ebdons

Make sure that your focus is sound and locked when using the barlow x2, single images should be worse than the stacked end result unless the settings are wrong, I have used autostackkert in the past but mainly use registax which never fails to stack my lunar and planetary images correctly. but it may be that AS likes more subs than 115 and try and use the ser/avg file setting as I found that works ok. have you removed that version of AS and downloaded the new one? as that has been known to work ok. also it maybe the canon file format is corrupted? or I have found that a file converter is also a good utility to have. ton

Hi all, this isn't that related apart from I'm using the opticstar ds616cxl+ which has this sensor as well abeit without the superior cooling, not had an issue with any lines but unless opticstar do something different with the way the their cam is put together, I might get this issue in the future? so this might be mostly down to just SX and QHY cams then. like folks say not a big issue with taking bias to sort out. maybe I've been lucky not having the bad column issue?

Yep. with the usual excellent CS, leave it to them, it's a bit more involved with returns form and stuff, but one reason I will stick with sx for now. my wheel repair for new motor and fitment was £30 so not too bad? ton

Yep SX should be able to fix that, might need a new board, my sx wheel failed and cut out my trius firmware, but sx sorted the wheel and terry sent sent me a firmware update for the trius. ton

Hi, yes the idas should be ok, i have the astronomic cls and uhc and have a good rep, but the IDAS versions are better but not by much, I have the idas NB1 filter with some narrower bandwidths catered for and you could combine with the NGS1, i also have the NGS1 filter which is like a D2 filter and a broadband filter which I use with the brighter objects. like galaxies and brighter nebs etc. think the NB1 filter would be a good filter to use with the new cmos type cameras? tony

Hi thanks for posting the images, very nice and the crab neb is still ok with colour shift. at least you have some clear skies over the espana area. keep the images coming! ton

I mostly have astronomic NB and LP and RGB types , I have some baader but only for special imaging like UV or moon and planetary imaging, so I would stick astronomic make. but others are out there like optolong etc, but I have no experience with them. ton

Yes well done, ngc891 one of my fav edge-on galaxies, never imaged the abell cluster tho, on my bucket list when the skies co-operate.

Yes I did look at the gerd Neumann flatfield gear and they looked a bit "weedy" so I went with the lacerta make. and they are quite robust but I never tested the strength by dropping mine. hehe

Hi, have only used one make of flatfield panel and that is the lacerta 240mm od version with dimmer switch, it comes with a white case on the outside to slip over the telescope aperture so must be the older version? it works fine, this is what I use it on, it has a lip which goes over the scope and I put on a piece of high density foam so I could grab hold of it easier. this is what I use it on 8" newt and smaller scopes but with a strap for security. all the best Tony. some pics albeit not great.

Hi, why don't you experiment with this utility to see what is best for your setup, it is very valuable to find out pixel size and scope matching etc. also there a field of view section at the top of the screen. I'm using mainly a ds616cxl+ and sx825m on my 8" newt f3.9 but others will have something different. tony https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd_suitability

Hi, I have the astronomic cls (non ccd) and it performs very well as I use it on my newt, and have the ir cut separate or the L-2 luminance to stack with the cls to use with it when I use the frac etc. don'y know about others but I have the IDAS nb1 and ngs1 which are also pretty good as well esp for the OSC, hope this helps Tony

Hi, I use a lodestar x2 mono on a OAG with the sx filter wheel and it performs very well, I did use a 174m cam but I just had issues with the sensitivity and sold it, I found the X2 very sensitive and there was no need to use a great depth of the prism into the OAG, mine is hardly in and can still find many stars even on a barren part of the sky, but binning x2 the guider thru PHD2 really helps as well, but there may be better guider cams out there now as the lodsstar x2 is few years old now. tony

Hi could be flex or flatness in imaging train, I have this sometimes and it helps to have the focuser hanging down as much as possible and the mount balanced, not sure of the weight on the focuser also on a 130 pds? you can also use the photoshop star shape fix which does work well. other folks may know more on here. ton

yes reflections are an issue even in IDAS filters sometimes, my astronomic UHC+ir cut produced mega reflections on my 825m but nothing on my 174mm and I don't know why except a ccd v cmos change, but I found that stacking the filters the opposite way, ie ir cut after main filter produced slightly different results albeit small, there should be hardly any lack of light if the filters are stacked well, but putting the main filters first and then adding the ir cut after should result the same but it depend on the setup I guess, but folks on here will no more than me as I am a newbie still. ton

Hi depending on the optics of the scope I use cls (non ccd) with ir cut only on frac optics achro apo sct etc, when use on my newt then no need for the ir cut I found and yes you're correct about star bloat but I use the IDAS NB1 and NGS1 on my apo and achro and they both limit star bloat albeit the NB1 is better, I don't know if this is what you're asking? ton

Hi I had this last nite as well when the temp changes quickly from cold to warm mainly, I found a small cooling fan on the side helps as I have a TS slider system and the fan blows air onto the glass area which seems to work ok, and I tried heaters and it changed the sensitivity aspect and took a long time, I have the icx413aq sensor and I have this issue only on that sensor and not on my trius 825m. good to know if you find an answer. show a pic of your setup. ton

Hi, it depends what LP you have usually in winter the sky near me is better and sometimes I don't need a specific filter, the lower down the object I use a IDAS NB1 for nebs etc and NGS1 for skyglow even at a dark site. you might have to get some 2nd hand and see what filter is best as I found I needed to get some others first to see if I could improve my imaging and exp length, a lot to learn but location and light type is important to get it right. why not try the CLS or UHC first. tony

yep dew is also dependent on what ground surface you have, chalk base is better than my heavy clay as the clay traps the moisture and releases it in the night? anyway get the EQ6 pro and that will do you for years, it has it's limitations but it's not silly money and a few mods can be done like belt drive and better bearings and grease etc. I have one for a few years and it could even take a 12" short tube newt if it's balanced right. mainly galaxies and nebs for me so a newt is good for the HD small scale stuff and a 80 or 120 mm frac for the widefield nebs or galaxy groups. just need clear skies now haven't seen the moon for either for a week or more! Ton