Deeko

1 hour ago, vlaiv said:

What would be the main reason for this upgrade?

130PDS is very close in performance to most budget refractors (80-100mm). Differences being of course diffraction spikes and need for coma corrector. Other than that it will outperform refractors in light gathering having greater aperture.

If you are looking for wider field setup - then don't bother with "suitability" calculator - get something like Esprit 80 or TS 80 triplets with matching field flattener / focal reducer to get to somewhere around F/4.5 or so and you will have great wide field setup.

If your primary reason for upgrading is that you want "less fiddly" scope / no collimation, but don't want to go wide field or give up on aperture - have a look at this scope then:

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p6880_Explore-Scientific-MN-152-f-4-8-Maksutov-Newtonian-Telescope-with-Field-Correction.html

 

I am indeed looking for a wider field setup with the bonus of no more collimation thrown in, though the fiddly part doesn't bother me that much.

Hello!

After a year of imaging with  the 130PDS / HEQ5 Pro / ZWP 294MC combo Pro I am thinking of getting a nice refractor upgrade. I am currently looking at the Esprit 80, but doesn't look like a great match for the 294MC in the CCD suitability calculator: https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd_suitability Could anyone pass their informed comments on this please? 

The Esprit 80 is at the upper end of my budget and wonder if anyone could make any other suggestion that go well with the 294MC that are less or similarly priced? Also looked at Explore Scientific ED80: https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/explore-scientific-ed-apo-80mm-f6-essential-ota.html , which is just a bare bones kit and needs all the required extras, but is a good match on the CCD suitability calculator.

D.

On 27/08/2019 at 12:01, thomasv said:

Finally had a chance to give a proper go with my idas NB1 filter. Don't like how the stars came out with red halos, otherwise happy and will keep the filter. Someone might be able to fix the stars who is more knowledgeable in processing. Used a modified Canon 6D with equinox 80ED (no flattener), F6, about 2.5 hours of exposures in Bortle 5 skies with LED lights just outside my backyard. 

 

Did you manage to fix the stars? Any more images to share with the NB1?  Currently using the IDAS D2 filter and still not made up my mind to go for the AA Tri or IDAS NB1....

Yes, I am assuming they are both similar, would love to know more before I place an order. When both are back in stock that is!

Waiting to get my hands on a triband filter but need to wait until stock arrives!  Could anyone who has a bit more knowledge on these triband filters tell me if there is much difference in the specs between these two:

https://www.altairastro.com/Altair-TriBand-OSC-CCD-Filter-2inch.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/light-pollution-reduction/idas-narrow-band-nebula-nb1-filter.html

Cheers!

D.

Hi all,

I currently use the Baader Optical Wonder fluid with the Baader microfibre cloth. However, I want to use disposable lint-free clothes with the fluid, specifically Kimwipes or similar: https://www.fishersci.co.uk/shop/products/kimberly-clark-kimtech-science-kimwipes-delicate-task-wipers-7/p-211240 . I cannot seem to source a single box or two in the UK, and Amazon and Ebay is mostly from international sellers which I won't trust. Given the medical use, lint-free spec of the Kimwipes linked, does anyone know where I can buy something similar in the UK? 

Thanks!

Hi all. I currently use a ZWO 294MC-Pro for DSOs and very happy with it. Now I would like to start dabbling with planetary imaging and to cut a long story short - is the 294 any good for this or am I better opting for one of the cheaper (~£200) ZWO cameras to do planetary work? Any recommendations would be great, as well as software to go with it.

Cheers

D.