groberts

This Spring I’ve been imaging the spectacular Leo Galaxy Cluster, a mere 330 million light-years from Earth. Containing at least 70 major galaxies, the Leo Cluster unusually consists mostly of spiral galaxies, which are best seen here cropped from the original widefield image. The ability for an amateur to image something like the Leo Cluster from my back garden was exciting and very rewarding. Graham Imaged from home in Redhill, Surrey William Optics GT81 + ZWO ASI294mm Pro L x 30 @ 180 sec R x 31 @ 180 sec G x 31 @ 180 sec B x 31 @ 180 sec Total integration: 6h 9min

Once again, thanks to all for your thoughts. I'm going to spend a bit more time re-aquainting myself with the existing EPs first, especially the SVBONY 3-8 to see if I can get more comfortable with the eye relief. Then I'm erring towards Morpheus and / or StellaLyra UFF + maybe a zoom later? Just to check, when using these larger (physically) EPs will they be OK with the Powermate x2.5? Graham

OK I see you now were including the SVBONY, thought it was just the StellaLyra UFF! I need to spend some more time with the SVBONY but at the moment it might be in the Classifides soon - finding thr eye relief too short with spectacles.

If I may, a couple of questions: 1. What's the eye relief of the APM? 2. Looking around, I see that using the AMP as 1.25" can be a problem - any thoughts?

Yes I get that - but don't see how the eyepieces suggested + the Starfield 102 f/7(FL 714mm) (+ Powermate?) results in the magnication numers quoted

Thanks Michael - how do you arrive at numbers quoted? Graham

Thanks - without wishing to be flippant, budget is not the issue here it's getting a couple of eyepieces will really transform my viewing with the Starfield. IMO I'm sure that FOV and eye relief are a problem for me, so want to make sure whatever road I go down this time those issues are dealt with. As a matter of interest, is there a zoom eyepiece that might do the trick, thus provide greater flexibility? Graham

A brief thank you for the suggestions, which are much appreciated. This weekend will now be spent trawling through the details. Graham

Thanks Michael - any in particular? Only recently got the Svbony 3-8 and, despite glowing reviews, have so far been disappointed - I think the FOV + eyepiece is a problem for me. Graham

In an attempt to broaden my interest in astronomy and occasionally share my hobby with the family and grandchildren (who are already interested), I recently acquired a Starfield 102 f/7 refractor. I intend to use it for some of the larger / brighter DSOs and variable stars etc but especially for the family and therefore expect the planets, moon and solar will be their most favorite targets. As we all know in the UK, it's not been the best for clear skies recently but I have managed a couple of short sessions using the Starfield and after a gap of 10-years have enjoyed getting back to observing, though,not surpringly I still struggle with some of my eyepieces to get the best of views, almost certainly because I wear spectacles and in most cases (I suspect) find the FOV and eye relief inadequate. My signature below lists my current eyepieces, of which I really only get on with the 20mm & 32mm plossls and the Ultra-wide + Long eye relief 6mm. I would appreciate any recomendations for maybe a couple of other eyepieces that would improve my viewing, bearing in mind the above objectives and problems (planets and spectacles). I believe since I last did any observing there are some very good eyepieces now available that might be better suited to my needs? Graham

Many thanks for the comments, much appreciated. Like most of us in the UK, my imaging has been severely curtailed this winter and I had to eke out a few minutes here and there between the rain and clouds even to get this, so was keen to make the most of the data. Graham

Following a gap of six years, I thought it was time to revisit the Rosette Nebula again this year, hoping to capture even better its unique and complex beauty. Unfortunately, the skies here have been awful since last November and, as a result, imaging possibilities have been very limited. However, over five nights from January to March I was eventually able to obtain 9-hours of 10-minute Ha, OIII and SII subs. I’m pleased with the final SHO image, which successfully displays the intricate details and colours that arise from the make-up and dynamic processes that makes the nebula so popular. Furthermore, experimenting with an HSS palette produced an alternative and exciting image of the rose of night sky. Graham Equipment William Optics GT81 + ZWO ASI294MM Ha 18 x 600 sec OIII 18 x 600 sec SII 18 x 600 sec RGB 20 x 60 sec each Total Integration: 10 hr Location: Redhill, Surrey

After more than 10-years away from observing, I recently decided to get a mid-range refractor to mostly dedicate to observing again: (a) for something to do whilst imaging (b) for the occasional gaps in the clouds that might permit observing but not long or clear enough for imaging (c) to take to dark sites and (d) to share views with my family, in particular my grandchildren. After looking around and with the help of others on this forum I purchased a Starfield 102 ED f7 and after the ineviable wait for clear skies last night was First Light for the Starfield and I wasn't disappointed. This scope is a step-up in quality from what I'd used before and the impact was obvious with my views of the Moon, which was crystal sharp; it's easy to take the moon for granted, or the enemy when imaging, but last night it was a real joy to view. In the time available I then went on to a few popular winter stars that ares still about with equally good results: Sirius, Betleguese, Alderbaran and Procyon. Finally moved back to Orion and had an excellent view of M42 and some of it's components. Alll together it was a good return to observing and bodes well for more ambitious objects in the future. Graham

Never used anything else but CdC with ASCOM for over 10-years on various rigs and find it to be excellent i.e. if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Many thanks to Patrick. Graham

It’s been 8-years since I last dabbled with imaging this exciting object and for good reason. From my position, this bird flies at a maximum 28o low on the southern horizon and, furthermore, spends much of its time behind houses, trees, and tall hedges, thus providing just two short windows for imaging; combined with this winter’s terrible weather it made for a tough but ultimately rewarding target. Despite the difficulties posed, each of the Ha, OIII and SII wavelengths are strong, making for good data acquisition and a pleasing final image. Graham Imaged over 4-nights between 18th January & 12th February 2024 from Redhill, Surrey, UK William Optics GT81 + ZWO ASI294MM camera Ha 16 x 10mins OIII 13 x 10mins SII 14 x 10mins Total Integration 7hr 10 mins

Located northeast (left) of Pleiades, south of California Nebula and north (above) of Aldebaran, spanning more than 30o of the night sky is the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC), a rich area of dark nebulae punctuated by bright areas of new star formation. The image captures numerous, complex dark nebulae across the field-of-view, including Barnard 10 & 214, LDN 1495 & VdB 27, together with bright reflection nebulae LBN 782 & 785 and the odd galaxy – if you look carefully. Captured over x4 night from 6th November to 15th January between the otherwise unrelenting cloud & rain! Graham William Optics GT81 & ASI294MM camera Redhill, Surrey Total Integration 11hr 30m L 50 x 5m R 30 x 5m G 31 x 5m B 27 x 5m

Thanks for everyone's help. FYI in the end I increased the budget a bit and have ordered a Starfield 102 F7 ED yesterday from FLO which should be with me in a few weeks. Looking forward to some good views of the night sky again. Graham

Because I like to have each rig set-up dedicated, so I just have to take it out + clamp it on the mount + connect and I'm imaging / reverse when finished, also my calibration library for each rig remains good for months. I'm liking what I see with the SW 102 but will this really get good results with the planets? An SCT is a possibility to get more aperture but I do find refractors just easy to use. Meanwhile , been following the thread on Small aperture APO for Visual on SGL but surely these are just too small for good planetary viewing? A slight diversion - seen elsewhere somethting like a Panoptic can have a positive impact on viewing (particularly as I wear glasses), I realise it bumps the budget up somewhat but maybe a price worth paying if it helps get the result I want. Graham

I started my astronomy journey +10 years ago, initially observing with a Skywatcher 150 newtonian but soon thereafter sold this and moved to an Apo refractor + AZEQ6-GT mount for imaging, which has been my passion ever since. I've just bought an AM5 mount which I eventually intend to combine with a new dedicated apo refractor (100 - 120mm) and camera but am also thinking of occasionally using it with an inexpensive refractor (a) to re-awaken my oberving interest (b) for those times when there's a sufficient clear sky for observing but not imaging = much of the time (c) to take away from time-to-time for casual observing in darker skies (it's Bortle 6'ish here at home) i.e. portable and, in particular (d) to share views with other family members, especially the grandchildren who already show great interest in grandad's images! Bearing in mind the latter (granchildren), I feel it needs to produce decent views of the planets and moon + (for me) maybe larger DSO's and variable stars etc. For ease-of-use I'd prefer a refractor but what sort (aperture) is going to deliver the aforementioned objectives? Given my other astronomy plans, budget is maybe up to £500 new or second-hand if something suitbale came up. I already have a set of plossl eyepieces (6 / 10 / 20 / 32mm) and a x2 Barlow and x2.5 Powermate + light pollution. moon & UHC 1.25" filters. Looking at other reviews on SGL and online I wonder if something like the SW 102 would do the job? Graham

Hi Mike, Well it was re-installed for me by the retailer (PC-Specialist) as it was still under warranty (just). How do I check if I have admin rights + what do I need to do if I haven't? Graham

Following the corruption of my SSD hard drive I'm having to reinstall and recover all my files and programmes on my laptop for processing. At the moment all the folders default to Read Only so when I run a pre-processing stacking programme it cannot write the processed subs and stacks to the relevant folder. Is there an easy way to remove the Read Only either for each folder or better still globally? Graham

I need to get dew straps for (1) my WO GT 81 - circumferance 330mm, and (2) a WO 50mm guidescope - circumferance 185mm, and wonder how exact the fit needs to be? FLO have recommended this Lynx Astro 30cm for the GT81, which of course is 30mm too short, does this matter / is there an alternative elsewhere that will fit better? Staying with Lynx equivalent for the guidescope would be either be 150mm or 200mm - same question, which one or is there a better fit? Graham

Nacreous clouds, look fabulous + were highlighted in The Times yesterday. Graham https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mother-of-pearl-clouds-uk-weather-forecast-norway-lgg26njnk

Thanks, I thought about that - so you just vary the amp setting via the ASIair? I wonder oif there's a maxium limit? Graham

For years using my rig near to the house and just adding a dew shield, I manage to avoid dew 99.9% of the time. However, I'm now intending to venture down the garden with a new AM5 + ASIair set-up to get a view of the north sky (my house is otherwise in the way!) and that will mean much more dew. I can of course plug the dew strap directly into the ASIair plus but would like to have some control over the heat with a controller but they generally seem to require a dedicated DC power supply, which is just more 'stuff' and would prefer to avoid. Can anybody recommend a dew controller that would work directly with the ASIair plus? Graham