Edward Dewolf

I am getting desperate under Covid curfew over here in Belgium and started eyeing solar observations which I can do during the day off course Understanding the slightly risky nature of solar observations, is there a safe way to observe the sun with the gear I already have, enhanced with some filters and dedicated finder scope? I have a skywatcher 150/750 and a skymax 127. Anyone can share some experiences or advice on what to do next/best in the safest way Thank you for helping Edward

Thank you al for the feedback, lots to look into, but that is what this hobby is all about !

Hi, I started imaging with a ASI294MC-PRO from a Bortle class 5 zone. Can anyone help me how to find out what the best combination of gain and exposure length would be to image galaxies and nebulaes? How does one figure that out? Thx for helping Edward

Thank you Carol, I have been eying that one for when I want to do some narrow band later on in the year 🙂

Hi, I have collected more and more gear over time as I discovered astrophotography. I recently got an ASI294MC-pro camera and am now faced with the last choice of material (for now 🙂 ): filters I have read how people say: the best filters are those you use most, but that does not help anyone starting without filters. I am mostly interested in photographing DSO's: nebulae and galaxies, most often from a Borttle class 4 location, sometimes from home class 8 I understand I need a IR/UV cut filter as standard But then I am looking for a light pollution filter. I hear and see discussions about UHC filters, IDAS, CLS, L-pro or other filters, all filtering more or less signal. I understand all the different city might, but also that more and more cities are starting to use LED lights so the million dollar question: What should I get? I understand you cannot choose for me, but maybe you have some insight in how you chose? Thx Edward

Yes I do

I should have have maybe mentioned that I use my main scope for astrophotography with a guide scope. Would that change much? Would a red dot finder be good enough then?

Thank you for your responses I already have a guiding scope, adding 2 more seems a bit much, but I'll try to find space . I also have the skywatcher red dot finder, but I cannot get it fixed to a spot in the sky, there always seems to be just too much give to make it usable. You have the same experiences?

Hi, I am looking for a new illuminated finder scope. Skywatcher has a 9x50 or a 6x30 illuminated scope. Why would I want one or the other? Or should I go for a red dot finder without magnification? How does one choose the right finder? Thx for helping Edward

FLO helped me out and I indeed chose for a solution similar to this Thanx for your help !

On the first attached image, you can see the thumb screw mechanism to fix eyepieces or cameras to my reflector On the second image you can see how I can remove it and I was wondering if there was a component I could replace this one by so I can screw my camera on instead of having to clamp it on with the thumb screws I ope this clarifies

Hi, I have a Skywatcher 150/750pds Newtonian. it uses thumb screws to attach eye pieces or cameras. I just bought a new camera an was wondering if there was any more secure attachment mechanisms, like a screw-on type of attachment that comes with lots of reflectors. I noticed that the attachment component with the thumb screws actually can be screwed off from the Tube. Does anyone know by what components I can replace in order to have a screw-on attachement mechanism for my camera? Thx for helping Edward

Touch screen enabled gloves, easy hacks for those

Thank you !

Hi, I ahve been taking my first basic images for a whlie now and I am looking to upgrade. A new camera is underway, but I also was looking for a coma corrector for my Skywatcher 150/750PDS reflector. Can anyone advise once? Thx Edward