The Admiral

In fact, I've just downloaded the ASI Mount app onto my Android tablet from the Playstore. It would seem to do the job, but all I really need is for my mount to arrive ;<) Ian

ZWO have apparently released the mobile ASI Mount App for iPad and Android which will communicate with the mount via Wi-Fi, and will allow you to control the mount, do goto, and has built in planetarium. What's not to like? Ian

But at least with some of their mounts it may not be necessary to do a meridian flip! (Shorter scopes mainly). Quality though. Ian

I hadn't heard that Avalon were doing one. Do you have a link please? I think it's too early for any comparisons, only Rainbow (and Crux?) have a product which is currently in the market place, and ZWO probably would have were it not for COVID in China. There is a ZWO Mount forum on Facebook where the results of actual use are available. Ian

This is an interesting hybrid mount, but one thing that intrigues me is that the tech-specs for the non-EC version show it to have PPEC. One thing I have gleaned, looking at these strainwave mounts, is that periodic error is not regular and therefore it should not be possible to use PPEC. The EC version is a different story of course, as it applies error correction in real time. I've plumped for the ZWO AM5, another unknown quantity of course, but I can't afford the Rainbow mounts. At least I know it should talk to the ASIAir without issues, and it can be used as an alt-az mount, should it ever be needed. Still hoping it'll be delivered in June, subject to the ongoing Covid restrictions in China. Ian

Well, well, who'd have thunk it? Software is getting too clever by half. Or, perhaps, not clever enough . Pleased it's resolved. Ian

I'm inclined to agree Neil, it does look refractive in nature. The only thing is that there appears to be a sharp annulus to the image (which is well within the FoV of the set-up). I would have thought that would have been softened by the effects of water droplets too. Interesting to see what Steve can find out. Ian

Though the craters on the terminator appear well defined? Ian

Certainly looks very odd Steve . I'd be interested too in what other folks think. Ian

Well, more the slide that compares the thermal noise with the noise from sky background, where it can be seen that the contribution from the camera is small in comparison even at moderate temperatures. Ian

Have a look at Robin Glover's video from about 21 minutes in. There's no point in pushing the temperature very low. Ian

Agree, just so long as it helps one's understanding. It looks like a good animation, but it hasn't, so far, clarified much Ian

Still hard to visualize . Needs a very clear head and some thought, neither of which I have at the moment. I need to slow the information delivery down a bit for my brain! Still, the information is there for the taking. Thanks for posting. Ian

Well, this is what I have just read, and I don't know enough to critically examine it. In as little as 100M years the expansion could come to an end and the Universe could start to contract, ending in a big crunch. All very conjectured of course. However, I must say that I have never felt easy with the concept of eternal expansion, somehow it just doesn't seem neat enough for physics. See for example, https://www.livescience.com/end-cosmic-expansion Ian

Hmm, it might get a bit boring after a while 😀. I visited the BMW Mini plant a few years ago and to see all those robot arms 'doing their thing' is something else Ian

Pictured on the ZWO mount facebook page (of which I am not a member), the first batch of mounts undergoing testing. They said the second batch expected June. I have a feeling that the first batch will not be very large though. Still, at least there's progress. Ian.

Thanks for that, not altogether reassuring, information! You mention an increase of 1-2% in more fuel, but I guess that amounts to a not insignificant increase in costs for airlines. So they won't do it! And the government won't be keen to be seen as supporting fuel use. Ian

Sadly, much of England is overflown. Ian

I've got a major E-W air corridor into and over Heathrow, about 20 miles to the South, and we are under an air corridor to the NW, which joins the E-W one. So we don't stand much chance. To the South and to the West These were from around lunch-time today. I guess all these trails are from over-flying aircraft en-route to beyond the UK. They never seemed to stop traversing the skies. Do these ice crystals evaporate as the day wears on, or do they just spread out to produce the horrible milky haze you can see beginning to form here? My guess is the latter. Why I try to do astrophotography from here, goodness only knows, but I do. Or at least, I plan to return to it when I get my ZWO mount . Ian

In my Alt-Az imaging days some years ago, I tackled this target using 91 x 30s subs with my 102mm frac. and Fuji XT1. I wasn't unhappy with my result then (it's in my gallery). So I'm not sure that long subs are necessarily the answer. I'm sure there is a theoretical answer, but I'm not up to that😉. It must depend on thermal and read noise somehow. Have you calculated the optimum sub length? Ian

It has been pointed out that TS Optics are giving 1st September as a shipping date. Given the draconian measures being taken in China over the Coronavirus it wouldn't surprise me in the least if that were the case, but hope not. ZWO itself is still saying around June on their website. Has anyone @FLO heard anything further on delivery date please? I see that TS are also listing the pier extensions at €88 ex VAT for each section. Ian

Didn't realize that, thought they'd fallen by the wayside. With all these gambling sites around I wouldn't have thought they had much traction. Ian

Ha-ha, do they still do that? Ian

It's almost a year since I last caught Mercury (and no, it's not a hot pixel ). Couldn't resist the clear sky tonight for a chance to have another go. Captured with a 35-100mm lens at 100mm with a Lumix G80 at 1/50th f/4.0, ISO 640. From an upstairs bedroom as it just wouldn't be visible from the garden. Ian

Another way of honing your imaging skills is to do Alt-Az imaging . And, you wouldn't need to buy a wedge! OK, imagers would say that an EQ mount is de rigueur for their craft, but you might like to dip your toe in to the craft of imaging by continuing to use your Nexstar mount. I had an 8SE mount and mounted a 100mm refractor on it, and spent many a successful hour using it to hone my imaging and processing skills. Eventually though, you will want to get an EQ mount, as indeed I did, as there are certain limitations to Alt-Az imaging. But have a look at this loooong thread, if you haven't already . Ian