Tomatobro

Take a look in the retailers section, price rises for explanation

Take a look at EP12 - Sunday, 26th July 2020 7:30pm BST - Introduction to Astro Pixel Processor by Mabula Haverkamp

OK understood. Tracking with an Alt Az mount is something I have yet to do.

I have a question. Are you just trying to accurately locate objects or do you need a goto function for remote control?. The reason why I ask is that if its just about putting objects in the eyepiece then there are simpler ways of doing it

Currently that is beyond the capability of SGL members but I know that many are working on a solution 🌍

My first decent mount of the go to type. A pleasure to setup and use. Only sold it because I needed more payload.

Me too. I set up using a normal jacket etc then change into my freezer suit when done otherwise it just gets TOO hot

I agree with piprees in that a i3 Nuc with windows 10 pro is all you need. I also use a Minix which works well. The 64gb storage is not a problem. On the MInix I have all the software you need for control and data acquisition but not image processing. The Minix has great wifi range with its external antenna and runs off 12 volt dc. The NUC although it states 19 v it also runs quite happily on 12 volts

Get one of those suits that folks who work in freezer warehouses wear, some good boots and gloves. Recently I tried some of those one time use heated insoles which I find work well. They rely on reacting with oxygen to produce heat and after a while because all the oxygen inside the boot has been used up stop working so I slip the boots off and on to introduce more oxygen. If you are moving about then you do not need to do this only if you are siting or standing still for a while. A pair of insoles cost about 50 pence.

What sort of Budget do you have in mind?

OK, with the legs collapsed the height to the tripod platform is 730mm and each leg is 900mm apart At full height the platform is 1220mm off the ground and the legs are 1470mm apart. the leg measurement is taken to the centre of the white ground pegs.

Unless someone beats me to it I will measure the leg spread collapsed and extended and the corresponding mount pad height for you and post it here.

Oooooh don't mention THAT Andromeda picture. When I saw it on the free calender I was so angry I cancelled my Sky at Night subscription.

on the pi 4 you might find that the brand of USB hub you have does not work on the chosen port. No worries just try plugging it in to another port till you find one that does work.

Its not a support issue as such but more to do with the characteristics of the mount head. I would do a setup check in the daylight to see if the assembly will balance with the weights supplied and if yes then give it a go to see what sort of tracking you get when taking an image. If it balances and tracks well but the tripod is a bit wobbly then the investment in a sturdier one would be worthwhile. Or fix a pier in the garden?

There are so many variables that it is a pure fluke if you get it 100% especially if you set up and take down each session. I have not polar aligned using the polar scope for a few years now but I recall I could never get it spot on. No harm in having a go though.

Three grub screws are used for centring the optics. In daylight adjust the mount till you can put a distant object on the centre cross then rotate mount to see if object remains centred. Adjust screws till object remains centred. A distant roof Ariel is a good object to use

There are a few online co-ordinate calculators online so a search should point you in the right direction.

Its not an "EQMOD" cable as such, just a serial to USB cable so will will work with any system that requires serial data. The benefit of the Lynx cable is that it has the right connectors at both ends.

I agree with tooth_dr the ZWO 120 mini and usb 3.0 mono versions make excellent guide cameras with the Altair (I have this combination on my main scope) If you decide on the 120 mini version I recommend folding back the usb cable and putting a tie wrap round the camera body and cable to take the strain off the usb connector. The mini version also adapts well to OAG due to its slim body. Also Flo have lots in stock which means you will not have to wait for it

I regularly use a Star adventurer pro and pulse guide via PHD2 , ZWO mono camera and a 50mm guide scope. Accurate polar alignment is essential and I use Sharpcap pro for both polar alignment and image acquisition. 120 second exposures can be done with this setup. My favorite lens is a modified Samyang 135mm at F2

The best sensor I know of and have used is the one made by Hydreon. The Hydreon Optical Rain Gauge works on the same principal as the auto sense used on automatic wind shield wipers. Not cheap at £100 though.

if some is good and more is better than too much is just about right

welcome to the world of the radio astronomer........ Just as the optical guys suffer from light pollution we have electrical noise interference. Try moving the frequency up a bit so the meteor ping is still on the screen but the interference is off the top of the scale or narrow the frequency span a little. (or both)

And the ability to hold two opposing views and still function. i.e. its cloudy now so I will set up as it will be clear later on but I know it won't