as I understand the scope is manually set up for 1st star alignment? Can the go to system not just be switched off and scope used manually?

I appreciate I might be over-simplifying a more complex issue.

For very rough and simple tracking I point the mount North-ish, slew to where I want to be then set the tracking rate to sidereal. Yes, you still have to make regular adjustments, but it's fine for a quick observe.

I haven't tried alignment yet, but am I right in thinking that for, say, a two-star alignment the handset chooses the pair? If so, would it be useful to have a list of pairings as well as lists of the stars? That way we could do some preparation and see what pairs are likely to be visible before we venture out.

Many thanks for all the work guys, I now have many pages of laminations!

Neil.

My first scope, two years ago, was my Celestron 4SE, (altaz) and I have to say the alignment was extremely easy. I have just bought a Synscan mount and have definitely taken a step backwards as far as alignment is concerned.

With the Celestron you level the mount, give it the time/date and lat/long. Then, for planets, choose solar system align, point it at a planet, hit enter, done.

For other stuff, choose three star align, point to any three naked-eye stars (you don't need to know what they are called), done.

Simples.

Fantabulous - that worked. It was trying to save the image to a non-existant folder. I think I confused it when I updated from 332 to 334 the wrong way, instead of just replacing the .exe file with the latest version I was just running the latest .exe.

Many thanks,

Neil.

Hi All,

My DSS has stopped producing a final image. I select my lights and darks, DSS goes through all the usual motions (registering, stacking, computing the final image etc.) but it does not create the usual autosave.tiff file. I have uninstalled/reinstalled DSS, tried different picture files - there is no sign of it building up the image as the usual mosaic. I click on the Copy Image to Clipboard and it tells me there is no image to copy.

Any ideas, anyone?

Ta,

Neil.

Out of interest what will you be shooting through?

Lee - I'll be using a 450D through a Nexstar 4se, either at the prime focus or through various eyepieces mounted on the top of the scope.

vibration from the mirror on  30 second (plus?) exposure ?? really?  - I can understand it for macro work on short exposures but for astro? Isn't this just a solution looking for a problem?

Point taken, I had wondered about that for long exposures, but being new to this I admit I am a bit ocd when it comes to camera shake - I don't know what I can get away with yet! However, when taking short exposures of the moon for eg I feel that mirror slap could still be a problem.

I have now bought an intervalometer from Amazon for about £13, looking forward to giving it a go.

Thanks for all the replies, the self timer tip works a treat!

Happy-kat, mine does the same as yours - even in live view the mirror flaps about when a shot is taken.

Steve - I'll give the 2sec timer a go, thanks!

Leveye - thanks for your reply, looks as though your camera behaves differently to mine.

Do any of you use an intervalometer?

Hi All,

I have a Canon EOS 450D that I would like to use with an intervalometer . Are there any out there that will cope with mirror lockup, so that it will send two "pulses" per exposure - the first to move the mirror out of the way and the second to take the exposure? Or, do I need to concern myself with lockup when taking long exposures (say 30 secs or less)? Or, is there a way of locking the up mirror permanently whils taking loads of exposures?

Are there any recommemdations as to make/model of intervalometer? I see that Amazon sell a few, reasonably priced.

Tia,

Neil.

Thanks for this, Warthog - just what I needed. I have an f/13 NexStar that came with the 25mm, so I now need a 9, 15 and 40.

Any ideas how I can get these past my wife?