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Over 3 nights I managed to get around 50 3min Lum subs and 15 each of RGB with my ASI1600 and WO ZS73.  Not totally sure Im happy with the finished result, but then who ever is?  I actually had more saturation but toned it back a little, not sure if its still too much?  As always any and all comments greatly received! 🙂 

-20 - the camera was up and running for around 20mins, I did think that but could not see anything and why would I not see that when imaging?  Its a possibility though, especially as you had the same issue.

That thought occurred to me - I think the wizard is using the default I set to use for focus which is 300 gain and I wonder if reducing it will resolve the issue.  Will try that

1 hour ago, Laurin Dave said:

Nice one Goran..  I see a vaguely Star Destroyer shape in there..

Yeah deffo see that - The Star Destroyer Nebula it is then!

Not tried, working 9-5 and its dark when I get home but from memory that works fine

Nah, its all on an electronic focuser so not moved at all

Doubt it was ice, never know of course but I don't think it was, never had it before when imaging so cant see how I would have ice when taking flats, tried without the cloth and its the same.

This was taken without the flat box at all, just the pillowcase and aiming it upwards st the illuminated roof

Just set the filter to clear and still have the same issue - I don't think its the camera as I don't see this problem in subs just flats.  Its also not related to short exposures as even with the Ha filter and 3 min subs to get a decent signal I still see it.

My setup is a ZWO ASI1600 mono with the ZWO filters and a ZS73 scope. I made a light box with some CCFL tunes in a box with translucent plastic to diffuse the light. To my eye it all looks nice and even, I also put a couple of layers of white pillowcase over the scope as well to further diffuse it. The problem I have is shown below in one of the sample flat images, I always seem to get a donut in the centre of the screen, no matter what filter I use. Any ideas, workarounds?

It’s just strange, I cant figure it out but at least with the configuration now, its working - will get a new EQDir cable soon

Right...Helps if you install EQASCOM and not one of the other EQ apps like EQTour!  So, back up and running, with the additional cable, bypassing my USB hub.  Think its time I bought a new EQDIR cable...

Short, I use a short USB to the usb2 hub then a 3m cable from the hub.  The only way to get it consistently working is a sperate (and this is 5m) cable, connecting the usb/serial adapter direct to a spare port on my laptop

Yeah this will be done in spring, around April I think, just looking into what I need, think the worm end float might be the trickiest 

One more thing, I have lost one of the worm end covers - I want to paint these nice high gloss red, any idea where I can get a replacement?

My EQ6 is ancient!  And in need of some TLC.....   Next spring Im looking to replace all the bearings, and belt mod it but also a couple of other things, namely:

Respray - I have the black version, and the paint has chipped/flaked off in places - I want to spray it white as well (Maybe even do some bits red, so it matches my WO ZS and ZWO Camera 🙂 )  What paint to use though?  Somebody has suggested Plasticote

Retap a couple of bolts - I think 1 or 2 bolts in the RA and DEC housing have been threaded by the previous owner, I want to retap or use helicoils - any suggestions as to which would be best?

Hopefully I can spruce it up and make it shiny but also get the guiding better, at the moment its around 1.5arc secs guiding performance

I really wish somebody - Pegasus/ZWO etc would produce a decent priced camera rotator, is the last thing to have automated, although Im not sure it would not end up being a pain if you use an OAG, imagine having to recalibrate after every rotation

36 minutes ago, Evans Souglakos said:

For the record, the motor coupler screw was not tied enough so the shaft was rotating without the proper motor shaft contact

Sorry - Yes, my mistake!  All working perfectly now.  I think with me putting it together in the warm house then it being so cold last night, it just needed a final nip of one of the screws on the motor shaft

Right...Helps if you install EQASCOM and not one of the other EQ apps like EQTour!  So, back up and running, with the additional cable, bypassing my USB hub.  Think its time I bought a new EQDIR cable...

Ive been having a nightmare recently getting my EQ6 connected to EQMod - No idea what, the USB serial converter seems fine, sometimes unplugging it and replugging it in will help. Sometimes using a different port helps.... Anyway, today, had the same issue, so used another cable and it connected ok, then unplugged that cable and tried the original one - the PC crashed at this point and then gave an EQMod error 55.  I google this and found a thread on here about it, so tried deleting the .ini files which seemed to make it worse!  Then I uninstalled EQASCOM, reinstalled and now get this error all the time.  Can anybody help @chrisshillito

I got the new motor unit the other day - its the newer version with the all metal case, very nice!  I set it all up tonight but am wondering if I have a problem with this motor... I was using the exact same settings in SGPro as before but this time it seemed to have loads of backlash in the motor, I thought I would try and give the focus knob a little turn/put some pressure on it, just to see if it was backlash in the focuser or anything and I was surprised how easily the focus knob turned, very easy, almost like the focuser motor was not attached!  I  looked at the motor and can see Im turning the motor with the focus knob, easily, which is not something I think I had with the other motor, or indeed the ZWO focuser that's on my Newt.  Do you think I need to return this motor as well?

18 hours ago, carastro said:

Another idea I saw posted on a forum once was this, it's not mine but I saved the picture.

 

I like that idea - I had thought of similar but with a drain pipe into the ground, that looks much more elegant!

ZWO ASI1600, its not my best image but hopefully with a bit more data......

Its a start...… Want to grab a lot more and I used gain 300 on this as well, should really drop that down to 200 I think as this is a bit posterised when looking at 100% but still for 20x2min subs Im quite pleased

15 hours ago, Skipper Billy said:

I would do but it doesn't fail - it just kept going round in circles but never solving and never failing.

That’s what I mean, you can set it to fail over to Astrometry/Blind solve after 100 attempts, thats what I did

1 hour ago, Craney said:

Here's mine.     6"F4 GSO Newt.   About 75mins  of 5min subs. -20'c below ambient.    No flats or darks applied but some PS processing  (yes, tut,tut  I know but ....read on)

I am still doubtful over whether the QHY8pro gives me the game changing boost in results over a modded DSLR.  Hence I am only using it now and again and as yet I am not fully convinced.

It has been quite a long journey with the QHY8pro to overcome glass fogging /frosting and then radio frequency interference on the subs.    My Atik 414ex mono is just superb and ultra sensitive and works without a quibble and as such gets priority on the precious clear nights. 

Anyway, that misting around the stars looks suspiciously like high cloud though.   

 

Sean.

 

 

I would say that's cloud as well