dyfiastro

Thanks for the reply. No this is using my new Canon 600D, MPCC attached via a standard T2 Adaptor. I have already done the third screw modification as well. Yes I tend to use the scope at a set point but also use it a various other points when doing planetary and lunar imaging etc... The illumination is currently way off at the point that I would normally use as well so need to figure out what is happening so I can at least correct it in the right direction.

Hi everyone I have spent the last 3 days going over this multiple times and getting the same result. The scope has been collimated multiple times (as far as I can tell from the guides) and I cannot seem to get the illumination even through the whole travel of the focuser. I have limited the amount of tilt by counting the turns on each of the three grub screws and checked to make sure that the secondary is round, central and the three holders for the primary are all in view. The illumination still uneven and travels from one side to the other, I have tried allsorts and always seem to get the same result at various different amounts. This is the latest result (Flat frames taken and equalised in photoshop) Here is the focuser all the way in And all the way out Any suggestions and advise would be great, I am sure its something simple but its really starting to frustrate me now. Thanks in advance

Thanks for the reply. Yes from what I can tell everything seemed good. I was going to have another look at the astrobaby website in regards to the offset but it seems to be down. I am going to have another look at it this evening with a clearer and fresher head

Hi everyone Sorry about posting this in here as well but I thought there may be someone here that has had the same issue and can shed some light on the subject. I realigned the focuser yesterday after having a different issue (which is still to be resolved) however since doing so I have encountered a new issue. There seems to be uneven illumination across the frame (visible in flats) and this changes from one side to the other as I rack out the focuser. Am I correct in understanding this is due to incorrect offset and how do I go about correcting this? The original issue was regarding this and if anyone can suggest anything about this at the same time it would be great

Thanks for the reply. I will be shooting a custom white balance tomorrow as long as its clear enough. I only removed the rear filter and left the front UV/IR in place. Given that I am in a pretty dark location I decided against using a separate light pollution filter and IR filter. Do you think that the reflections could be due to IR transmission then? It is only since getting the canon that I have seen this in my images. are the feathery tails in between the diffraction spike to do with this as well then? I know I had a small issue with one set of the spike being slightly bent which I have now corrected. The coma in these are not as bad as it was at the start of the session, I managed to get most of it out and I am hoping now I have aligned the focuser it will help even further (a photo of the offending corner). Thanks for the advise

Well the mount is back and I have had a chance over the last two nights to get setup again and give everything a test since putting it all back together. I also got a 600D that I modified over the last week or so and was the first chance to try that as well. I am still working out a few small issues but getting there slowly. 15x300s subs at ISO800 10x300s subs at ISO800 15x300s subs at ISO800 10x300s subs at ISO800 + 5x60s at ISO800 blended for the core With a modified DSLR is a custom white balance the way to go or can someone suggest something else? Hoping that my latest attempt at collimation has also sorted my slight issue with my spider vanes and also coma due to focuser tilt (the next clear night will tell).

So I set about stripping and sorting the scope tonight. Stripping it down was pretty easy apart from getting the primary mirror cell out which proved to be harder than I am sure it should have been. Once it was stripped I gave the inside of the tube a good clean down with some nail varnish remover to get rid of any residue ready for the flocking. I was pretty surprised by just how reflective the standard coating actually was once I got it under the light. I decided to flock the tube in strips which worked out pretty well with only a few small gaps. I also set about flocking both the outside and the inside of the focuser. This again was done using strips and allowing for the rollers on the outside and the threads on the inside. The gaps where the rollers are I have used a black sharpie. I have also blacked out the the secondary, again this was done using a sharpie as I was confident enough to start sticking stuff to it. Next came the one task that I was not looking forward to, the primary mirror. After looking at it a few time the centre spot looked very much off centre, upon further inspection is seemed to be out by around 2-3mm. I used two different methods of checking this, the first was drawing around it and then making a centre hole and the second was using a camera. The blue lines in the following image show the true centre and was pretty much in line with my other test (please excuse the VERY dirty mirror). I set about replacing and also giving the mirror a quick clean (After a LOT of reading and research). Tomorrow I will be starting to put everything back together and collimating the focuser etc... I have a larger set of dovetails now as well so will be fitting them so I am able to use the ADM saddle that came with the mount. A mate of mine is lending me the use of a bench drill so I will also be adding a third screw to the focuser over the weekend and making a new set of adjustable guide scope rings. Thanks everyone

Thank you very much. I was thinking of doing the same thing but with a section of exhaust pipe.

Yes sorry. Thanks, a mate has a bench drill, I will roping him in to help me with this and few other things at the same time. I already have a set of taps from another project so that will not be a problem either. I am hoping to build a better mounting solution for my 9x50 guide scope at the same time. At present I am not able to adjust it and really would like to align it with my main scope. Thanks again

Thanks for the info everyone, does anyone know what side the thumb screws are?

Hi everyone I am going to be without a mount for a week or two so intend stripping the 130 to flock it and check focuser collimation etc.. Is there anything other mods that can be done whilst I have it apart that will help? I know I have a little bit of tilt when attaching my camera so I am also going to see about adding another screw to the tube but is there any other decent options out there that will work with a baader MPCC? thanks in advance

Its pretty clear here at present as well, I just watching a big thick patch of black stuff on the horizon however

Taken last night, still trying to get everything dialled in but I am pretty happy so far

First shot taken with the new camera and 3x Barlow. The conditions last night seemed less than ideal but pretty happy considering.

Well last night I got my first light.

Nant-y-Moch is one of main "Go-To" places for wide field astro at present. If you have not tried it then pendam at the back of Penrhyn-coch is also pretty good. Ynyslas by the welcome centre is not bad as a quick and easy goto but not as dark as the other two places.

Hi everyone. I live in Borth (Between Aber and Mach). I have been doing wide field astrophotography for a few years but now looking to get into more DSO photography and hoping to get something setup over the next few months. I would love to be able to meet up with like minded others not only for a good night session but to also maybe pick your brains on setup etc... Pendam and Nant-y-moch are both decent sites which I have used a number of times and always on the hunt for others. I actually live in Ynyslas which is also pretty dark (not as much as the above) but can yield some good results depending in which direction you are facing. Mark