Xsubmariner

Nice smooth roof. Does the controller have an interlock to enable a mount parked signal to ensure the roof only closes when the scope is parked?

Well I am deeply disappointed. I ordered the book on 10th March through Amazon for its release on 28th March. Now I have a notification it is expected May-October. WHS indicated it was in stock 1-2 weeks, so cancelled order with Amazon and ordered through WHS, a week later I am now notified they are trying to source. Don’t you just love the annoying aspects of internet retail. 🤬

Hi Panos. Welcome to SGL, there’s  lots of information across the forums.

Martin

NGC2237 - Rosette Nebula in Monoceros captured 2/3, 5/6 March 2024. A total of 41xHa, 28xOiii and 31x Sii frames all 300sec. Integration 8.3 hours. Processed using PixInsight, plus Russell Croman’s Blur/Noise/Star XTerminator, Foraxx Colour Pallette.

H,S,O stars processed using Foraxx script.

Imaging Kit; TOA150 reduced to 755mm fl, QHY600M with QHYFW and Antlia 3nm HSO filters, Mesu200 mount. Tak60 guide scope with ZWO120mm camera. 
 

Good steer Jeremy. Now ordered, hope you're getting commission? 👏

24 minutes ago, Stuart1971 said:

It was not my issue, you got the wrong person…👍🏻

Thank you Stuart, my poor grammar.  My response was intended for the thread author as you say. 👍

17 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

‘So the seller had obvi

A watch of Nick’s video might provide an answer

 .  As he explains ZWO we’re sorry about their design fault but left it to owners to clean up their problem. After owning several ZWO cameras including the dreaded frosting ZWO 071 before the pro version, I decided to switch to QHY and have been very happy. I still own several smaller (non cooled) ZWO’s and one 2600mc which thankfully was after the thermal lube problem.

I wouldn’t be too hard on the seller, he did agree to take it back if necessary. I am not saying this was the reason for your problem but thankfully yours was easily resolvable and you probably acquired it much cheaper than a new unit. I have acquired used cameras in the past and they have delivered great value for money. 
 

Clear skies and every success imaging with your new camera, the sensors overall performance is a game changer in UK Astrophotography, enjoy.

LBN576 in Cassiopeia  known as the Garlic Head or Popped Balloon Nebula. A faint supernova remnant, it lies 10,000 light-years away with a diameter of 98 light-years. Processed using PixInsight core tools plus Russ Croman’s BXT, NXT, SXT. GraXpert and Foraxx script were also employed.

Equipment: TOA150 with 0.7 reducer, QHY268M with QHYFW and Antlia 36mm 3nm Ha and Oiii filters. Mesu200 mount with guiding supported by PHD2 using OAG/LoadstarX2. Acquisition controlled by Sequence Generator Pro. 

Frames: 37x Ha 600s, 34x Oiii 600s Total integration 12 hours.

Capture dates: 9/17/18th January 24.

I acquired USB3 to Fibre Optic units for runs between observatories. While they were not compatible with USB2.0 data transfers they were great for my ZWO main imaging camera.  The problem came when I acquired replacement QHY268 cameras that would just not function using the FO converters, they remain fine for ZWO though.

Each FO converter allowed 2xUSB3.0 connections and were blisteringly quick. I tested one of them with a 64M and 26M camera running simultaneously at the fastest frame rate with not a single frame dropped according to Sharpcap.

The best active USB3.0 long cables I have found are Startech 5&10M, currently have 6 running between the control room and observatories.

22 hours ago, Xilman said:

what will Betelgeuse look like in only 65 ky?

A pretty picture. 😢 I’ve just realised I am not a Star-Gazer, I’m a Star-Imager 😱

Hi and welcome, there’s lots of informative data within the topic threads.

2 hours ago, assouptro said:

Should I expect a Mesu to be as breeze resistant as my EQ8?

While I have no experience of an EQ8, I was imaging with my Meade 12”/Mesu200 in ROS three weeks ago during very blustery weather and managed to capture good data, with no obvious problems. I could hear the wind occasionally whistling on the control room roof.

I use an Epson ET8550, It’s an excellent printer capable of all paper sizes up to A3 and greatly benefits from eco tank technology. I recommend this because of its print quality and amazing value for money ink bottles, gone are the pathetic small ink cartridges priced as gold. It also comes with user friendly software and can employ paper calibration data if you can acquire it for your chosen paper.

Paul, I was quoted £600 for insurance from a specialist company which mirrors your experience. Likewise with Gordon my observatory is treated as an outbuilding and limited accordingly.  
Where I have been a member of various societies associated with other hobbies it is usually the case these groups offer insurance at very good rates for their members.

These rates are enabled through economies of scale by virtue of the large membership numbers. In my experience the membership costs of these bodies was paid for through the considerable savings in insurance.

I checked the main societies websites associated with Astronomy and none offered preferential members insurance as a benefit.

I am led to believe most Astronomy Societies are struggling with poor new membership rates.  Perhaps if they were to negotiate preferential insurance rates for members equipment, Observatories  and outreach events they may find more people drawn to membership. A win win for everyone.

Welcome to SGL. You will find a lot of useful information within the forum threads.

Kudos to you guys who assemble and disassemble your kit every imaging session, your dedication is admirable. After a couple of months doing just that, I determined to build an observatory before I gave up on AP.

I’m intrigued the same reducer works with both the f8 & f10 OTA’s across the ACF range. The initial documentation released with this product lacks any performance metrics a user can expect across the Meade ACF range. 

 Owner of a 12” f8 OTA I am very interested in a reducer that is dedicated/designed for my OTA. Already the owner of both the AP 0.67x and Lepus 0.62x reducers, I have struggled with either one when using an APS-C camera.  Regrettably I am reluctant to invest in any new reducer until I have read some positive user/independent feedback. Keen but watching.

What a horrible experience, you are very lucky the system equipment is undamaged. I have a plastic shed as a ROS observatory and was very pleased no damage was sustained during the high winds this last week. When building my Roll of Shed, I focused a lot on over engineering the base and associated securing arrangements for the plastic shed.  I chose the 8x6 Ketter Shed as the building comes with a robust plastic base that the sides lock into, providing good rigidity to the sides and roof. While there were cheaper items available I was sceptical as to their robustness against a strong wind.

My Ketter shed base is then bolted to the wooden rolling chassis’s base. I removed the plastic hinges and fitted steel hinges to the doors.

The Pier base has a steel plate beneath the wooden platform that holds the PSU’s. This plate ultimately secures the whole building structure down when the shed is slid into the closed position. Once in place and secured the whole structure is very rigid.

My observatory is in the open, and was subject to very strong winds here in the last 2 weeks. So far there is no evidence of any damage to the structure, which is a relief and comfort for the future. 

 
I personally would not attempt to rebuild a structure that has already failed once. You were very lucky this time. May I suggest you consider a more robust arrangement rather than a repair, especially in light of this experience.

Hi Paul, you mention astrograph and reducers so I assume your primary goal is DSO Astrophotography (AP).  What is no clear is if you require lightweight equipment and easy mobility. You have implied financial limitations. 

21 hours ago, Paul2019 said:

If I didn’t upgrade the mount I could afford a substantially better scope. 

May I suggest you consider lower cost mount options along the lines of the NEQ6 etc, this will free more funds for the inevitable extras that come with DSO AP (focus motor, guide scope and camera, filters, filter wheel if mono). My mobile system consists of an NEQ6 (dark frame tweaked) mount that has ably supported up to 130mm triplet with full AP accessories. Depending on DSO target of interest I swap out the 130 for an Esprit 80 or Redcat 51. AP is an exciting hobby that can get expensive very quickly as your expertise grows. Enjoy the journey and good luck.

Hi Angel, welcome to SGL.  Searching the topic threads, you will find many comprehensive answers to most of the questions raised by newbies.

15 minutes ago, Anthonyexmouth said:

I'm not new, just been dragging my heels to go mono for over a decade.

In your position I would go for 3nm units sooner rather than later.

Hi Elp, my Antlia 3nm is an improvement over the 3.5nm  I tried and a huge improvement over the 7/8nm units. I have found the Astronomik 6nm units to be very good and better value.

As someone who now has a sizeable AP equipment collection may I offer the following for consideration;

when starting out it is likely best to limit your filter/optical equipment until you have overcome the initial AP learning curve and your images start to expose the mount/optical train/filter anomalies.  At this point you will either decide to commit further in equipment quality or remain content with the images you produce.

It may be considered my AP equipment inventory is illogical/ poor value for money based solely on the number of clear nights I can operate the equipment. For me the engineering aspects of this hobby goes a long way to balancing the benefits.

Also from experience I note a high proportion of long clear nights in the UK coincide with the moon present.  This is when most of my Narrowband data has been acquired as LRGB generally disappoints due to moon illuminance. This is precisely the time when my very narrowband (3nm) filters deliver on their investment.

My initial Astronomik/Badder (7/8nm) HSO filters are now in storage and have been replaced with Antlia (3nm) Chroma (3nm) and Astronomik (6nm) units that just deliver in the UK environment.

My skies are Bortle 4 and yes you will definitely see the benefit of very narrow HSO filters.

For clarity, my 7/8nm HSO Astronomik/Badder were excellent filters that supported me for the initial years and ably support many Astrophotographers today who produce stunning images. If you are unfortunate to acquire AP OCD during this hobby you will likely raid the piggy bank for 3nm filters, my precious.

At this time of year I like to capture the Christmas Tree Nebula. This years image was captured 24/25 Nov and processed in PixInsight using the Foraxx colour palette. Rig was TOA150 reduced to f5.3 with Antlia 3nm HSO filters and QHY268M.  All Xterminator and GradX scripts were employed in the production.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Martin

Superb image Peter. Your excellent control of the different bubble layers makes the boundaries stand out, delivering much finer detail to the overall structure. Just amazing.