tomato

It is looking like a filter wheel position registration issue, especially if this problem has been reported previously with this unit. I wonder do ZWO use a different technology to register the wheel position compared to other manufacturers of EFWs? Can anything be done to address this or is this inherent in the design? I note in the original post you note that the wheel is set to unidirectional. I assume this means it will rotate in either direction to get to the desired filter quicker, would it be worth running it in one direction only to see if this makes the positioning more reliable (if that is an option).

My, you must have quite a sky, that NB image looks like one of my LRGB efforts on a good night!

Yes, galaxy season is just around the corner and the Esprits are about to come out of hibernation. Thanks for comment on the talk, for sure there is a lot of complication and processes involved with digital AP, but I wouldn’t want to go back to to the emulsion film days for all the clear nights in Atacama.

I agree 100% on the conclusions made about mono vs OSC on the same sensor, but you have to seriously consider the latest CMOS OSC sensors, given the superb NB and RGB images that have been posted recently (admittedly from good skies and by expert imagers). Of course, this all conquering sensor is now available in mono.😉

Another superb Andromeda Galaxy, you keep on posting these, but they can't be as much fun as a 12 panel mosaic...

My understanding is that the embossed effect on the dust motes is caused by a slight shift in position of the camera between the light and flat frames being taken. Were they taken with a big difference in the ambient temperature, I guess that may be a possibility if you are taking them the next day. I sometimes encountered this effect when I used to set up and take down each time, but not since I have had a permanent setup. M33 is looking good once you have the calibration problem sorted.

I believe there is a tick box on the imaging options page to debayer the downloaded image from your camera.

A wonderful widefield image, no doubt an enormous amount of effort and dedication has gone into this one, but it’s all there to see in the end result.👍

A superb set of galaxy images, so much fine detail captured.👍

It’s a plus IMHO if the mono QHY camera comes without the 3 screw dovetail adapter. It’s not the best way of attaching a camera to an optical train, especially one as demanding as the RASA.

Some great detail captured, not easy with a big moon out. I agree that pushing the saturation would detract from the image, best to get some more data but all of our clear nights of late seem to coincide with the moon being around.

As a DSO imager I’m usually cursing this object when it is at this degree of illumination in a clear sky but that is a beautiful image.

These are very special indeed.👍

I recall the Green Flash being part of the storyline in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, I took great delight in informing my family that it is a real phenomenon and not something dreamed up by a Disney scriptwriter. Of course the next question was "Have you ever seen it?" to which I had to reply no, but after this talk I might have more luck in the future.

That’s a might fine Orion Nebula. I had a go at M42 the other night with the RASA and QHY version but committed a basic error of not refocusing after the meridian flip. The RASA mirror stability is good but it’s not that good...

I briefly had ~75 kg of scopes and gear on a MkI Mesu and that necessitated either some bigger weights or a longer CW bar, and it was easier and cheaper to machine up the latter option. The extended bar just fitted inside the confines of a 2.2m Pulsar dome and worked a treat, it will be put back into service when the dual rig goes back on for galaxy season. And the “bang my head on the counter weight bar” score stands at 2:0 to the shorter bar.🤕

You could ask the same question about a lot of expensive hobbies (e.g. motor sport, horse riding), regarding the actual time spent physically doing the activity vs acquiring the kit, modifying and maintaining it etc, (not sure how you modify a horse, but who knows?) As for objects to image, Telescopius informs me there are 9855 DSOs accessible from my location to image tonight, and it is clear so I best get cracking.

That's a great result and I admire your patience and perseverance. I got rather carried away by @gorann's short integration version with the RASA8 and ASI2600 OSC and tried to emulate his result with the same equipment and failed miserably. Some DSOs (at least from my neck of the woods) just need time...

So sorry to see these pics, it’s a reminder of the risks we take when moving scopes off and on the mount. If the corrector cannot be replaced economically I think the idea of stopping down the aperture is worth a try, but it depends if the optical alignment has been irreversibly altered by the impact.

I have the QHY version of this camera and usually run it in what QHY call the DSO photographic mode Gain 30, Offset 30. I’m using it with NINA capture software which debayers the image so it shows up in colour on the monitor. I’ve always used darks, flats and dark flats with my CMOS cameras but I should experiment with the 268 camera as it is as you have noted, a very clean sensor.

I was pretty sure the data was badly compromised given the great variation in sky conditions I encountered during the capture sessions but Dave and the script has produced a result far beyond my expectations. +1 for the Photometric Mosaic script!

In a Pulsar dome, there is a bit of a draught coming in around the shutter but that is it for natural ventilation. If you are out for hours on a sub zero night the mass of metal gets very cold and then after you close up if a warm front comes in you are going to get condensation on the mount and pier. I have never seen louvres put into the sidewalls of the dome which would aid natural ventilation, any thoughts on why not?

The dual rig is packed away while I enjoy imaging the 'easy' way with the RASA8 and 268 OSC camera. It will be back on the mount in the not too distant future, ready for Galaxy Season.

The L is the 12 panel mosaic taken with the Esprit 150/G2-8300 combo, the RGB channels are from my RASA8/268c image, which is shown below.

Thanks, yes it is the Celestron RASA8 and a QHY 268c OSC camera, this scope and camera seem to perform well as a combination.