Space Cowboy

Is there an adapter to screw my 3x TV lens element into the filter thread on the end of my ZWO ADC? Trying to reduce focal length by removing the 3x TV tube.

😆 I was thinking why am I imaging Venus in daylight without a OTA shroud? That's going to hit UV contrast surely?

Not sure they'd get me up to f15 from 4.7? What about this : https://www.365astronomy.com/gso-2.5x-achromatic-3-element-barlow-31.7mm-1.25?path=113_148_262

Too much tubing for my liking.

If trans had been good the result would have been great but I'm very pleased anyway. Should be at f15 with the 585 so need to figure out a way of shortening the focal length without having to buy a 2.5x Barlow. Wish I could screw the 3x TV lense to the ADC.

Thanks Kostas I didn't do UV as the trans was very poor and deteriorated as time went on. I was constantly adjusting gain during each capture. This is only 3 mins but I can combine two runs to make a 6 min ser and see if I can get a better result.

Didn't expect to get out tonight and although it was hazy the seeing was better. Finally nailed the ADC by adding an extension tube to the QHY5-iii-585. Quick process from tonight. FC says this was at f20 :

Some nice detail coming through once again. What technique are you using to focus on Venus Kostas? I'm finding it extremely difficult and I've got tracking!

Considering how poor the seeing was and the fact I hadn't got the ADC set properly (seems I had the cam sensor too close to the ADC prism (QHY585 body pushed all the way inside) making less scale of adjustment) I'm very encouraged by this result.

Or I could move the Dob 🤣

Lowered gamma and the different orientation seems to work :

Thanks Neil. I'll let you answer Kon's question 🙂

Remarkable detail with the colour cam! That 462 chip is something else!

Thanks Kostas just a squeak of detail. The ADC shots the previous evening looked tighter even though I hadn't adjusted it completely correct. I'll be using again next time despite the faff 🙂

Thanks Kostas. I used the top 3 sliders until the limb shone like the sun then eased back. Took over 45000 frames and every one was like jelly. With better seeing and higher elevation it will be interesting to see how much detail pops out. Wondering about getting a filter wheel as I've got 3 IR filters plus the UV and there's such a small window of time to use them before Venus is obscured or too low.

Wind and seeing were not good on this evening. Decided to try without the ADC as I was late setting up with only 1 hour cooling the scope. Auto Dob 250 & QHY5-iii-585. 19.36 & 19.41 ut :

Seeing was like a jelly by this stage (8.15ut). Taken with QHY5-iii-585c & Auto Dob 250. Seems dyadic wavelets in registax are needed to bring out any detail. Limb burnout is the main issue.

Nice captures again Kostas! I was amazed the cloud held off for another go last night but wind and seeing were not good.

I did UV the previous evening. Looks like I should have done UV last night and colour the night before 🙂 Trans was excellent last night but poor on Tuesday.

That's sweet!

I lopped some branches of an apple tree at weekend which gives me a few more minutes. Unfortunately Venus has shifted further North so it still gets in the way 🙄

Thanks Kostas & Neil! Wind was bad but the big 585 chip made the difference. If I hadn't wasted 15 mins fiddling with the ADC I'd have got something better as seeing quickly deteriorated when the sky darkened.

Another quality shot Kostas!

Well done Neil! Nice image straight off the bat! Great to see you join the Venus party 😉

Got a hint of detail using the QHY5-lll-585c tonight.