PembrokeSteve

Hi, First time I have used my ZWO ASI 178MC camera on Jupiter. If only it was higher up in the sky! Imaged from Pembroke Dock, Wales, UK, on 21/06/19 at 22:51 Hrs Equipment: Vixen VC200L VISAC Telescope, on NEQ6 mount. Imaged through ZWO ASI 178MC camera. Camera resolution set at : 1920x1200. 20% of 1408 frames processed through Autostakkert, Registax and GIMP.

Hi, Very pleased with this moon image. Imaged on 08/06/19 at 21.50pm 1006 frames at resolution 2080x2080 in RGB24 format, using my ZWOASI178MC camera. Telescope - Intes MK67 Maksutov Processed through Autostakkert, then wavelets in Registax and some slight tweaks in GIMP Regards, Steve The three large craters Theophilus, Cyrillus and Catherina. On the left of the image is the ridge line of Rupes Altai, which leads upwards to the crater Piccolomini

That is an amazing Image! Regards, Steve

Hi, Many thanks for your comments. Glad I took the above moon images, because my Jupiter images, I captured later on that evening, were rubbish! Regards, Steve

Hi, See below some of my best Moon Shots from my imaging session of 8th June 2019, taken while waiting for Jupiter to appear. All images taken with my Intes MK67 Maksutov telescope, via my ZWO ASI 178MC camera. Regards, Steve

Hi, Just processed this evening. ( anything to escape the Mrs! ) Image taken using my Intes-Micro MN56 telescope and my ZWOASI178MC camera on 11/05/19 at 21:19. Below Photo:- Montes Appenninus seen emerging from the darkness, leading one's eye to Montes Caucasus and to the two large craters Eudoxus and Aristoteles. Mare Serenitatis is to the to the right. Regards, Steve

Awesome Image ! Regards, Steve

Hi, I took a load of images on 11/05/19 at various resolutions etc. using my ZWOASI178MC camera, via my Intes-Micro MN56 Mak Newt. After I had run my 7.27GB video data through Autostakkert, the resulting "conv" Tiff image ( 20% of 1356 frames at Noise Robust 3 ) looked rather overcooked, (ie) ( it looked as if unsharp-mask had been over-applied ) Usually the Autostakkert "conv" Tiff image, is always the one I select to process further for my final image. This time I decided to have a go at processing the "non conv" Tiff image, which I usually always ignore. I tweaked my "non conv" Autostakkert image through Gimp, then Arcsoft Photostudio 5.5 ( which I picked up free, with a Canon digital camera many years ago ). I then converted the photo into Black and white, and got the below result. In summary From what at the beginning appeared to be a failed lunar image, now seems quite a good image. Got to admit this processing work can drive you insane!! Whole evenings seem to get obliterated from doing it ! I am now left with dozens of images, which I consider as failures, and will now have to to delete ! Regards, Steve

Hi, Many thanks DP concerning the Darks advice. Thanks also to Olly, I will spend some time doing a re-process, and see what I can come up with! Not sure if my 1st initial stretch that I do in APP, prior to saving my FITS image as a Tiff is causing me to clip the black point. Again thanks, Steve

Hi, Here is my first attempt at the Leo Triplet from 5th May 2019. I suppose rather sad compared to what is on this forum, but a start for me, Lol ! Image composed of: 60 x 70 second Lights, 10 x 50 second Lights, 10 x 70 second Darks, 1 x 50 second Dark, x 30 Bias and x 30 Flats. Orion ED80 Telescope, NEQ6 Pro, Canon 600D, using APT no guiding. Processed in APP, tweaked in GIMP and Arcsoft Photostudio 5.5 Regards, Steve

Hi, I am very interested in this scope as well, for imaging. It has got to be top quality I am certain. I would welcome any feedback as well. Regards, Steve

Hi, Very impressed with your lunar images - I will have a go with my Televue X5 Powermate, when I do the Moon next ! Regards, Steve

Hi, Took some images of the Moon on 5th May using my ZWOASI178MC (non cooled version) camera and paired it up with my Intes-Micro MN56 Mak Newt. This seems to be a fantastic combination for Moon imaging. The ZWO178MC seems to "snap into" focus with ease, due I believe to the superb optics of my MN56. I am also pleased that the MN56 seems to produce good images with my x2 Meade Barlow, and I am looking forward to see the results I can get with future imaging sessions. Some of the file sizes I end up with using the ZWOASI178MC are huge (ie) 13GB , even after only running off 1,300 frames, however Autostakkert seems to still process them well even though it takes longer. I am really pleased with my ZWOASI178MC camera (and I am still on a learning curve with it), but if you are looking for a good camera for moon imaging which won't cost a fortune, look no further. Regards, Steve

Hi, Chuffed to bits with getting second place for my "I won't be back" Terminator image! Many thanks for all your kind comments and for liking my terminator image. Regards, Steve

Hi, I intend to connect my NEQ6 mount to laptop using RS232 cable, via my Synscan Handset. Hopefully this will allow me to dither in "APT Dithering" mode. Regards, Steve

Hi, I am at the moment trying to set up "Dithering" on my APT. I am presently using a Canon 600D, with Orion ED80 Refractor, mounted on my NEQ6PRO. Please note, I have not yet progressed to Guiding - NO GUIDING Do I basically select "APT Dithering" and maybe leave all the other settings at Default? Most grateful if anyone can let be know which settings I might need to adjust, and to what values. Finding it all a little bit confusing ! Many Thanks Steve

Hi, Here is the link which shows the SHARPSTAR APOs soon to become available from the UK dealer 365astronomy.com https://www.365astronomy.com/sharpstar/ Regards, Steve

Hi Many thanks for your useful and interesting feedback regarding my 125mm APO query. Just before typing out this reply, I spotted something "rather exciting" ( for me anyway ! and probably for you as well ! ). UK Astro Dealer website 365astronomy.com , are soon introducing some stunning looking APO's from Chinese manufacturer Ruixing (SHARPSTAR), and interestingly, one of the SHARPSTAR APO's - AL-107mm f/6.5 Triplet is an exact match for TS - Optics Photoline 107mm f/6.5 Triplet APO. There does not seem to be any 125mm APO available though. From what I read on some feed back from Cloudy Nights Forum, Stellarvue and TS - Optics, source their APO's from SHARPSTAR. The SHARPSTAR APO's look damn good and so does their AL-107 ( I was tempted towards the TS - Optics 125mm APO because it was cheaper than the TS - Optics 107mm APO ) Does anyone know much about Ruixing SHARPSTAR? Regards, Steve

Hi, I have my eye on a rather "mouth watering" 125mm APO Refractor from the much respected German retailer APM:- It is the : TS - OPTICS PHOTOLINE 125mm F/7.8, FPL 53 (FROM OHARA), LANTHANUM APO at £1,499.00 Eur However, I have spotted this telescope being sold by The Widescreen Centre UK:- TECNOSKY 125/975 F/7.8, FPL-53 ED DOUBLET APO at £1,399.00 Question: Are these above telescopes basically the same telescopes under a different brand name? Does anyone know? and if so are they good scopes? Regards, Steve

Hi, Not sure if this has already been covered already - if you attach the Synscan WiFi Adapter to the Skywatcher NEQ6PRO Mount, will the Polarscope illuminator still function? or does this only become illuminated when using the Synscan Handset? Regards, Steve