Simon Dunsmore

Hi Folks, Quick question, looking at a cooled zwo camera to use with my skywatcher 130pds Kind of torn between the 183 and 533. From my school boy maths, I think that the 183 could potentially lead to over sampling. Any suggestions? Looking to image DSOs and work with asi air pro. Thanks for your help Simon

Hey Alacant Great images!! Thanks for sharing these. Can I ask what dslr you are using? Also, is this the scope? https://www.astroshop.eu/telescopes/bresser-telescope-n-150-1200-messier-hexafoc-ota/p,14197 Thanks again Simon

Hi, With tripod, standard (not fitted with Rowan belts) Not sure on age, maybe 5 years old but in very good condition.

Hi Folks, Quick question. I'm considering selling my beloved HEQ5 Pro and purchasing a NEQ6 R Pro. What would be a fair asking price for the HEQ5? I was thinking around £600?? I'd appreciate a little guidance. Thanks Simon

Hi, Mummmmm! interesting. So would you consider the Skywatcher ExplorerPL NR to be an option. Focal length 1200. It comes in a lot cheaper at £270. Thanks Simon

Hi all Thanks for the responses. Firstly, its a HEQ5, sorry for any confusion. I have to confess I'm becoming a little confused here. I took a look at the astronomy.tools calculator and it seems that there isn't really a set up that works well with RC. Can I ask, If i wanted to gain more detailed images (for want of a better phrase, magnified) what would be the best set up. Using my current scope and camera the galaxies I image are always pretty small in the frame. I appreciate that I am going to need a bigger budget but it would be good to have a target. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems the longer the focal length the greater accuracy is needed when tracking which = a heq6 mount. Does this mean that I'm operating the equipment that I have at its limit? Would money be better invested in a mount upgrade and an RC. Sorry for all the questions, as I said, I'm a little confused Thanks Simon

Hi and thanks so much for taking the time to reply in such detail. I need to try and get my head around those equations so that I can perhaps decide where I'm best to aim for in the future. For example, do I need to think about saving up and replacing the camera as well as the ota etc. Food for thought. Thanks again Simon

Hi Folks, Looking for some wisdom from the corporate brain. I presently have the following set up. Skywatcher 130PDS HEQ5 Pro goto mount ASIAIR Pro Canon D60 DSLR The set up works well but I'm wanting to add a different OTA to image galaxies and DSO with a little more magnification. I'm considering a 6inch Ritchey-Chrétien as this falls within the budget of £500. I'm wondering what you folks think of this set up. Anyone have any experience of using both the 130PDS and the Ritchey-Chrétien? Would the weight work OK on the HEQ6 pro? Will I notice much difference? Thanks in advance for your help All the best Simon

Hi, I was hoping to draw on the corporate brain and gain a little advice about imaging galaxies. Right now I have the following set up for imaging Nebula. Skywatcher 130pds, Heq5 pro goto mount, skywatcher nexguide guide scope, moded canon 60d dslr with field flattener, ASI Air. The set up works really well for larger DSOs like Nebula and larger galaxies, but I was wondering if there would be a good scope for imaging galaxies. Most appear very small in the images. I potentially have a budget of around £600. Thanks for your help Simon

Hi Folks, Hoping for a little help. I'm just trying to get my head around shooting flats with a dslr through my telescope. I have a light pad with a dimable led. I've read it's best to use AV mode and let the camera select the correct exposure but I've also read its best to use Manual. Bit confused here, which do I use and is it best to dim/ brighten the light on the pad or reduce/lengthen the shutter speed? If I understand this correctly, I'm looking for the histogram to be somewhere in the middle right? Thanks for your help A baffled would be Astrophotographer Simon

Hi James, Thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm using dss. Really helpful. Thanks!

Hi Folks, Sorry if this is silly question. I've taken a few astro images but up until this time I've only taken lights. I'm looking to add calibration frames on my next image but have a question about stacking. Do I add the flats, darks and bias to the stacking process as they are or do I stack them separately and then stack them with the lights or doesn't it matter? Thanks for your help Simon

Thanks, how would the ST102 perform for astrophotography?

Hi and thanks for all the suggestions. The camera came with a Tamron SP 10-24mm 1:3.5 - 4.5 DiII lense. Maybe I'll give that a try first

Hi, Thanks, good idea. I hadn't thought of just using a camera lense!

Hi Thanks for your comments and the detailed explanation. I'll give it some thought. Cheers!!!

Hi Folks, I was wondering if anyone could suggest a wide field OTA for around £150? I presently use a Skywatcher 130pds for imaging DSOs but I would like to consider a wide field scope also for astrophotography for use with a DSLR. Budget very limited to £150 or very close. Thanks for your help Simon

Hi Folks, I was wondering if anyone could suggest a wide field OTA for around £150? I presently use a Skywatcher 130pds for imaging DSOs but I would like to consider a wide field scope also for astrophotography for use with a DSLR. Budget very limited to £150 or very close. Thanks for your help Simon

Hi All, Thanks for your help and suggestions. In the end I made this, large plastic container with good seal on the lid. I purchased a pack of rubber grommets to seal around the wires and have an RCD on order. Lots of space, so heat should not be an issue. Thanks again!

Hi Matt, Thanks for your reply. So do you use this in a weatherproof box!?

Hi and thanks for your reply. Amp wise I don't think that my rig will be drawing any more than 7amps. Heq5 mount, zwo asiair pro, dslr, mini guide cam. The power supply is rated up to 30 Amps.

Hi Folks, Quick question. I have one of these power supplies and want to be able to leave it outside whilst the camera goes through the imaging run. I'm worried about moisture and was wondering if I could place the unit in a waterproof box. My concern is that it may overheat? I had thought about fitting a fan but wouldn't that spoil the integrity of the box? Your suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks in advance Simon https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/nevada-psw-30-25-30a-switch-mode-power-supply.html

Hi Folks, Quick question. I have one of these power supplies and want to be able to leave it outside whilst the camera goes through the imaging run. I'm worried about moisture and was wondering if I could place the unit in a waterproof box. My concern is that it may overheat? I had thought about fitting a fan but wouldn't that spoil the integrity of the box? Your suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks in advance Simon https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/nevada-psw-30-25-30a-switch-mode-power-supply.html

Hi Folks, Ive just purchased a asair Pro and am presently awaiting delivery of a tablet on which to work it. I've read a lot about the poor WiFi signal emitted by the asiair pro and wondered if this would work when working away from home by simply plugging it into a usb port on the pro. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JDVRCI0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_18H6Q2H5NS0SBJY1GA36 On another note, I have set up an extender in my garage to boost the house WiFi into the garden. The problem is that extender creates a different address that works in garden but by the time it reaches my lounge is operating at 30mbs, is this enough? I have a long ethernet cable to connect the Asiair to the extender, so Im assuming that should be OK. Thanks for your help Simon

Hi Andy, I decided to go with Andy Ellis at Astronomiser. I have read nothing but good reviews. Cost is £130 Canon eos60d H alpha removal.