PGA-64

Thats great - it gives me a starting point - i realise a lot of experimentation is needed. Cheers mate !

What a great programme - using on mac via bootcamp... Ive been searching the net but can't find info on LX mode in Sharpcap. DO I need to use it? what does it do? I use a Microsoft Life Cam Studio and am about to mod a Logitech C615 - do i need to do anything to the camera? Thanks

I hadn't thought of that .... great idea... prevents the frustration setting in too )

Thank you

So after 8 days of waiting it seemed clear enough to venture out with the new scope and mount (first goto one). I'd done as much set up as I could in the house following 'Astronomyshed's' you tube videos. If nothing else it taught me basic set-up - just about managed to polar align... balanced etc . So I finally put power to the mount 1. How can you dim the red light when looking through the polar scope? Polaris was only just visible! Then started synscan set-up. Entered all the basic info and went to do a 2 star align. I chose Regulus and Pollux to start. First attempt - scope didn't move anywhere - Fixed this by making sure mount was switched on before synscan controller Second, third and fourth attempts: although it moved roughly in the right longitude area it was pointing approx 10 degrees below the horizon! As I tried at least 3 times I'm certain I entered info correctly.. Having decided to give up for the night I then went to Park the scope.... it ended up pointing Northwest about 20 degrees above the horizon. Been scratching my head as to what I may have done... any ideas? Thanks

Welcome to the site! I've only been on just over a week and have already learnt so much - including how supportive everyone is (thanks folks) - the forums contain such a wealth of invaluable advice. Stopped me feeling so stupid asking obvious questions Pete

I should perhaps add I live on a farm in Suffolk (uk) so have pretty dark skies...

This maybe a naive question ( I realise the number of variables that can affect things - and making general assumptions such as setting my polar alignment correctly etc) but in the hope of clear skies... Im starting out with a Nikon D5000 DSLR + Quattro 10" f/4 + NEQ6 Synscan mount. Please could someone give a range of basic camera settings (Exposure time - bulb setting / Aperture / iso) for... 1) Moon 2) Planets 3) Sun (using Mylar film) As regards DSO's presumably as long as alignment is correct there is no such thing as too long an exposure? I'd hate disappointment to dampen my enthusiasm... although with my investment in the kit i've just upgraded to thats unlikely! ALSO I have a modded MS Lifecam Studio and will experiment with various software packages (both Win and MacOSX) but again are there basic settings I should look out for ... e.g. where should saturation level be? Thanks for the help in anticipation Pete

Great images - never even thought about trying my phone! once this cloud clears..... Pete

Thank you everyone for your help