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JohnSadlerAstro

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Everything posted by JohnSadlerAstro

  1. JohnSadlerAstro
    Collimation is something ive never been very good at--ever since i took all the mirrors out to put flocking in, I don't seem to be able to get the mirrors lined up properly. Right now, both a laser and the Cheshire say its collimated properly, but the primary is obviously tilted towards the eyepiece side of the tube. Does that mean i need to tighten the screw on the opposite side of the secondary to the focuser, so that I can then relax the primary mirror again? It's all rather confusing, and never seems to work out the way all the tutorials ive read/watched say it should. John
  2. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, I believe that the mirror is the same as the standard 130P, although there is another version (Which I happen to have as well) which came in a starter pack with an EQ2. Often marketed as the Explorer 130M, if i remember right. As far as I know, the P-DS has the primary mounted on the inside not the outside of the mounting rings on the end of the tube, giving a focus point further from the focuser (shortening primary-secondary separation while maintaining the same focal length. Those carbon OTAs look amazing, right? Especially the Orion Optics ones (not Orion as in Orion Telescopes and Binos) with orange tube rings and extractor fans! Apparently, the latest generation of EQ5s and 6s have green detailing--put that all together and it would make a very intimidating setup. (With a finderscope, of course; OAGs don't look so good ) John
  3. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, I feel slightly embarrassed posting my attempts here! A sort-of-test M51 image, with EOS 1000d (Modded) 1 hour 2 mins of subs, at ISO 800 120 sec each. Mounted on EQ5 with dual-axis motors, guiding using ST4 and PHD. There's a bit of gradient caused (I think) by the flats not matching up to the data images, this was because a small piece of plastic loosened by the modding process fell onto the camera sensor when I rotated the scope back down from tracking M51. I had to remove the camera to get rid of it, so there is probably a slight angle error between flats and lights. I'm quite pleased with the results, considering it was full moon, the collimation wasn't amazing, and a small galaxy is not what my setup is designed for. John
  4. JohnSadlerAstro

    Just reached 700 posts! I wonder how many astronomy experts' brain cells I've destroyed with those! :D 

  5. JohnSadlerAstro
    Creepy. I find collimation a frightening and nerve-wracking experience, despite the fact that ive read plenty of guides on how to do it. Last time I collimated (after taking the scope apart for putting black felt inside), I ended up going round in circles with aligning the secondary dead-centre and then being forced to tilt toe primary so much it was almost falling out of the tube! In the end, I got the right angle with the secondary and it seemed to work. I did cheat just a little tiny bit though --I slightly adjusted the secondary vanes to bring the secondary into the centre. Only by about 1 mm, I decided to get a compromise between the mirror being centred and the secondary being true to the focuser. John
  6. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, Surely there aren't actually any *actively negative* consequences? I mean, the telescope's resolution will continue the same regardless of how many camera pixels its image falls onto? So in theory, the only downsides are secondary, things like hotter camera (more pixels, probably less efficient cooling p/p) and also far larger file size per mm^2 of sensor? John
  7. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, I had the same issue with new EQ5, the locking knobs were rotated so that they couldn't fully unlock the axes. You need to unscrew them, loosen the locking bolt, and then put the knob back on again. The issue should then be sorted. John
  8. JohnSadlerAstro
    Believe me, once you have had 4-5 hours of about 20 kinks in your back and nerve damage from the terror of modding, you will have had quite enough! Leave any smart cooling systems for another day, it'll save you from losing too many years of your life. John
  9. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, I used an old laptop box as my 'workstation', with the top half of it holding sheets to stick the removed screws onto, and the bottom half lined with white card so I could see clearly. The sides of the box prevent any runaway pieces. I am aware that at least one of the Canon DSLRs requires soldering, I'm not sure which one that is, though; do be careful! If you want to, it might be worth looking over this; I listed the main sticking points of the 1000d modding process after I finished the operation. They will probably be a bit different in the 350, but it might be useful. (No self-promo intended! ) Hope all goes well! (I never had a screwdriver which fitted, so I filed one down on the day ) John
  10. JohnSadlerAstro
    The only way I can get a before-after image is by getting some shots of the Rosette or M42, Ive really wanted to do that, but I stayed mostly away from the red nebulae before I modded, as I wouldn't have been able to get much detail. This is a ton of 5 mins subs without modding, on the Rosette. The background is quite bad, this was before I reworked the control system and got dithering in. As you can see, Ive picked up blue in the neb, and only a bit of red. On modding, I did do the mod myself, but only because of the very detaied instructions available online. I'm not sure they covered the 350. John
  11. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, My latest image with the 130 and EQ5, this was more of a test of my 1000d post-mod. Ripping out the IR filter has certainly given this grandfather of DSLRs a new lease of life; I was considering replacing it a while back. Also some Work In Progress data of M81 and 82, I won't really be able to finish this one until next year, which is a bit of a shame. The biggest problem for me right now is having to set everything up from scratch each session, also I usually wait for the streetlights to turn off after 0:00, then any subs which I take are gradient-free. My plans for this one are some more 5 min subs to get the galaxies showing a bit 'cleaner', then some 3 min ones to capture more of the red filaments hiding in the Cigar. (This data was taken before I modified the 1000d.) John
  12. JohnSadlerAstro

    Infra-Red filter glass out of 1000d and eye. A good day's work methinks.

  13. JohnSadlerAstro

    To mod, or not to mod -- that is the question.

  14. JohnSadlerAstro

    Slightly amused by the amount of money blown up at 00:00 this morning; but I always was a sceptic! :D

    1. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Yeah, they could of sent some of it to me. I would have put it to a much more practical use! Hehe! ????

  15. JohnSadlerAstro
    It can easily handle anything! The EQ5 I am using is one hardly anybody uses, because the motors for it were only recently given a handset with ST4. I wouldn't really want to increase focal length, to be honest, but i am using a 50mm finder as guidescope, so some improvements could be made there! John
  16. JohnSadlerAstro
    Hi, Well i guess its my turn to post here now, I've had a 130 for almost a year now, I'm using it with a basic EQ5. These are my best images; I'm working on software/control reworking then i should be back into imaging for the new year. John
  17. JohnSadlerAstro
    Elephants Trunk (SHO/bi-colour)
    Wow!
  18. JohnSadlerAstro

    New Autoguiding Setup--waiting for clear skies :clouds1:

  19. JohnSadlerAstro

    M81.png

    JohnSadlerAstro commented on umasscrew39's gallery image in Member's Album

    M81.png
    Nice! What equipment did you use?
  20. JohnSadlerAstro
    WP_20170528_14_16_02_Pro.jpg
    I hope you aren't using the standard skywatcher sorft Japanese steel screws to hold that one on!!!
  21. JohnSadlerAstro

    commas save lives

    JohnSadlerAstro commented on saac's gallery image in Member's Album

    commas save lives
    This is an interesting gallery.
  22. JohnSadlerAstro

    The generous Uncle is coming tomorrow I must do my best to impress. No April Fools pranks. :sad2:

    1. Knighty2112

      Knighty2112

      Do they still do legging up too after 12pm too still? ?

      Probably not! Hehe! ;) 

    2. Pondus

      Pondus

      :icon_biggrin:

  23. JohnSadlerAstro

    M51.jpg

    JohnSadlerAstro posted a gallery image in Member's Album

    M51.jpg

    From the album: EQ5 And 130P-DS

    M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy
  24. JohnSadlerAstro
    M81 - My first galaxy photographed that was the subject
    Nice image! I took a pictureof M81 & 82 using almost the same equipment, but no supernovae!!!
  25. JohnSadlerAstro

    New "Meme" profile pic showing me watching on as my savings leave HM Government's Investment Program and enter the primary of my scope.

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