AbsolutelyN

I imaged it for about an hour and an half this afternoon - basically until I ran out of disk space. One has developed much larger than when I glanced at this group yesterday.

It's really nice and proves you don't need total astro dark to get excellent images.

Superb Adrian!

After an hour and a half solid observing AR2827 I finally got a brief steady spell so I could get a bit more detail. Sky watcher 250PDS with ZWO 178MM with Baader Solar film. Animation: https://www.astrobin.com/pv5buw/

Aristoteles, Eudoxus and Montes Caucasus - Taken 18th May with 250pds and 178mm. https://www.astrobin.com/n3rc2p/0/

Thank you Peter.

Taken over the last month, about 5 hours data with 250-PDS and 1600MM. Approx. 100 mins each in HA, SII and OIII. https://www.astrobin.com/gm499m/

Not much movement but here is a quick animation over about an hour

This is my first proper test of home made Baader filter for my 250PDS under half decent conditions this morning. Taken using a 3x barlow and ZWO 178MM. Not very familiar with solar image processing so if I'm sharpening please let me know. Doesn't compare to all the amazing HA images but nice to be-able to turn to scope to a new object. Another version with less sharpening and less contrast - probably better.

I've recently got my first 3d printer - an Ender 3 Max and am very pleased with it.

I don't know, this was just a quick test during a 20 min clear spell, but I expect/hope so. I've never done solar with anything bigger than a 80mm refractor. I'm hoping to use the 178MM so that will test it better.

Finally got around to making myself a solar filter for my 250PDS and this is the very first image taken just now. Luckily there is a nice looking sunspot just coming into view too. Taken using Baader solar film (photographic version) and a home made filter cell which steps the scope down to 8" as I could only get hold of A4 sized solar film. 100 frames stacked with ZWO 1600MM.

I've just sold mine but it's an absolutely superb scope. Wide field of view, only 400mm focal length so easy on guiding and reasonably fast. I was very pleased with the images the scope produced. Make sure you get the flattener though. You can't go too wrong with it. M42 with Esprit 80 and 1600MM https://www.astrobin.com/ph1nb5/

Excellent images, well done.

I'm looking at this 6" refractor for Lunar photography but I can't find any specs on the focuser. Does anyone know if the Sesto Senso will fit this? Thanks

That's great to hear, will certainly be a learning curve as I've never used anything but skywatcher/eqmod. I can't figure out astroberry at all so no worries there. My guess/hope is mid summer ... suspect it is the tri-pier that will take longer to arrive than the mount.

Decision made and order placed. After much research I just found too many potential issues with the EQ8R ... such as USB hub potentially not working (skywatcher say they'll fix any issues but it does not instil confidence). If the EQ8R had been a reasonable amount cheaper I'd have gone with it but it actually works out more expensive than the CEM120+Tri-pier once you add the EQ8 tripod. So one CEM120 and Tri-pier ordered from FLO. I expect delivery will be quite some time off however ....

Bought this the other day, well done it's an amazing image.

You know perhaps an observatory would be a better investment .... thought I had go ahead for one the other day but permission has since been revoked. I'm fully exposed to the west unfortunately so the hope is heavy duty mount will reduce the impact of that.

You're doing well to get 10 min subs with such a payload. I've managed about 5 mins and probably could get the odd 10 min sub but I can't consistently do it as very reliant on conditions. I'd loose too may subs to even a slight breeze as I'm in quite an exposed location. So I tend to go with shorter 1 min exposure which has a far higher keeper rate. You can find great and awful accounts of both mounts, though finding it hard to find in-depth reviews/views of the EQ8R. I guess some of it is just the luck of getting a good copy just as it is with some camera lenses.

Yes it's a real shame about the price rises, wish I was 12 months earlier on this as its about 1k more now. Comes down to CEM120 or EQ8-R. Wavering slightly towards the EQ8R despite all the advice to go with the CEM120 because I know I can get parts and support from OVL whereas the iOptron is an unknown quantity in regard to support for any issues that may occur over the years. Feels important as the mount will be permanently covered rather than in a observatory so less protected.

Thanks, loving the 250pds. For stacking I'm using AutoStakkert!3 set to use best 25%. It was just a bit of an experiment really. I wanted to directly compare to HA but could not get my filter wheel working with USB3 required for faster transfer rates for some reason.

Lovely image Adrian.

Another quick go at the Moon and this time I thought I'd have a go with OIII filter. 750 frame stack from 3000 frames with ZWO1600MM and 250PDS. Best viewed at 100%.

No idea but curious to know the answer. However with video I think you'd hit file size issues first, depending on rate rate. I just did a 3000 frame video and it's 30gb.