belfieldi

Hi Richard

The best thing to buy first, is a copy of 'Making Every Photon Count' https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html. It will give you a fighting chance of identifying the right kit for you.

It's also worth having a quick look at some of the images in this thread https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/210593-imaging-with-the-130pds/?do=findComment&comment=2247736 you'll be surprised at what can be achieved with a smaller (an cheaper) scope.

Clear skies

Ian

Geoff,

One other thing, are you sure that COM Port 5 is still correct? Unplugging the EqDirect cable or turning off your PC or using a different USB port can all cause the COM Port to change.

Ian

Geoff,

I use StellariumScope rather than the Telescope Control Plug-in. You can download a copy from http://welshdragoncomputing.ca/x/index.php/home/stellariumscope/download-stellariumscope.

Clear skies

Ian

7 minutes ago, Adam J said:

Yeah will give it a go  thanks for the help.

Glad I could be of help. You're never short of someone to help you out on SGL

3 minutes ago, Adam J said:

Do you mean current images or old images from before you tweaked the spider vanes?

Sorry Adam, I meant the images before I tweaked the vanes. Can't be certain that this is the cause of your extra spikes, but it's only a couple of minutes to check and prove it one way or the other. 

Just had a look at some of my images, the extra spikes are only evident on the brightest stars, slightly fainter stars appear to have the classic 4 diffraction spikes.

Hi Adam,

The spikes on my image were very similar to yours. It's easy to check your vanes, you just need something with a straight edge to put against each vane to check them out (make sure your scope is horizontal, then there's no chance of dropping anything on the primary mirror). If a vane is twisted, just slacken off the nut for that vane and 'tweak' the vane straight then tighten the nut back up.

Ian

Adam,

BTW, that's a cracking first image and welcome to the forum.

Ian

Hi Adam,

Check that your spider vanes are not twisted, the vanes on my 130P-DS were slightly twisted when mine scope arrived and that caused the two extra diffraction spikes in my images.

Clear skies

Ian