Peco4321

Thanks for that. The problem I have I think is the 13 year old canon 1100d, there seems to be a line on images that I have to overly process out making images very dark. I think I will go down the route of an astro cam, to later be used as a guide cam when more funds are available. I’m quite taken with all I’m reading on the Altair GPCAM3 290c.

So it’s been a while since I’ve been on here, apologies, life tends to get in the way! Here’s where I’m at, I have £300 currently saved to spend on my upgrade path. My backstory is: Skywatcher 150p, eq3-2 enhanced motors canon 1100d un modded, upgraded to Heq5 pro late December. Main interest is DSO imaging, but also lunar and planetary when possible. So my thoughts are to one day go down the guided route but not totally convinced I’ll gain enough as my processing skills and software are limited anyway. I’m thinking of a dedicated astro cam maybe or clip in filter and dew heaters etc etc. Later in the year I’ll have more funds so this is a staged approach. What would you do? Here’s some of my recent images that I’m proud of that I’d like to improve on now I have a good mount, based on your advise of what else I could throw in the mix as well.

Yes all installed successfully just doesn’t open. Not set to read only. I’m going mad.

Hi. When I click PIPP nothing happens. Nothing opens, no messages just nothing. I re-installed it, the same. So frustrating. Any ideas?? I’m on Windows 7, last used couple of months ago I guess.

Some recent pictures of mine, all Skywatcher 150p on eq3-2 with enhanced dual motors canon 1100d. Tracking the progress of Comet PanSTARRS.

Another great launch.

Live launch 21:05

I’ve been using eq3-2 with enhanced motors with a 150p on it for a while now. With good polar alignment I can get 30 sec easy and sometimes 45-55. Here’s a sample of my best unguided using an old canon 1100d un modded.

8 mins.

Coverage started, launch just before 14:00 Uk time.

I think all this is a stark reminder that landing on the moon is not easy. I hope the Americans don’t get too carried away in all the bravado that just because they did it 50 years ago, it must be straight forward!!

Like others say, it’s fine not to go out. I do get it though, the feeling of a lost opportunity when it’s clear, especially on a weekend or a night when you don’t have to be up early the next day. I’ve found if I force it, it’s a bad session, clumsy alignment, basic errors setting up and frustration trying to find your targets. Tonight looks great, but it’s my wedding anniversary tomorrow, I’m off work for the week, and I’m torn between setting up or not bothering so I’m not tired tomorrow. I know what I should do, so I think I’ll just give it a miss. Camping in North Yorkshire later in the week so time for a bit of wide field imaging. Hopefully I’ll match last weeks picture of our tent at night. Whatever you decide, don’t beat yourself up, winters on the way.

Here's a couple of single images from an imaging run with the finished stacked processed image for comparison. Hope this helps.

I got the enhanced dual motors, at the time 18 months ago, think they were about £115, thanks for comments as well.

Sure, I’ll do it later when back home. Typically they are 25-45 sec exposures, plus bias frames stacked in DSS and stretched in GIMP. I would say they are only about 30-60 minutes worth, as I've said I know my limitations so adding hour after hour of data does not make significant differences to my images. Its a great feeling when you first start with DSS, moving the sliders to bring out the detail from what at first sight was a picture showing not much at all, gets me every time.

Yes all on eq3-2 with 150p

150p sit’s fine on this mount. Maybe not the 150pl though

I dream of that one day. Jupiter looks great.

And don’t forget all the solar system imaging you can get with this set up.

Thanks for your kind words. It still amazes me that a humble set up, extremely limited photography skills and light polluted skies in East Yorkshire can give me images of things trillions of miles away. Don't be terrified, get a t ring for your camera, about £15, attach it, trial and error, you’ll have deep sky images in no time.

No guiding, that would maybe be my next investment, if my wife lets me 😄

Cheers. All deep sky stuff is using the camera attached to the scope at prime focus, no lens or Barlow. Take multiple images with the tracking motors running and stack in DSS.

Thanks. I’m totally self taught as well, with loads of help from this site in the early days obviously. There is nothing more satisfying than trying to star hop to where you think a dim DSO is located, hope for the best and start imaging. I’ve been at this hobby for 4 years now, just wish the skies were darker in my town. So to anyone getting into this, I again stress that expectations are the key, you get what you pay for but that doesn’t mean entry level equipment cannot bring great enjoyment.