teoria_del_big_bang

I did think of using it (normally is on my DSO rig as guidescope) and may well give it a go but just thought a OSC would be easier (lazy me 😞 ). If I get some clearish skies I may try it out. What would you do regarding the filters just use a filter drawer or something as I think my filter wheel would be a tad heavy for either the 150 or MAK. Steve

I am looking into getting a camera to do some planetary imaging (despite their poor positioning for the next few years 😞 ). I currently have a ZWO 1600M that I use with my WO 73 for DSO, but thought using my Explorer 150 or MAK 127 would be better for planetary or lunar, but what camera to use. I do not want to spend a small fortune as DSO's are my main passion but would like to be able to do some Lunar / Planetary stuff on the short, partially cloudy nights. I guess my cannon would work fine with my Explorer but I don't think I could fit it on the MAK ??? Or do I get something like ZWO ASI 224MC USB 3.0 OSC ? Whatever do I need other equipment such as an ADC, or filters ? Steve

I feel so sorry for you. It is hard enough at this time of year with it being light enough to read by till well after 10:30, then the full moon appearing at some stage and always the odd cloud about to dodge so top marks for you at least trying, and your post actually gave me a nudge to try as well and I did manage to get a brief observing session, well a couple of hours anyway, so thanks for the post . Tired again for works though 😞 Steve

Actually did what it said on the tin here, clear from about 10:00 tile 12:00. Just observed Jupiter for a while till clouds got too much so just packed in and time for a few zzzzz's. Steve

3 hrs of clear skies - I am jealous (although just looked and does give 2 hrs for us up north 🙂 . I really hope it comes to fruition for you. With the time of year and a full moon it would have to be Jupiter, Saturn or a very bright DSO. Steve

Sounds like a good night and as a relative newbie know how exiting it is to get your first clear views of these planets (especially I think to see Saturn and it's rings). But with the current weather I think you deserve the reward sitting it out and cloud dodging like that. I think due to positions of planets it will be a year or two before we get the best views of the planets so we have good things to look forward to 🙂 Steve

The water for Marine fish is normally RO (reverse osmosis) water and is as close to pure water you can get unless you have some very expensive laboratory equipment and so I would think is ideal. Just remember that as soon as you take the top of the container it starts to get contaminated, albeit slowly, so always keep in a closed container and not a good idea to drink it either, not that I imagine you would 😁 Steve

That is a great image 🙂 Steve

Rene, There probably are others but I am not aware of any. But I am following thread to see if others suggest something 🙂 Steve

Is it AstroPlanner? AstroPlanner Steve

Hi, Is it not the same as other Polemaster mounts such as the HEQ5 etc ? For those you separate the lower adaptor ring from the camera and fix that to the mount, which means you can get to the grub screws through the opening. Then when secure refit the camera and secure with the big screw. I do not have one of these wonderful mounts (YET) so forgive me if there is a different method for these 🙂 Steve

Hi, I only became involved with astronomy 18 months ago and also had real problems with alignment to begin with. The problem I think is that you need to understand exactly what you are doing and why rather than just following a set of instructions. And this can take time for the penny to drop but stick with it eventually everything will become clear and alignment will be second nature and quick. One thing I found useful for me was that after polar alignment I left the mount where it was in tracking mode (sidereal) and maybe left for an hour or so to ensure polaris was still in the same spot on the polar scope. I know this wastes valuable viewing time and you will feel desperate to get on rather than waiting but doing this until I had got to grips with alignment gave me real confidence I was going in the correct direction. One other important point is to ensure the polar scope is correctly aligned with the mount itself and thankfully this can be done in daylight very easily, just follow instructions on this website.# Polar Scope Calibration Steve

Hi Gary, This is just my thoughts - other opinions are available and may differ 🙂 No real specification given but I would bet it is a cheap switched mode power supply from China. So I am sure it will power your controller. BUT, how reliable it will be in the long term is anybodies guess and whether when it fails it does so in a safe manner and does not send a huge voltage out for a short time taking out your controller again is anybodies guess. So personally I would not like to say, it could work fine for many years, it could fail at some stage and if it is a real cheapo it could take out the controller. Another thing to consider (in my opinion) is that we use these things outside in some cold damp conditions and even though we may cover them or put them inside other weatherproof boxes they still can get covered in dew, even frost, so I think all power supplies should be a better quality than we would use indoors. Apart from damage to our expensive equipment poor quality mains equipment and damp can be damaging to ourselves. Just my thoughts. They must be others on this forum that use these, or similar, so maybe better to try and find out what others use and if they are reliable before spending the cash. One other point I would add is that (again personally) I do not really like these cigarette lighter type connectors even though a host of astronomy kit uses them so without cutting them off and re-soldering alternatives we are forced to use them, I have had issues with them dislodging slightly from the sockets in the middle of the night and causing an intermittent supply. So if possible when the plug is fully in the socket put a bit of tape around the plug and socket to prevent it pushing itself out. Some better sockets do have a bit of a lock when the plug is pushed in and twisted to the correct angle which are better but still not great. Steve

on record to watch when missus has gone to sleep, also Chernobyl to watch that has been great to watch especially for me as I was in Russia at the time it went up. Steve

Some great advice above. I am pretty new to imaging and so gone through what you are contemplating embarking on. Being new I can only give some basic advice I have worked my way through: take your time, do not rush into buying anything - do so and you will end up buying twice (at least). Heed advice (on this forum particularly) Read as much as you can ("Making Every Photon Count" is a must) before spending a penny. Reduce your outlay if something suitable comes up for sale on this forum but make sure it is what you are after and do not buy just because you are saving. Do not expect perfect images from the outset but remember any DSO image is an achievement and do not despair that they are not the near perfect images produced by many of the SGL members but look for improvements in your images and techniques. You will get there (I am hoping anyway). Whilst many do manage great images on a reasonable budget and many do start out with a reasonably priced DSLR it is very easy to spend lots (lots) of money. Also some sessions can be extremely frustrating, resulting in little if any useful data - but hang in there and seek advice - many are willing to help and there are no stupid questions (so everybody tells me). Hang in there because when things do go right it is extremely rewarding and satisfying. Taking the shots is only half the story, the processing is perhaps more time consuming than the data acquisition. Just as everything starts to drop into place and things start to go right the clouds WILL roll in and they will stay for what seems forever. Apart from that enjoy it is a great pastime obsession. Steve

Just make sure you check closely where the wires go, normally will be one to one exactly or often the two pairs cross over. Steve

I also made several of these types of cables myself, actually for a model railway layout, and paid under £10 for the crimper. Never had an issue and the cables got a fair bit of stick bending back and forth so yes you could go the DIY route and be able to make a new one at the drop of a hat. If you do want to save a tenner or so on a crimper then PM me I am sure I can make some short cables up for you pretty easily. Steve

There are probably several on Ebay will make any length you want if you contact them. These will do 30cm but will probably do your exact requirements if you contact them. 30cm 4p4c Steve

How many cables do you need? It just seems an expensive route to take buying the crimper for one or two cables. Steve

When I first started polar alignment I found it useful to do it with the mount switched on and tracking. This was just because in early days it used to take me quite a while to get it done as I was not altogether sure I was doing it correctly. Also I found it reassuring that I had correctly aligned after polar alignment to leave mount as it was and leave it tracking for 30 mins or so and check that Polaris was still in the same place exactly. This was just to convince myself I was doing things correctly and obviously I now get straight to business 🙂

Would something like this do? 4 channel 12V relay board Steve

Wow, what a discussion this is. I have only just seen this thread and just read from start to the latest post. My passion at the moment is imaging but love to read threads about any aspect of Astronomy on often read observing threads as well as loads of other aspects of Astronomy. I am not experienced enough in any form of Astronomy to say what is right or wrong (if there is a wrong?) but a couple of things I would like to comment on. Congratulations to all for having what sounds to be a fairly heated debate at times from people with a passion for their particular aspect of this hobby without verbally abusing anyone for their opinion. That is what a good Forum is about and believe me I have been on countless others (not astronomy related) where the language does get somewhat offensive. But having said that it does appear a very small minority that use NV are being ostracised from where they feel they want to be included (i.e. as observers) for no other reason than the true observers (which I admire greatly and do read many observing reports despite not being my area of interest) feeling it is not really observing. If it was the small minority wanting to break away then I would say yes a separate section is required and fine as there is still a large section of members left in the observing section, and they can still know where to find any NV reports if they wish and minorities should be catered for. But until there are many more than 3 or 4 that would post in that section I would say it is not required. My thoughts are that often we create too many sub sections and try to get everyone in a defined section. We have some wonderful images in NB showing wonderful colours. But these are not true colours. So as I take images in RGB should I not really want to see NB images in this section ? and probably both would offend somebody imaging in B&W as this is probably more realistic to the true image. Sorry for going on but I think what I am trying to say is leave the small minority in the section they feel comfortable in. They must only contribute a small percentage of the posts in that section so anyone from the majority that are true purists that accidentally opens up a NV thread will soon realise and can soon close it again and move to the next thread. And please nobody take offence to my very simplistic view I do not mean to offend any form of this wonderful hobby / obsession. Steve

I had read the thread already on this section about 365 Astronomy and it had some very mixed reviews, some saying very good and others not so. So reading these normally I would not order from them BUT it was the only site I could find suitable replacement Latitude adjustment bolts for the HEQ5 from in UK without resorting to Ebay. The price was very reasonable and postage reasonable at £3.85 so I ordered them. And they appeared through my letterbox almost before I hit the return key. Super fast delivery, I can only report my experience with them and had absolutely no issues. Steve

it happens ? Steve

So that is what that is for. You learn something new everyday on this site ? An absolutely marvellous achievement, you well deserve a glass or two ? Steve