Chefgage

Managed to try it last night. Perfect focus now using the OVL Flattener.

I can only comment on my canon 200d. It fits perfectly in that one. The one I linked to also uses an Allen screw to secure it.

No need for a 3d printer. This is the one I use. https://www.365astronomy.com/Blitz-Hotshoe-dSLR-Camera-Adapter-and-Red-Dot-Finder-COMBO.html

Lots of cloud, so not good.

Simply you just polar align and then move your telescope/camera around to your target whilst making sure the mount and tripod do not move. If you have it set up so you can still use the polar scope with the camera/telescope attached then this is what I do. I position my tripod in roughly the correct position with the polar scope pointing towards the north (actually just to the east of the north where I know Polaris is). I then point the telescope with camera attached to the rough area I know the target is. I then polar align the mount. My next step is to then align the telescope with the target and switch on the tracking using the finder scope connected to the telescope and telrad that is connected to the camera.

I have the 8" version and live in a bortle 8 sky (Scunthorpe so not far from you). I have seen quite a few of the messier 110 list. Ok so a lot of them are just faint smudges which is to be expected but never the less I still found them from my heavy light polluted garden. I have seen M57 the ring nebular which I was very happy that I found it. The 8" version is quite easy to move around/put in the car etc.. But I cannot comment on the 10" version as I have never seen one. I am actually thinking of selling my 200p which has been modified with digital encoders, lazy Susan bearing etc.. it's this one

The post I made was for tonight, so fingers crossed.

The clouds look favourable for tonight so I will get out and test it. Need to get sorted as I am shortly going camping to a bortle 4 sky area. My area is about a 8/9

I went down the OVL route instead of the dedicated one. It has taken more than three months to be delivered though so it best work!! Not tried it yet, still waiting for a break in the clouds.

This is how I attached mine

Take a look at this thread This was the modifications I made to my dob using the wixey gauge and a digital rotary encoder to make the dob a push to system. I works very well.

I use XC weather and clear outside. I like the XC weather app as it shows the cloud cover in a percentage format.

Colour wise I think I prefere the cropped one. Both very nice though.

Yes, thanks for that. I will have to take a image of Vega and have a go myself (I have not imaged Lyra yet). I am surprised at how large the star appears against the other stars.

Nice image. Out of interest what processing did you do on the individual star Vega? I ask as I do images of full constellations and I have been trying to just process the individual stars within the constellation.

I would get the 200p. I have one and it's not that difficult moving it about with the scope still attached to the base using the tensioner handles. It's a pity you live so far away from me as I am going to be selling my 200p soon.

If this is 'getting started with imaging' I must be doing something wrong 😀. Excellent image.

I use this one. Fits nice and good. You can adjust it so it can be removed and fitted in seconds. https://www.365astronomy.com/Blitz-Hotshoe-dSLR-Camera-Adapter-and-Red-Dot-Finder-COMBO.html

You do not mention what you are using to process the stacked images. Are you using Photoshop, gimp etc??

I use the skywatcher 1.75" tripod This one https://www.harrisontelescopes.co.uk/acatalog/skyWatcher-stainless-steel-tripod.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw5vz2BRAtEiwAbcVIL74_xoCcXlaL3wSHCbN_WUWc0Qt5fp8o3yGK_3_S2Dfngsh2HEbHBhoCX_UQAvD_BwE I went from an Amazon special which had a lot of flex in it to the skywatcher one that could hold up a buffalo.

Thanks. I will look into trying that. I have managed a very crude method of obtaining the results I am after. I did this by selecting the star by the same colour. Then using contrast/brightness to increase the values to max. This gives a fairly good increase against the background stars. I am sure the method you suggested is a better way though

Hello all. Is there a way to increase individual star sizes in gimp. A little project I am doing (while I await delivery of a field flattener) is to take some wide angle shots of different constellations. The plan then is to draw in the constellation lines with labelling etc.. To enhance the actual constellation stars is it possible to increase their diameter using gimp as the processing tool. I have already done the levels and curves etc..

Could be. I think the version I had first did not include the field of view circles/rectangles. It was why I upgraded to the 5 plus version.

Yep this is what I did with mine.

Can you see a settings button/tab/something to click?