tomato

Great result, super field of view with amazing detail.

Unfortunately with my current set up location, I have little need to meridian flip as one hemisphere of the sky is almost completely inaccessible. Guiding performance with the Mesu can vary a lot from session to session even though I polar align with Sharpcap to <30” every time (still having movement on the final tighten down). Last night imaging M106 I was getting total RMS of 0.6”, with very few corrections in Dec but RA needing regular corrections in both directions. I reduced the RA aggressiveness setting in PHD (currently at 65%) and this helped a bit as there was an element of over correction happening. But... on nearly every session I get periods of around 60 secs or so with near perfect tracking, with no corrections on either axis. This has to be due to seeing conditions I presume, but my guiding exposure time is 3.5-4.0 secs which should be enough to smooth these out?

Hi Tom, I use the Sitech ASCOM driver with CDC and pulse guide with PHD2 no problem. I sync via CDC, whereupon the Sitech Offset Init dialogue box comes up and I click on that. I also have had the offset init error with Sitech reporting the scope is pointing in a different direction than it actually is, and if my memory serves me correctly, the mount does not track in this condition. However, I thought the software refused to go into tracking mode which is different to the status you have reported. I confess I just powered the mount down and started again, whereupon it tracked OK. Steve

Thanks Steve, I have Tomatobro to thank for this, a very competent (now retired) engineer. It really does perform, will go the full auto focus route when the permenant observatory comes together.

Here is another ‘DIY’ take on a motorised focuser. As you can see, provision was made to retain the use of the lock on the focuser, but in practice it is not needed, even with a heavy camera set up pointing at the zenith.

I’m really late to this thread, like others I don’t know how I’ve missed it especially as I am a massive fan of galaxy images. It is quite simply the best M31 I have ever seen. One of my pet projects for when I retire and get a permenant set up is a multi panel detailed image of M31, after viewing this I will be giving it go, but I can’t see me getting anywhere near this result, it is just superb.

First class images, all of them.?

New Pulsar domes are pricey in my view for what they are, so that’s why I went the 2nd hand route, only to discover that the older versions are not compatible with Pulsar’s drive kits. Mind you at £2.5k for the dome and shutter kits, they aren’t exactly cheap either. So will be going the DIY route for this, thanks to the many useful posts on this subject by the SGL community.?

You won’t be disappointed! An Esprit 150 recently purchased by Tomatobro from FLO with the Es Reid inspection is now coupled with my Mesu 200 and imaging results are living up to expectations?? Just be careful lifting it on your own, it’s a heavy weight in all respects.

Wow, certainly a different take on the many, many images of this region. I really like how the detail has come to fore in the surrounding regions and how the horsehead is enhanced by the background curtain of nebulosity, much more than you see in LRGB renditions, IMO. A fabulous image, I’m very glad you posted it.

I have to echo Davey-T's advice, for another £700 or so you can have a Mesu, a proven high capacity, precise mount, which has a wealth of users and hence good community support. I remember similar discussions when the CEM60 came out, not sure how it turned out in the end, as it doesn't seem to be discussed much on SGL?

Olly, a very enjoyable review, and what a nicely engineered solution to the plug problem.

Phase two of project complete, camera delivered? However note the wet patio outside, it has rained all day. I guess it will be imaging wet chimney pots in LRGB......

It's only a guess but suspect it was the Chinese....

True, the right angle plug on Davey-T's photo looks less chunky than the one on 14", could an ultra low profile plug be the answer, assuming one can be sourced? Meade knockers? I remember reading an article on a big Meade vs Celestron shootout in S & T back in the early 90's just before I left astronomy alone for 20+ years. Who won out in the end?

Or if you can, undo the female connection off the panel, pull the wires through and solder on an extentionsion and plug. Will look a bit messy though, you would think Meade would have the alternative plug wired in parallel, if this was fitted as a solution? Maybe just easier to grind the clearance on the fork....

I started out on OSC simply because I wanted to start imaging and a second hand colour CCD came up on the classifieds before a colour one. I have enjoyed using it and particularly like the fact I can get a 'complete' image no matter how short my imaging session. However IMHO a OSC camera will struggle to deliver as 'good' an image as mono + filters due to the sensitivity reduction. I should get my mono camera and filters next week, it remains to be seen if the extra complexity (i.e. frustration) of achieving a complete image under U.K. skies will out weigh the improved quality of the end result, but the fun is in the trying!

Even with the U.K. weather, I'll still use the camera more than another carefully considered purchase, namely my mountain bike....

I'll take a look at SGP, it does seem to have a majority of positive reviews on SGL. A big learning curve for me, moving away from OSC, but hopefully the image processing will be more straightforward. I'll be doing LRGB to start with so I'll have a bit of time to sort out the camera control while the Earth moves along on it's orbit.

A Moravian G2-8300 and filters are on order, it will no doubt turn up just as the astro darkness has disappeared from these parts.......? The Moravian SIPS software looks interesting, does anybody use it extensively or, as I suspect, do most people use one of the integrated control packages? I've got by with Artemis capture to date but will need to use something different when the camera arrives. I think a new thread is in order...

That's some set up. Good to see a Mesu moving something like a proper payload around? Steve

Don't scare me guys, I only want 1.25"LRGB for now, keep this up and I'll stick to OSC

Thanks Sara, I'm really looking forward to the bigger FOV and the increased sensitivity that will come from a mono CCD. Steve

Thanks for the replies. I do take the point about having all the required filters in a single wheel to avoid repeated changes. Which ever way you cut it, that £1200-1300 differential remains, which is a 50% contribution towards my next scope. Looks like I'm going with the Moravian.....

Sorry to labour this topic but I am getting very close to pressing the button on this one. There seems general agreement that if the budget can stand it then go with the QSI 683. However, the price delta between the two cameras (both with integral filter wheels) isn't trivial, around £1200 looking at the cameras on IKI and 365Astronomy websites? That's halfway towards a 10" RC, (the next phase of my upgrade) so my question is the QSI £1200 better than the Moravian? I know the filters will be a bit cheaper for the QSI but not by a huge amount.