Swoop1

When I am doing image runs on the HEQ5PRO, particularly when tracking in Lunar and Solar modes, I often find that after a few minutes of satisfactory tracking, the mount starts to drift. This continues until I hit one of the slew buttons and correct it. A while later, off it goes again. I can leave the set up in a capture run (C6 SCT and ASI290MC camera) to pop to the loo or something and on my return, the target is completely out of the FOV. Sidereal seems to be quite stable. Any ideas what the cause and solution is? Generally I am connected via Green Swamp Server and Cartes du Ciel. Thanks. Matt.

Not fitted a belt mod yet myself but, could either of the pulleys be slipping on their shafts or is the tensioner sticking?

Both very nice images Mariusz. I prefer to no teleconverter image as the larger field gives a more pleasing view and context.

A second vote for CdC. I couldn't get Stallarium to work with my HEQ5PRO at all. CdC works every time (though my input degrades the accuracy!).

Best 20% of 1000 frames. Celestron C6 SCT on HEQ5PRO. ASI290MC. Stacked in Autostakkert! and levels adjusted via Gimp. I also have a shorter capture of the moons which I need to add once I have sorted out the process for layers and masks.

Last night I wanted to bag some data on Saturn and Jupiter so set the kit up early and waited for the light to fade. I went out at around 21:30 and started work on Saturn. Before I start gathering data, I work through the EP first to ensure alignment etc (and to have a good visual look!). A pleasant few minutes enjoying the rings. Once I had grabbed a couple of videos, the moon had come into view, so I grabbed my binoculars to have a peek at the terminator before casting around and grabbing some data. After finishing with the moon, I had some spare time to wait for Jupiter to come into view so just sat back and waited for Persieds, bagging a couple, including one quite bright meteor leaving a brief vapour trail. It was then time to have a look at Jupiter through the EP which was its usual magnificent self. Once I had grabbed some data I then had a look around and saw that Mars had appeared at the farthest reach of my south eastern horizon so I bagged some data and then put the EP back in for a visual look. Finally, I saw from Cartes du Ciel that both Uranus and Neptune were visible so I spent a few minutes on each. Both were very small but, Uranus was identifiable by it's creamy colour whereas Neptune was most definitely blue. In both cases, this was the first time I had successfully sought them out. I then packed the gear away and sat in the shadows to see a couple more Perieds after which I was harried by a hedgehog until I got it some meal worms and water. With work looming it was then time for bed.

Nice bit of cabinet making there. I particularly like the corner protection pieces.

Nice image Chris. I might have a look tonight.

Poor images but here are the captures- Mercury 15:08 BST 10-08-2022 Venus 15:27 BST 10-08-2022

Your Honour. At the time in question, I was on duty, in uniform, standing in the car park of Marlow Police Station. I was accompanied by my young sons (8 and 10) and we were using a pinhole in a bit of card to project the partial eclipse onto the bonnet of my Panda. By the time it was over, quite a crowd had gathered to see why two young kids were being lectured by a copper. I still feel the fall in temperature and can see the crescent shape given to the shadows of the leaves on nearby shrubs.

No processing pointers from me as my processing skills rhyme with a large species of freshwater fish! I will say that it is good to read your obvious joy at getting results from your kit. Well done.

Just done a Venus capture and then shut the imaging set up down, replacing the camera with a 25mm EP. Nice bright disc of Venus and the slewed back to Mercury. Confirmed my earlier suspicions- bright point just discernible as a disc. Pleased with the experience of broad daylight non solar or lunar astronomy.

....when they really shouldn't. Life got in the way of astronomy thi morning and I couldn't get out to do some solar until after lunch. I was sat at the laptop, next to the scope melting in the heat. Thankfully, the Sun has popped behind an annoying Leylandii to give me some respite. I may have just managed a daytime capture of Mercury however. A bright spot on the screen that was static until I slewed the mount. Got it in the center of the FOV and captured a video which will be processed later. Lots of white filaments floating by in the view- seed pods or something I suspect.

I decided to point it at Deep Sky last night. Focussing is a bit of a chore as the Bhatinov mask I have that is sized for it doesn't work very well with the amount of light coming through. Also my ASI290MC is probably not the right tool for DS. Stars are all a bloated and there is a bit of movement evident (HEQ5PRO) Forgive the processing🥺 Stacked in DSS, levels adjusted in GIMP. JWST they ain't! M31 (got a bit of detail I think) M13 M81 & M82

I think there are a few Tour de France results that suggest otherwise? 😉

I regularly went where people didn't want me, armed with a bit of paper that said I could be there. Never used dark sky quality as a grounds for a search warrant though.....

Sony a6300 on Celestron C6 SCT/ HEQ5PRO. 1 min video (3027 frames) converted to .SER vis PIPP. Best 20% stacked and sharpened in Autosakkert! Rotated in MS Photo. No other processing.

Congratulations on First Light Stephen!

Ahhh- that lot. We use them at work occasionally. Their tracking system is worse than a failed HEQ5 with the power off that has been PA'd against Aldebaran. I sent a customer a replacement helmet as their original order was mislaid. When I actually managed to speak to a human bean at their call center, said bean said the parcel was at a depot local to us and that they would arrange for it to be returned to us. 6 weeks late the customer called us to say a second helmet had arrived and do we want it back?!?! This is one of many failures. The problem is, when their systems work they are fine but, like all services, the good companies are identified by how they deal with a problem. The company in question should adopt a new log akin to a long legged flightless African bird trying to look for sandworms....

It's looking pretty darn good to me @OK Apricot As far as gaps go, wood will warp and have gaps so, learn to love the little details that are unique to your set up👍

Concrete Foundation Post from Tuin Found these. Are they what you are looking for?

If there is one thing that interested parties should take from this thread, it is your attention to detail- measuring, dry fitting, painting before fixing etc. Of course, there is also the inadequacy of my workshop and tool kit that is exposed as a glaring fault on my part😁

There is a generation of enthusiasts out here who will always hold a place in their heart for Hubble, no matter what else follows.

I feel your pain dealing with the roots. My neighbour has a 25 foot+ Leylandii on their side of the boundary and on more than one occasion I have had to remove roots from it that were causing mounds in our lawn. I use the big hole and bow saw method, though have had to resort to the electric chain saw for one pig of a root.

If they are the scopes that work with LIGO/ VIRGO, a former member of my Astro Society has been involved in the design and implementation of these scopes. He gave a very interesting presentation to us some months ago about them.