geoflewis

That's a cracking image Peter, It was definitely worth revisiting it and I love the scale. I've never imaged it, so seeing your rendition inspires me to try for it with my C14+Optec combo. Cheers, Geof

Thanks James, Unfortunately I don't have an OIII filter, just Ha, plus my QSI camera is the 5 FW version, so not easy to incorporate NB anyway. I sometimes shoot Ha for added R, so maybe I should take a run with that as that is loaded in the FW, but I think maybe it's primarily the OIII that's needed. Geof

Here's a look at the Dumbell Nebula (M27) taken a couple of nights ago through my C14 with an F7 Optec Telecompressor in train, captured using a QSI583wsg camera and Astronomic LRGB filters Data was captured using SGP, guided by PHD2/LodestarX2. All subs were 300secs binned 2x2. L=21 R=8 G=8 B=7. I wondered whether I'd be able to get the outer halo, which I could just about see in the L stack with a very aggressive stretch, but I don't have enough data to do that justice, so maybe I'll add more later. Thanks for looking. Geof

Hi @Zoopster It's been a few years since I owned a 10" LX200, but I do recall that periodically I had to adjust both the RA and Dec locks. The Dec would actual get too tight, so I had to completely remove the dial and reseat it and associated washers. For the RA lock have you followed this procedure from the manual? 3. Right Ascension Lock After a period of time, it is possible that the R.A. lock (7, Fig. 1)of the LX200 will not tighten sufficiently due to internal wear ofthe clutch mechanism. In such an event, remove the R.A. locklever using one of the hex wrenches supplied with thetelescope. Then, with a pair of pliers, tighten the shaftprotruding outward from the drive base until you cannot easilyrotate the fork arm in R.A. (Take care in this operation not todamage the cosmetic finish of your LX200). Replace the R.A.lock lever so that the handle points straight out from the cross-bar connecting the fork arm. Good luck, Geof

Yep, hindsight is 20:20...!!! I sold my modified Canon 600D a couple of years ago, then bought it back last year, since when it's continued to sit in a box unused....!! Really the NEQ6 would have just continued to collect dust, so I'm glad to have moved it on to someone that's getting good use out of it. I've been thinking about one of those really portable star adventurer mounts for some widefield imaging with my 600D, though that isn't going to solve my missing low southerly Messier targets. Maybe I'll buy a 2nd hand mount for that one year then move it on again right after I'm done with it.....

Just another thought, are you allowing your Mak to cool for a couple of hours or more before using it for planetary imaging? The OTA needs to be at the same temperature as the ambient air outside or air currents inside the OTA will ruin your images. Geof

That’s good to know. As we discussed I hadn’t used it in a couple of years since I installed the Obs, but every so often I think I should have kept it 🤔.... I’m now realising that I’m not going to get all the low southern Messiers from my Obs due to the wall height, so a good portable rig might be needed sometime in the future.... oh well.... Cheers, Geof

It looks pretty darned good to me

Jupiter’s altitude in Jan 2014 was much more favourable than it is currently and that is a lovely image. Both Saturn and Jupiter are at the bottom (most southerly) of their cycles and very challenging from northern latitudes, so much so that I have only taken a couple of runs at them in 2019 (in fact I think only one run at Saturn) and that’s even using an ADC with mono ASI120. I think your recent Jupiter is pretty typical for its current low altitude. They have both started to head north again, so things will improve, Jupiter more quickly than Saturn. If you’re getting good lunar images then that shows the potential of the camera, but my advice would definitely be to get an ADC if you are going to continue imaging with s colour camera. Good luck, Geof

Ok that's me done for the night too. Just shutting down the obs, then off to hit the sack... Geof

Wow...!! What’s the target?

Same here 😀. Hoping to grab another 30 mins on M27, which will give me 9x300 on each RGB, then will call it a wrap. Been a great night so far....

I’m still going; decided to revisit the Dumbell (M27) as I’ve not previously imaged it with my QSI583 CCD. It was one of the first targets I imaged back in 2013 with a DSLR through my rather clunky Meade 10” LX200, so maybe about time for an updated LRGB version....

What altitude was Jupiter when you were imaging it, I suspect pretty low down in which case an ADC will definitely help, especially when using a colour camera.

Excellent news Ray, OAG makes a big difference in guiding accuracy, so glad you got it working

Much better transparency tonight than last night, so got the 15x70 Binoculars and sun lounger out and laid back for 20 mins or so sweeping the MW. Found the Eastern Veil which is a first for me with binos and swept through NAM + Pelican region seeing masses of nebulosity. Temperature is really balmy, really enjoyed that. M18 on last sub, so will see that in, then go for 2nd target and get back out with the binoculars.... Geof

I’m back at those low altitude southern Messier targets. Hoping to grab an hour on M18 open cluster, then something similar on M75 globular cluster. Those 2 will take me through midnight, not sure what I’ll go for after that.... Not looking for anything other than a couple of images for my list - I think I’m in the mid 80s/110 and know that there are some that will not be possible from my observatory as the walls are too high, but I’ll worry about that when I’ve collected every one that I can reach.

Hi Donal, I’ve got about 1.5 hours L and 40 mins each RGB in the can over 3 nights, though night 2 was rubbish seeing so really only 2 nights, so it remains to be seen. My horizon goes down to about 10 degrees, but I stopped capturing once M16 got down to about 15 deg. The L and R subs looked pretty good as they downloaded, the G&B less so, but that may be just what the target gives. I haven’t tried to process any of it yet, will leave that for a rainy day, or cloudy night - I’m sure that I won’t have to wait too long....!! I just opened the Obs again for tonight and it’s 37C in there. The mount and CW are very warm, bordering on hot to touch. Last night the scope OTA temp sensors (one internal one external) were still reporting 25 degrees at 10pm and my warm room was still pretty toasty at 2:00am...!! Cheers, Geof

That looks great Donal, well done. Geof

For the low southern targets I’ve been after I’ve started with astronomical twilight at around 9:30pm, as if I waited until full darkness they’d be too low down this late in the year. I’ve not processed any of them yet, so may find that they all crap...!! I start to cool down the camera around 9:00pm then plate solve the first target to be ready to start the sequence as soon as I think it’s dark enough. Geof

I only tried a handful of planetary runs this summer with, as expected, very limited success. I had hoped to focus mainly on some summer DSOs, but other family stuff got in the way of that, so really I did very little imaging the past 6 weeks, but did do somebrief visual sessions on The Veil, Crescent, Dumbell, some globs, etc., which was fun. Now the dust has settled I have decided to go straight back to DSOs, so got my first couple of nights back imaging over this weekend. The Moon is now getting out of the way allowing some longer sessions as night darkness lengthens, so I still have a chance to tick of some low southern Messier targets to add to my collection, mostly open clusters and globs. Geof

Hi Ray, I have the 583wsg-5 and use a lodestar x2 in the OAG port. I mostly do LRGB, sometimes adding Ha, but don’t have other NB filters, so don’t know if their focus position is significantly different. I’ve never had any issues with the lodestar going out of focus on filter changes enough to affect guiding, but I do pause guiding when running autofocus routines, as that can take out any dim guide stars that I might have to use with the small FOV of my C14. Good luck, Geof

After collecting 8x300sec each RGB on M16 I moved over to M73, a somewhat pointless asterism that I need for my Messier collection. I've just completed 10x120sec each RGB, which hopefully is more than enough for this target. With the Last Qtr Moon now rising in the NE, I've decided to call it a wrap and get some shut eye, even though the sky currently looks pretty good. For those of you continuing into night, have fun and good luck. Geof

Drives you crazy when that happens - I can't count the number of times I've done something similar. Tonight I've stayed out in my obs warm room to keep an eye on everything and it really is a warm room after all the sun today.... Good luck with the Little Rosette Neb

It’s clear here in South Norfolk, but transparency is not great. Nevertheless I’m trying to collect data on some low southerly targets, currently shooting RG&B on M16 to add to some L that I got a couple of nights ago. Fingers crossed 🤞