Miguel1983

Maybe some tape ?

Personally i have no experience with it, but i've been looking at the EQ35M mount lately as a lightweight second mount for wide field AP. I think it has a reasonable price tag on it and i like the modular aspect of it, its like a beefy staradventurer and capable EQ mount all in one. This way you can start imaging with your DSLR and go from there. Edit: i would not recommend starting AP with the Starblast, sure it's possible, but you're going to have a hard time balancing, focussing, collimation, ... a smal refractor is the way to go i learnt the hard way.

i'm no expert neither, i just got the latest version of EQMOD/Ascom , and the latest ascom drivers for al my gear (focuser, EFW, mount,...) and it basically al talks with each other through ASCOM. Again, there ar folks here who now this way beter than me Good luck !

I will compare it next session, i made adjustments. 4 weights was to much.

Hi, i use PHD2 via Ascom and basically i leave the setting quite standard, if anything i just fiddle with the Dec and RA aggressiveness settings and Hys setting to smooth out guide commands. Surely you know to adjust the focal length of the guidescope and guidecamera pixel size in the settings, i'm no expert and others can correct me but you should be OK. Must say i was surprised to see 3 weights on your mount, i have the Esprit 120 on mine (minus the guider) and i have perfect balance with 2 weights but mine are at the end of the bar. Total weight is 13,3 Kg (29,32lbs) Whats the Mach 1 mount for ? 😁 The balance in DEC is so tight that when i put the dust cap on the Esprit it drops down.

I can highly recommend joining an amateur astronomy group (there must be one in your region ?), just like that i've got a whole group of like minded friends to share the experience with. Since i've started the hobby at the end of 2017 every single amateur astronomer i've met, be it here, on a Facebook group or in real life at a star party has proven to be a kind, helpful, supporting,... just great person. Clear skies !

Nice work !

nicely done !

Hi, this is the first reasonably succesfull image i've taken since i got the ASI 1600MM-Pro, also post process with Pixinsight hasn't been a smooth transition. Still got some square reflection (i guess fron the sensor) on the brightest stars, but i'm quite happy with the result, i didn't wanted to overdo it in post. Specs: Esprit 120 @ f5.25 (TS 0.75 reducer) ZWO ASI 1600mm-Pro ZWO EFW and Astronomik filters ZWO OAG with 120MM mini EQ6R-Pro APT for Capture PHD2 guiding DSS, Pixinsight and PS CS6 Integration @ 60sec/frame : 300 L ; 110 R ; 110 G ; 110 B so 10,5h total Thanks for looking 😃

I have been thinking about the CLS CCD filter for luminence. Are those the Astrodon filters you're hinting on ? I find those ridiculous expensive 😖

With some delay, this arrived last week actualy. A LED drawing panel and an Astronomik Sii filter in a oversized box. I've got one slot left, sugestions ?

Very strange indeed, were did you get it from ?

Have you tried moving the camera back and forth in the drawtube ? Could be a a backfocus problem...

With my C11 is can pass underneath the dovetailplate, so all around the tube.

looks like a new scope !

don't forget the weight of the 2" diagonal, finderscope and 2" eyepieces (my heaviest is 1,25 kg !)

Choosing a reference image in the Luminance stack is also very important, and as said, plate solving will save you a lot of cursing

High clouds that dissipated later on ? If every setting remains the same, you would think it's an external factor ?

This is the same and a little cheaper (€-£) https://www.astromarket.org/telescopen/omegon-apochromatische-refractor-pro-apo-ap-71-450-quadruplet-ota/p,60855

Happy to report, the TS 0.75 reducer flattener (f7 --> f5.25) performes well without the need for additional rings, so the reducer fits directly on the ZWO OAG and the rest is according to the ZWO sheme for 55mm backfocus with OAG and EFW. This is a 3*60sec stack of M45 (no flats), not cropped obviously. and this is 1 300s frame

The focuser is the same so it has to be.

Hi, so yesterday I’ve received the Esprit 120 and some extras and I started right away unpacking and installing it on my mount. The case and the accessories there was some debris in one of the taped holes On the rings, but i managed to get it out quickly with a pointy blade. the accessories: Don’t know exactly wat the extension tube is for, I probably won’t need it. It has a male M48 tread so i guess its for getting a DSLR into focus wen you don’t use the field flattener. The SW field flattener comes with some rings too, to mount it on the drawtube of the telescope (first remove te last reduction ring to 2”) and a ring with male M48 tread for connecting a T-ring and a spacer to get up to 75mm backfocus. Next the TS 0.75 reducer/corrector on the telescope side it fits directly on the drawtube and on the camera side it has a reduction to M48. Backfocus is 55mm, witch is the same I had with my ED 80 it replaces. This ring can be removed, its not needed with the Esprit 120. Also got a Baader Click Lock for in case of visual use And the obligatory dew strap For size comparison Ed80 VS Esprit 120 Time to fit everything on the mount I’ve added a D-style 33cm dovetail on the top to mount the USB hub and Pocket Power Box and i got some room left for piggy backing a DSLR. So far so good, next step was calibration of the Sesto Senso, this is when things went wrong. The Sesto Senso slipt or the shaft would even turn when the motor was. i called in some help and started fiddling with the focuser. At the end i had to loosen the screws that push the teflon bars against the drawtube, all is good now. IMG_8514.MP4 Edit: maybe worth mentioning, the whole setup weight is 13,3kg

All sorts of goodies 🥳

I have the AZGTI skymax 127 combo, and i really like this combo, also have the ED80 and that works too for low power wide field. Keep in mind that the AZGTI is not designed for astrophotography, so if your are willing to spend some money on an Esprit 80 you would probably be better to get a beefier mount too. For the same budget as the AZGTI + Esprit 80, you can get a HEQ5-Pro mount and the SW ED80 DS-Pro outfit and some money to spare. Yes the mount is less portable but more than adequate for starting with astrophotography, as is the ED80 Good luck

Hi, yesterday i've raided the piggy bank and pulled the trigger on some gear, so the waiting game is on 😏 FLO order (you're welcome) Esprit 120 without te ES Reid test (contacted FLO, there's no test report delivered afterwards so 🤔) SW flattener for the scope A larger Bahtinov mask (my current one is too small for the 165mm dew shield) A Baader Click Lock for the Esprit 120 A Baader finder shoe (i've read somewhere the standard one isn't that good) TS Optics order APM 330mm Losmandy plate (will mount this one to the bottom and the green one on top) Dew tape 160-200 TS 0,75 APO reducer/corrector Variable M48 spacer (17-23mm) for getting to 75mm backfocus with the SW flattener Some M48 spacers TS has already shipped, FLO hasn't, don't know why, i've made sure everything was in stock and i've paid triple shipping cost for Express. Anyhow i'm sure i'll get my toys by Wednesday. I've doubted on witch reducer to get, i've read good things on the Explore Scientific 3" 0.7 reducer, but that one needed quite some expensive adaptor rings for the same starting price of the TS reducer. Does anybody have experience with the 120 + TS reducer ? Thanks