Marky1973

Yep, that's the problem - one size just doesn't fit all - you really do have to experiment to find the best solution for you. I always struggled with more in-depth stuff on PS, but found some of the stuff I did know, helped tweak efforts in PI...although I am currently limited to GIMP until I decide whether or not to buy PI outright!

Nice image! Have you got "Inside Pixinsight"? Very good book on PI if not!

My understanding is that the Lum filter is used more commonly with RGB filters for broadband targets and you will be fine with HOS filters for Narrowband. You CAN of course use them all in various combos, I am sure I have seen people using Ha with RGB for example to provide a detailed Lum layer but, if you are wanting to start out in Narrowband, you'll be fine with what you have....of course...when the bug really hits, you'll be after all sorts of filters and then find yourself Googling, "Astrodon".....

If it helps make you feel any better, I went for the Horizon and had it a week before I broke it and had to send it in for repair! Hope you get the 1600 sorted soon!

I do the following 1. PA 2. Connect scope etc and 2 star alignment 3. Slew to star close to target and re-enter with synscan 4. Slew to target and centre 5. Calibrate PHD2 6. Start guiding. (I might even focus somewhere along the line if I remember!) I like to calibrate PHD2 once I am on target and have selected a guide star, although I have no idea if that makes any difference!

Hello! I have just started using it and then had to take a break when I broke my camera.... I am by no means an expert, but I think it has promise as a nice little scope - at least for someone working at my level. My first (proper) light with the ED72 and my Atik Horizon is at this link Just 3 hours or so of 5 minute Ha subs. This was without the flattener as this just turned up when the camera was info repair. Looking at the Astronomy Tools website CCD suitability calculator I can't see that the 460 would be a bad match. I was actually considering it myself, but went with the Horizon in the end as it was a little cheaper, had a slightly larger FOV and was slightly less under-sampled....although, at these figures I am not sure this is really much of an issue. I posted some other thoughts about the scope in this thread which is why it got a bit lost as I got confused and posted on the wrong thread - but it is a very brief account of my first thoughts! But there might be some useful stuff in that thread! The focuser doesn't rotate unfortunately and I am not sure about upgrades, I am not sure there are any "official" ones yet, but I am sure some will appear in the near future. It might be that some existing 3rd party focusers will work, but I am not sure which ones. Its ideal if you have the SW FF/FR already as it will work fine with the scope if you have the 2" nosepiece to attach to it. If not you will need the adapter that SW is sending out with it to work with the ED80 FF/FR - not sure if it available separately, but I am sure FLO will be able to sort you out if needed. I guess that, if you use the FF/FR with the nosepiece, that will allow for some rotation in the imaging train if that is an issue - you can also get a compression ring adaptor for the ED72 now, rather than have everything hang off the two grub screws! There has been a bit of debate out the reducer-sensor distance required with the focal reducer if using with the adapter to screw directly to the draw tube and that will be the next thing to sort when my camera comes home (all sorted with Atik, hurrah!) to figure out the best distance to sort out those pesky stars in the corners! Ultimately, for the price, I think it is a very nice little scope, although not without its shortcomings - I don't think it is ideal for visual work as I found it didn't work so well with some eyepiece/barlow combinations as the draw tube has limited outward focus, but I haven't come across anything too serious from an imaging point of view, but it is early days!

Well, I got an E for A-Level maths so don't hold your breath!

This is interesting to know. Will follow this with interest and start experimenting when I get my camera back....was hoping the 56mm would still apply....but should have known it wouldn't be that easy!

So do I. Trapped a cable and think the power socket now has a loose connection....fingers crossed it is that easy....only had it a couple of weeks so didn't want to try opening myself.....still beating myself up for being so stupid and careless....

Hi Ray Not tried yet - I was just playing around when it turned up. Sadly (very very frustratingly) I damaged my Horizon just before the reducer arrived so I don't have the camera to test it out at the moment! I haven't tried it with a DSLR either....sorry! If we get some clear weather I can try it out, but not looking great at the moment! Very wet!

Well, it wouldn't be the first time I had bought something twice! Thought it was odd it wasn't threaded specifically for the ED72! What's more worrying is I never even looked at the reducer and noticed that it was printed with ED80 on the side!! The adapter fits very well though and the whole thing fits nicely. Now you mention it the instructions in the box are for the ED80 as it shows the retention ring, etc on the drawtube which seemed off, but makes sense. Tried it out with my 2" nose-piece and that works well. Will see how it all fits up when I get the Horizon back from Atik. The nosepiece might actually be favourable if you need to adjust the position of the camera as, without a retention ring on the drawtube, the adapter will only screw up tight into one orientation. I want to use the adapter as it is more "robust" but will have to see if that works when the filter wheel/camera is all in place and whether I can orient them the way I want. Interesting then that the reducer/flattener doesn't have to be finely tuned to the scope? Does it have any affect on the distance from reducer to sensor or will that still be the standard 56mm (ish)?

The moon is a good target for testing. If you can't get focus on anything then you might need an extension tube?

Yep, got an email to confirm shipping....just after I got an email from Atik to say they had received my Horizon for repair!

I've used a ZWOASI120MM with an ST80 and now a 50mm Evoguide and have never has trouble getting a guide star. There is a 120MC on ENS at the moment for 100. Not used the colour one myself but plenty of people do use it for guiding. http://ensoptical.co.uk/-zwo-asi120mc