Snooze

The issue is solved. I contacted ZWO support and they sent me a link with instructions on how to restore the OS. Turns out that the OS version I was using to restore my unit was an outdated and maybe faulty? one (ASIAIR_V1.02) and the new OS from ZWO (ASIAIR_V1.2) worked perfectly. I'm so glad I got it working again cause I really did not want to spend 350+€ on the ASIAIR Plus 😅

Hello guys,

My ASIAIR v1 suddenly stopped working. I either have the red led flashing every 2 or 3 seconds or no led at all. I tried formatting the SD card and reinstalled the firmware but when I go back to the app, the firmware update gets stuck on 1% and it just says auto reconnecting and nothing happens(after 30+ mins). Do you guys have any idea what's happening?

Edit:

If Iturn off the asiair, the next time i start the app it says service unconnected. I'm connected to the wifi but the app is not recognizing the asiair anymore.

Cheers

Wow so happy and honored to have placed 2nd! Thanks.   And congrats to the others too for showing such fantastic images

The Double Cluster

60 x 30s exposures with my SW 72ED Pro and Canon 1200D on my AZ-GTi

Very nice! I shot about 150 30s exposures last night but did not get any ☹️

15 hours ago, Trevor N said:

Nice shot. Those ED72 scopes are ideal for this target

Thanks. Yes it frames perfectly with the ED72 without any reducer  

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I last posted a picture here although I have been imaging as much as time permits. Last weekend I had some clear skies and decided to give the Andromeda Galaxy a shot. It's not my first time imaging this target but I never had any luck before because of light pollution. Nevertheless I decided to give it a try this time with my SW 72ED pro and here is the final result:

Skywatcher 72ED Pro

AZ-GTi guided

Canon 1200Da

A mixture of 180(ISO800) and 120(ISO400) seconds exposures for a total of about 4.5h of integration time

It turned out much better than I had ever expected for the amount of light pollution that I deal with. Turned out that the tip I saw about decreasing exposure length and increasing the number of subs helped deal with light pollution and bring out the details better than going for longer subs.

Cheers!

15 hours ago, geordie85 said:

After you've stacked your images open your image, go to channels, select just the red layer. Now copy and paste that into a new, grey scale clipboard.

Now you'll have only the ha data and none of the noise from the green and blue channels.

This is what I did with the pictures in the orignal post. I will add more 7min exposures to see if i get something better but so far my 3min no filter stack looks better. 

Thanks everyone for the input. I do know that I'm only using 1 out of 4 pixels but it should not matter in my case since it is the same wether I use the Ha filter or not (The Ha is still mapped to the red pixels even without the filter). What I was hoping to achieve was get a better signal to noise ratio without having to expose for ridiculous amounts of time. I will try to add more 7min subs and see if I can get a better result but so far it does not look better than my stack of 3min subs without the filter.

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a Svbony 7nm H-alpha filter and I have been playing around with it with my modded DSLR. Since I'm new to narrowband imaging, I have a couple of questions regarding the results I obtained:

1/ Here is a stack of 7x7min exposures ISO800 (red channel only). Is it normal that my background is not dark and very grainy with the filter? Maybe it's because I'm using a DSLR which I know is not the best way to do things but I was hoping there would be more contrast?

Here is a stretched version:

2/ How should I stack the images? Just throw everything(whole image with B and G channels) in DSS or isolate the red channel from each sub first and then stack those grey images?

Thanks in advance for the help.

The Horsehead Nebula - A work in progress

About 25 x 3 mins unguided subs because my ASI120MM works 1/10 times with PHD2.

Canon 1200Da + 72ED Pro + CLS Filter

Will try to add more time if/when my gude cam decides to cooperate. I also bought a SVbony Halpha filter that I have to try out properly and the combine the two to create an HaRGB image

3 hours ago, Ags said:

....or get a big hard drive and do lots of short subs 😀

My best effort so far (945 mm focal length, sub 1-second subs). Still a lot to learn but I think the approach has promise.

Very nice image! I see you have a C6 in your signature and I have been tempted to buy one to put on my AZ GTi. Do you use it with the mount and how does it perform?

I'm in a similar situation as OP and very interested in this thread. 

Correct me if I'm wrong but a 1min exposure without an Ha filter should contain the same Ha signal as a 1min exposure with a filter right? As far as I understand it, the point of narrowband filters is to let you expose for longer thereby increasing the useful signal(the DSO) compared to unwanted signal such as light pollution or sky glow. Is that correct?

10 hours ago, DroneSaif said:

Hi.

 

I am planning to get the following :-

1. Astro Essential 32mm Guide Scope (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/.../astro-essentials...)
2. ZWO 120MC camera (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/.../zwo-asi120mc-s-usb-3...) 

 

Can I use the above combo to guide the AZ-GTI with the following ?

Yes, you should be able to guide the mount without any issues with the 120MC-S and guide scope you mentioned

I've been enjoying my AZ GTi too. Personally i'd say that you cannot get a better guided setup at this price point. The only issue I have with the mount is the lack of a polar scope but other than that I'm pretty happy with it.

The Great Orion Nebula and the running man nebula - 20 x 120s subs at ISO400

I used that sigma lens this morning to capture the comet and it did pretty fine. However I was using my star adventurer mini too I did 15s exposures.

How about some budget astrophotography for us people who have modest equipment  

15 hours ago, fozzybear said:

nice images yet in anger to try my new ed72. where about in France are you?

Thanks! Yes, the weather has been all other the place in France lately.

And I'm in the south of France, in the pink city ^^

I got my 72ED pro a couple weeks ago but the weather has not been nice and I have only got 2 sessions out of it so far. The whole setup balances quite well on the AZ-GTi and stars are nice and sharp! There is still CA but much less that any of the lenses I have which is an improvement for me. So far I'm happy with the setup

M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy => 150s subs ISO400 from my light polluted sky for a total of about 40min

M27 - Dumbbell Nebula => 150s subs ISO400 for a total of around 1h. There was a thin layer of cloud when I imaged this target which took away some details

Cheers

On 25/05/2020 at 12:41, robhatherton said:

Hi thanks. I’m hoping to get an AZ Gti Mount in the next couple of weeks together with a Starwave Ascent. I believe with a photo adapter I can put the mount on top of my CG4 Celestron tripod which is quite sturdy. Mainly for visual but I’d like to try some imaging as well and it might be an introduction. 
 

I have an xlt 120 refractor but I thought I’d upgrade. I’m already using the mount in AZ configuration as it avoids the awkwardness of a long refractor and eq mount. 

Be careful though cause the AZ GTi has a weight limit of 5kg. it's a really nice little mount and I'm having a lot of fun with it.

Here are a couple more shots taken with my Skymax102

M104 - Sombrero Galaxy

M57 - Ring Nebula

8 hours ago, Nerf_Caching said:

There is a thread on the front of the dew shield for the lens cap to screw onto. Not sure if a camera filter would fit but the diameter of the front of the dew shield is 90mm for reference. U fortunately I don't think your particular filter would fit as the thread is on the dew shield and not on the lens cell.

Well looks like i'll have to buy a 2in UV/IR filter then. More expenses coming my way 😅

I jumped on the 72ED train and ordered one. I hope it get's there soon ^^ For those who own one, is there a filter thread at the front of the lens? My DSLR is fully modded and I only have a 72mm UV IR for DSLR. 

On 20/05/2020 at 14:18, robhatherton said:

Do you think it would do short subs in AZ? I’ve heard it’s possible in theory and the stacking software might cope with the field rotation. 

In theory you should be able to do 20-30s exposures before field rotation becomes noticeable but i have never tried imaging in AZ mode

Played some more with my mount these last couple nights. 

First one is Bode's and Cigar at 260mm f7.1. About 20 x 2min exposures guided. Didn't bother going longer because of light pollution.

And my latest one, M13 with my Skymax102. 24 x 30s exposures unguided at ISO3200

Pretty happy with the mounts performance so far