fireballxl5

I've got some nice images using my stock Canon 6D, admittedly with some nice Canon glass🙂 No darks, flats or filters, it's a great camera.

Comet 2020F3 NEOWISE, 70-200mm f4L zoom and 1.4x extender, 26x20s, ISO3200. Light polluted NW England.

Cygnus, 100mm f2.8L, 22x120s, ISO1600, Isle of Skye, so cheating😉

6 minutes ago, iapa said:

One thing I’ve not been able to resolve/confirm is the ability of the AAP to recenter on target e.g. when cloud has come in and guiding has failed for a while.

It should be as simple as loading a previously taken sub and centering on this.  AAP will automatically plate solve the selected image and go to the centre.  Did this last night for the first time and it worked OK. 

3 hours ago, The Admiral said:

I'm interested to know whether you, or anyone else for that matter, are sticking with a photo type tripod or using a sturdier/more stable astro tripod with your set-ups?

Ian

I have no plans to use the RST with a regular photo tripod, even when traveling. I have a couple of astro tripods that seem to be suitable, a Vixen HAL 130 (though not the current design, this one is being 2000-era) and if necessary a Berlebach Planet. Currently trying out the HAL.

CS, Andy

9 hours ago, eshy76 said:

Well the other mount I was considering upgrading to was the CEM70, which would have been 17kg without counterweights…I can tell you that my 3kg RST-135 has been used on many more marginal nights than would have been the case with a much heavier mount, for someone like me who has to set up and tear down the mount each imaging night. So yes, there is a practical benefit, added to the lowered set up time through not having to balance the OTA.

And on your other point, with my 73mm aperture refractor (3kg) + imaging gear…it is actually possible to carry the fully assembled rig in and out of the house, which is what I do for even speedier setup! Granted that would not be possible with a heavier scope, but for a widefield refractor, eminently possible. 

The benefit of this mount is its portability and lightness while still packing a punch payload-wise and without compromising performance when guiding. If you have a home obsy/pier, intend to image at focal lengths of above 800-1000mm or value tracking accuracy above everything else, then this type of mount is not for you. If you want a more-than-capable portable travel mount, or need to set up each time you observe/image and dread having to lug heavy gear out, harmonic drive mounts can be a great option.

Several good points made by @eshy76 that resonant here. Over the summer I've been pushing my travel rig (AZ-GTi/Tak FS60CB/Q combo) to smaller image scales as it gives me flexibility to reach lower altitude targets beyond the reach of my heavy duty fixed rig. After losing too many subs as a result of inconsistent guiding, I realised that I needed a better quality mount of similar portability.  I considered the AT360 but went for a RST-135E that came up in the black Friday sale🙂 This is now mated with an RC6 for even higher resolution. Together with the ASIair/OAG/OSC (scope & accessories are 7.5kg) this can be carried outdoors on to the patio.  Early days yet with first PA and star test last night during a brief clear gap but the signs are looking good👍

well the FOA60 is f8.8? I use my FS60Q (CB + Q-extender) @f10 for mobile DSO imaging, example below (65mins with modded DSLR). I'd expect the FC76 DCU to be better.

HTH. Andy

On 26/10/2021 at 18:37, SAW said:

Anyone using the RST-135 with the ASiair how does it perform and is it easy to set up ?

Early days with my 135E but it works well with the ASIair Pro. Have to use the USB comms mind as the ASIair doesn't have a Wi-Fi driver for this mount. Note that you have to have USB comms set to 'Rainbow', not 'LX200' on the mount (LX200 is used for WiFi control from Sky Safari). 

6 hours ago, Jonny_H said:

What sort of payload are you putting on your 135E?

for these these initial tests I've just used my current travel scope, a 60mm/f10 refractor with OSC CMOS configured to give 1.65"/pixel. This setup weighs only 5kg, so easily within the mounts minimum spec (13.5kg w/o counterweights). My primary aim to use this mount for mobile galaxy/PN imaging with a payload of ~9kg (RC6 + accessories) at an image scale of <1"/pixel.

 I grabbed FLO's black Friday offer on its baby brother the RST-135E. Early days yet with only 3 nights to play but I'm very impressed.  My priorities were low weight,  accurate unguided tracking with the ability to image at a scale of around 1"/pix when guiding.  Seems to perform well so far. 

2 hours ago, Dean Hale said:

Indeed. The next ordeal. 

2 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

And that 56mm needs to include your filter slide too..

@Dean Hale lucky that you don't have the added complication of wanting to also squeeze in an OAG...🤣

PS or just get the x1.7 Q-Extender, imaging at f10 but no flattener needed 

This configuration doesn't look right.  I think that the sensor should be 56mm from the metal back of the flattener.  I have the same scope but usually use the reducer so *maybe* the back space is different with the flattener but unlikely.  But maybe these adaptors give the required back focus distance?

I've done similar with my GTi, spending quality imaging time this year trying to get good results at longer focal lengths using my 60mm refractor. You should add the Rainbow Astro 135 models as other options at this capability point, admittedly with another step-up in cost mind🤑

PS, just read your notes🙃

Sounds like good advice @Franklin

I have a similar big bogey in my TV 8-24mm zoom.  It's been left in place owing to my concern with having to put it back together again!

Anyone have advice for dealing with this?

CS, Andy

Having the FS60CB with Extender-Q already, is there a preferred binoviewer that works well with this scope?

4 minutes ago, JamesF said:

I think that's the stage that comes before buying an RPG

James

Or better still go straight for the BFG9000 upgrade😈

On 15/08/2021 at 12:04, HollyHound said:

In answer to your original question, I have both the small and larger Baader T2 prisms on all my Taks and they work superbly 👍

There isn’t too much difference in light path length between them I don’t think, but yes the smaller are much cheaper… unfortunately I haven’t seen them in stock anywhere for a good while… I think I might have bought the last one FLO had😬

On 15/08/2021 at 12:04, HollyHound said:

In answer to your original question, I have both the small and larger Baader T2 prisms on all my Taks and they work superbly 👍

There isn’t too much difference in light path length between them I don’t think, but yes the smaller are much cheaper… unfortunately I haven’t seen them in stock anywhere for a good while… I think I might have bought the last one FLO had😬

 

Hi HH, do you have details of the Tak focuser -> T2 adaptor please?

Apologies for poor mark-up.

CS, Andy

More help with Astroberry please, hope that you don’t mind George 😊

Astroberry installed on a RPi4 seemingly with no issues.  Changed default user password away from astroberry as recommended.  Now sudo commands prompt for a password however both the new user password and original aren't accepted.  Is the su password different to these or is it something else?

CS, Andy

On 07/07/2021 at 15:48, JamesF said:

Is there a description anywhere of what "CMOS-optimised" actually means?  I've been unable to find anything.

James

I have the same question. I'm thinking that it means they are just designed to minimise halos that seem to have been associated with some CMOS cameras? Having said this, I've had halos with my 2013 generation Baader's using my CCD camera (OIII replaced satisfactorily by Baader btw). Corrections/clarifications welcome🙂

On 04/07/2021 at 10:00, peter shah said:

nice and close up, lovely colour

Thanks Peter🙂

5 hours ago, tooth_dr said:

Very nice, colour and detail, 31 hours is a lot

Thanks, appreciate the comments🙂

As both scopes have Ha filters it seems easy to accumulate this channel quickly when the moon is about as this is usually when it's clear🤨 Surprisingly for me, this data was collected over just 3 nights within the space of a week.

My latest process is of some narrowband data from last winter (collected over the 2020 Christmas break) of NGC281, the Pacman Nebula in Cassiopeia. This false colour version uses around 20 hours of Ha as well as roughly 5 hours each of Oxygen III and Sulphur II, blended using the standard SHO Hubble palette in PixInsight.

Captured using my dual-scope rig (150mm & 85mm refractors) at an image scale of 1.7"/pix. Total 186x600s, so 31 hours, chomp chomp😆

2 hours ago, Maideneer said:

I tell the mount to point to Vega for example, and it proceeds to head in an entirely different direction and starts pointing down to the ground, almost like it’s inverting the Altitude axis thinking it’s pointing at the sky when in reality it’s looking at the grass.

I often have this problem if I don't enable the secondary encoder. I should open mine up and see if it needs a clean. 

HTH, Andy

51 minutes ago, BGazing said:

has anyone used the mount with C11, especially on uni 18/28?

not a C11 or Uni 18/28, but mine works very well with an OMC300 (~15kg 12" f/9 Mak-Cass) on a Planet, with some CWs that may not be absolutely essential🙂

I can't help with your B-mask query as I use them with no such issue,  but it seems to me that your spacing problem remains.  

I tried fitting the TS 9mm OAG in my mobile OSC setup but couldn't get the necessary spacing and so changed to a guide scope config. As I use this rig to image at a undemanding image scale I can use a 50mm finder scope, keeping the rig light weight.

Still a very nice image btw🙂

9 hours ago, jetstream said:

Over in DSO land we talk of "averted imagination" is there a planetary equivalent? 😀

oh yes! Did you hear what Percival Lowell 'saw' on Mars...

hehehe

2 hours ago, Shimrod said:

I think I put this in the other thread, but worth a repeat here - this is from the UIA insurance policy I have which would cover you requirements - although worth checking directly in case the policy has changed since I took mine out. I have included the definitions of Premise, Home and Buildings which would clearly cover items stored in a observatory, garage or shed. The section C extract indicates you are covered for unspecified items within the premises, and also away from the premises unless the items are stored insecurely.

Sadly  this can be an expensive hobby, and that includes insuring your equipment!

Premises
The buildings and boundaries of the home and the land, fences, walls, gates, paths, drives and terraces as shown in the schedule.

Home
The private dwelling you live in shown in the schedule as the Insured Property, together with its garages and outbuildings (forming part of the title deeds) all used solely for domestic purposes, or for working from home in a purely clerical or administrative capacity, with no business visitors and no business stock, money or equipment on the premises.

Buildings
The structure of the private dwelling and the domestic outbuildings, including aerials, wind turbines, garages, service tanks, tennis courts, swimming pools, permanently plumbed in hot tubs, terraces, patios, drives, footpaths, walls, gates, fences, hedges and fixtures and fittings all contained within the premises and all belonging to you or for which you are legally liable.

Section C - unspecified and specified items

We will not pay for:

Any item being kept or stored away from the premises, unless it is either in your personal custody at the time, or it is in a locked and secure cabinet, locker or cupboard

Great but UIA appear to have the same limit for the contents of outbuildings, £5000 in this case.  From their website this morning...