michael.h.f.wilkinson

Yes, I have the F/2 version (als O-III and S-II)

Set up the dual Samyang 135 F/2 rig yesterday. Managed to get 70 minutes of H-alpha with the ASI183MM-Pro and 60 minutes with the colour camera using an L-Enhance filter. The H-alpha data came out relly nicely. Astro Pixel Processor created this version: Which is perhaps a little harshly stretched. I tried a subtler stretch to arrive at this: Adding colour husing H-a as luminance and the RGB as RGB, I got this: Not perfect, as the RGB camera still needs a few spacers to get the sensor distance right, and the alignment of the two cameras in terms of rotation was off, but I am happy with this first result

Got my dual Samyang 135 F/2 rig gathering data on the North America Nebula Two laptops attached, one for each camera. Apart from the images being in opposite orientation, the fields of view seem to overlap nicely.

Shot a full disk mosaic (17-pane) with the APM 80 mm triplet, ASI174MM, Beloptik Tri-Band ERF, Baader TZ-4 4x tele-centric lens, and Solar Spectrum 0.3 Å H-alpha filter. I first got one set of 1000-frame SER files, and took some longer ones of the huge arcing prominence. The seeing turned better during the imaging session, so I shot a second batch of 1000-frame SER files which turned out much sharper than the first batch. This mosaic is the result of the second batch. Grey scale: Pseudo-colour: Part inverted: Part inverted + pseudo-colour: The huge prom on the left is stunning, but there is a little bright patch on the righthand limb which was showing a lot of activity. I shot it repeatedly and I think there are some post-surge loops developing there in this lat shot. I will try to process the other shots later, and create a little sequence.

Got the solar imaging rig out in the sun in southern France, seeing was a bit up and down, but the detail captured was still pretty good. WL, grey scale: WL, pseudo-colour: Ca-K, grey scale: Ca-K, pseudo-colour: Ca-K, part inverted: Ca-K: part inverted + pseudo-colour: Some prom activity visible in Ca-K. All images taken with my APM 80 mm F/6 triplet, with ASI174MM camera and Beloptik Tri-Band ERF. WL with Lunt Herschel wedge and Solar Continuum filter. Ca-K with Lunt Ca-K B1800s module I also imaged in H-alpha. Will post those images shortly.

Very nice image. I might well want to have a go at that myself in my upcoming trip to southern France

That was my thought, although the ASI183MC-Pro doesn't make use of the full FOV of the lens

Me too. I have an option to replace the front rings with guide-scope rings, for adjustment. I also intend to add a focus fine-tuning system. As I mainly plan to do larger mosaics with this rig, exact alignment might not be that critical. Focus will be.

Just got a second Samyang lens in, and constructed a new dual imaging set-up, featuring two Samyang 135mm F/2 lenses, an ASI183MM-Pro with EFW2 filter wheel for monochrome luminance and narrow-band imaging, and an ASI183MC-Pro, for one-shot colour imaging. Hope to test this on a trip to France soon.

Mine has arrived as documented elsewhere. Really looking forward to some serious observing and imaging with it

Managed to take the brand-new AM5 out for a quick spin yesterday, and am very impressed so far. The build quality is excellent, stability great. I set up the Meade SN6 6" F/5 Schmidt-Newton, first with the Nagler 31T5, later with the equally hefty ES 12 mm 92° eyepiece. The mount skewed rapidly and tracked effortlessly, vibration damping easily on a par with the venerable Vixen GP-DX. Had some nice views of the Ring Nebula with the 12mm EP in particular. I still need to sort out polar alignment and go-to functions better (will probably use the ASIAIR-Plus for that), but I am very pleased so far. With the power supply I was using, I did get an occasional message of low voltage in the AM5 app, but only when slewing rapidly. The LiFePO4 battery I just got had no such problems, so I need to use a more powerful 12 V power supply when using mains voltage. What I like is that you can also just slew around with the joystick, ignoring all advanced go-to stuff, although the controls do take some getting used to.

I am not going to image, just have a play with the new mount, learning the alignment procedure, etc.

Against all probability, after arrival of new kit, the skies are clearing. I have attached the Meade SN6 6" F/5 Schmidt-Newton to the AM5. Clear Outside suggests it should stay clear until 1:00. Fingers crossed

Indeed it can. It can also work in EQ mode from pole to equator, and on to the other pole

And now the tripod has arrived Looks really good, feels really solid

There should be one in the plug (I will double check), and all the plugs of the appliances I attach have their own fuses. Certainly something to add.

Got a good deal on a 12 V 50 Ah battery, complete with charger and charging port, so just added a 12 V cigarette lighter plug. Will put this in a suitable box with carrying handle later. Love the light weight (6.4 kg)

wonderful shot!

Very nice indeed.

I have a similar scope (Meade SN6 6" F/5 Schmidt Newton), and am very happy with both the Nagler 31T5 and the 22T4. The view with the Nagler 31T5 is excellent, and the 3.3 deg true FOV almost makes the finder scope surplus to requirements. The sky background is of course little brighter than in the 22T4, but I used both EPs in this scope recently to catch comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS).

Thanks. I hope I can thoroughly test this on my upcoming trip to France Cheers Michael

A shiny new AM5 mount. Now all I need is a carbon-fibre tripod I had ordered with it.

Spotted it last night with the Meade SN6 6" F/5 Schmidt-Newton (which is a brilliant comet sweeper with 3.3 deg FOV when using the Nagler 31T5). Difficult in slightly hazy skies, but definitely visible in averted vision, slightly easier in the Nagler 22 mm. Also had a good look at M10 Raised a tot of Laphroaig Quarter Cask to that

Got the comet, with more difficulty than expected. The skies were really rather hazy, and even M10 was a bit washed out. Still, managed to locate the right spot with the Nagler 31T5 in place, spotted a little hazy blob, and switched to the Nagler 22T4, and it showed up more clearly.

I am just going to observe. Best of luck imaging