SAW

Hi,

Anyone got one, used one or thinking of getting one ? After recently selling my HEQ5 Pro 😢 I'm after a new mount purely for imaging as I've got a Vixen AP SM for my visual stuff. I'm either looking at the AstroTrac 360 OR maybe going the ASiAir route with my Vixen but will be very limited on weight with this set up.

Thanks.

I keep looking at the Tak 76DCU and 100DC. I've owned a 60Q but I want something with more aperture. Do you think a Tak 76 or 100 is going to be overkill for the Quark ? I'll use the scope for lunar as well. As it's going on a Vixen AP SM mount I have to be careful with weight it will only hold 6kg max so I want to be at 4kg at the most.

The 76DCU with Quark fut the ratio at around 30 and with the 100DC it around 31 so both ideal with the Quark.

Hi,

I have the dec motor on order with FLO but i was wondering if I could use the ASiAir with this mount to make it GoTo and do plate solving and imaging. I have the Star Book One hand controller with the mount which has a RJ socket labelled auto guider but not sure if this can connect to the AsiAir ?

Thanks.

Hi,

I am looking for a refractor to use with a Quark and a 178MM or maybe a 174MM. I would like something that's quite light as it's going on a Vixen AP SM mount which is rated at 6kg max. I may also use it for some lunar observing and imaging with the same camera(s). Not sure if I should go for a doublet or triplet ? Or get a triplet that I can also use for DSO imaging. I've looked at the StellaMira 85mm ED2 Triplet f/6.6, SharpStar 94EDPH f/5.5 Triplet and Takahashi 76DCU. The first two are probably on the limit for the mount but does give me the option for DSO imaging on another mount. I've also looked at the Altair Starwave 80ED-R ED Doublet.

Thanks.

Anyone using the 6" f/12 with the ZWO224MC ?

I am guessing the 8" f/12 is pushing it weight limit wise on aHEQ5 Pro ?

What's the weight of the 8" f/12 and 6" f/9 ?

2 hours ago, Cesarf said:

I went to the Putthenham Common car park yesterday afternoon and I could see it's got unblocked view - pretty much 360o. - it must be very dark as well since there are no villages close by. The car park is open 24x7. Now need to have a go in the evening.

North side

 

 

Have you heard about Caesar's Camp in Aldershot? It might be a good spot as well.. 

 

Not sure about Caeser's Camp as you will be able to see Farnborough airport plus all the surrounding towns. Puttenham looks good though.

23 hours ago, Cesarf said:

@SAW did you go check Puttenham? Any good? 

Not yet.

5 hours ago, happy-kat said:

DSS will stack the stars and blur the foreground so you could take the final image to processing in a photo editor and using layer bring in your preferred foreground image and just blend through just the foreground area.

This is what I was hoping to do but wasn't sure if DSS would stack ok with a foreground object I can then merge the stacked image of the stars with a single foreground image. 🤷🏻‍♂️

For those that do wide field astrophotography with tracked image of the sky and single merged image of the landscape/foreground do you leave the camera in the same position all the time apart from obviously when it's tracking.

Can you stack the sky images in DSS for example even if it's got the landscape in, will it stack ok ? Then I can just use the sky part merged on my single landscape image. 

Does that make sense ?

Hi,

Anyone use this lens on either a full frame or crop sensor for astrophotography ?

I had the Canon 135mm and 200mm L series but sold them with my last 6D, just got another 6D and thinking of getting this lens instead of the 135mm or 200mm.

Went to have a look at the Moat today not sure I fancy carrying my gear up there 😄

Might have a look at Puttenham this afternoon.

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right place for this question but are there any good places to go to do imaging from near me, I am 10-15mins north of Petersfield Hampshire. My garden is ok but I could really do with a good view South with no obstructions so I can image rho ophiuchi which is quite low. I have Butser Hill on my door step but it's just to windy up there and a lot of cars around. Happy to travel 45-60mins.

Thanks.

Hi,

Can you still get focus using a dslr & Baader coma corrector with the Baader ClickLock ? Want to replace the standard cr*p Skywatcher 2" draw tube clamp.

Hi,

Can't decide which to buy out of the above cameras to use with a Skywatcher 72ED and Skywatcher 150PDS ? I have owned a 183MM and the MC version before. I don't won't mono as I'm not buying another filter wheel, filters etc.

Hi,

As per the title which is best suited to that mount for imaging ? 

I'll be using a modded 600D but probably a cooled CMOS later. 

Already got a few refractors but need something with smaller field of view hence why I'm looking at the reflectors. 

53 minutes ago, Allinthehead said:

Did you use bias frames?

I used dark flats as bias in PixInsight.

No I never covered the viewfinder so maybe my headlight or neighbors security light could be to blame as this would of been facing their light ?

Hi,

Recently got a 6D (un-modified) already have a 600D (modified). Last night I did some wide field imaging with it using a Canon L series 200mm f/2.8 lens, 60x60s lights, 20 darks, 20 flats and 20 flat darks. Tried stacking it with and with out flats in DSS and PixInsight but I am getting a really annoying glow around the edge and when I use ABE or DBE in PixInsight it makes it worse. I've tried flats and different histogram values but makes no difference. I don't get any problem with the modded 600D, is it just because it's full frame ? 

First image is just stretched in Pix and the second is with ABE or DBE done.

What am I doing wrong compared to when I use my 600D ? I do my flats with a light panel and adjust brightness to get the correct histogram this has always worked with the 600D.

There was no moon last night imaging and my neighbor does have security light that comes on occasionally but I was imaging the opposite direction.

Is it the lens ?

Hi,

Anyone got the DayStar Solar Scout SS60 or used one, what did you think of it for visual and imaging ?

Been thinking of getting one for a while or the larger 80mm one. Had a Lunt 50 pressure tuned before so how does it compare to this. 

Or am I better off just getting the Quark and a cheap refractor ?

Off to Fuerteventura in November and will be there for the mercury transit, have a 300mm lens and 1.4x teleconverter to take but may get the x2 or I'll take my 178MM and lens adapter but this is obviously only going to be white light.

Hi,

Is there any tutorials out there for doing wide field stuff which includes some of the foreground, so you still using the tracking mount. From what I gather you do your normal tracked images and a separate foreground one and combine them ? I'm looking for a good tutorial either on YT or written. Something I'e wanted to do a while now but don't know where to start.

Thanks.

Hi,

Is it worth me getting the Ha 12nm clip in filter for my modded 600D ? I'll just be using Canon lenses on my Lightrack for more wider images, 135mm or 200mm etc. Or am I just wasting my money ?

I'll be getting another mono cooled camera soon and will use 7nm in this but this will used on a GoTo with a much narrower FOV. The 12nm will purely be for the wider stuff with the dslr.

I have my Tak 60 Q I could take bits it packing safely. 

Is it worth viewing/imaging in Ha ? Or just stick with white light. 

Hi,

Those of you that are imaging or viewing it what equipment are you using ? I'll be in the Canaries for it but not sure what to pack. 

Thanks. 

Anyone else having problems with focusing when using the rotator and flattener/reducer from Skywatcher ? There's not enough inward focus travel.