Peter_D

Great suggestion, I didn't think about this option. Will give it a go, thank you

Hi, Stupid me, I dropped my Zwo asi224mc . I thought everything was ok but unfortunately the glass sensor window cracked. I tried to ensure no particles were on the sensor but you can see from the photo that some are on the sensor (the black spots are dust on my microscope lens, the white particles are the glass on the sensor) Is the camera salvageable? 😒 Thanks for any feedback Peter

Hi, It was the first clear evening for a while so I had a go with Mars and Jupiter. Here's my Mars image using an Orion Optics OMC 140 Maksutov. Zwo asi224mc, 2x Barlow, Baader UV-IR Cut filter. PIPP, Autostekkert!3, Registax6. 40000 images, best 15% used. Clear skies! Peter

APM Telescopes in Germany

Thanks, good suggestion!

I am going to try and capture Sirius B when Sirius gets higher for me in the new year. Yesterday, I decided to set up my gear and try out on Rigel - it's was still only at around 20 degrees elevation (this is around the maximum elevation Sirius rises for me too). I used my Zwo asi224mc camera, unbarlowed in an Orion Optics 140 OMC Maksutov. This was mounted on a Celestron SE Mount. Exposure: 2.5 ms, Gain = 500. 5000 images, best 10% used. When I switched off tracking Rigel drifted to the top right corner of the frame. Processed the same as I do planetary: PIPP, Autostekkert!3, Registax6. Rigel B was indistinct before sharpening but sharpening brought it out in the image. Clear skies Peter

Superb image! Thanks for sharing. For comparison, here's an image I took of the Alpine Valley in an 8 inch Meade SCT taken in excellent seeing earlier this year - maybe the illumination wasn't ideal as the central rille is much less distinct.

Here's an image of Sinus Iridum and Mare Frigoris. Morning capture at sunrise on 16.12.22 taken with an IR Pass filter. 5000 images, best 15% used. Orion Optics OMC 140, Zwo asi 224mc, SvBony 685nm Pass Filter. Clear skies Peter

Orion Optics OMC 140, Zwo asi 224mc. Daytime colour image converted to mono. 5000 images, best 15% stacked and processed. Clear skies Peter

Mars this evening. Conditions very good but very cold! Olympus Mons just visible on the western limb. Meade 8 inch SCT, Zwo asi224mc, Zwo ADC, 2x Barlow, Baader UV-IR Cut Filter. Final image reduced to 80% of original. Clear skies Peter

I had the brief opportunity to do some imaging last night before the clouds rolled in. I was using my new to me Orion OMC 140. I found the capture of the planet a lot easier than my 8 inch SCT, the scope just works better on my GP mount. When every minute counts with approaching cloud, this is a definite plus. The compromise is of course the reduction in aperature. Nevetheless, I captured Solis Lacus, the 'Eye of Mars', which is a first for me. Orion OMC 140, Zwo asi224mc, Baader UV-IR Cut filter, 1.5x Barlow. Thanks for looking Clear Skies Peter

After a few weeks of endless cloud, I was delighted to see some clear nights coming up on Clear Outside..until (doh!) I realised it was for Exeter 😂

Recently bought a used Orion Optics (UK) OMC 140. It's one of the older purple models with the micrometer focuser. It's mounted on a Vixen New Polaris mount - will have to add a tiny more weight to get it perfectly balanced.

Stunning videos of the launch taken by members of the public here: https://youtu.be/oWR5tFgJKIQ

Superb! (I wish the commentary was less verbose)

Jupiter - Vixen A81M Achromatic Refractor, Zwo asi224mc, Baader UV-IR Cut filter, 2x Barlow. 2 minute capture. 35K images, best 15% used. PIPP, Autostekkert!3, Registax6. Final image reduced to 70% of original.

Hi, Just in from capturing Mars - I focused on the Moon for a while and captured Langrenus - a first for me. I like the terracing on the crater's wall. Meade 8 inch SCT, Zwo asi224mc, 2x Barlow. Thanks for looking and clear skies Peter

Another image, taken an hour later: I think Olympus Mons is the dot at 10 o'clock 🙂

Here‘s an image of Mars taken tonight. Seeing was good. 89k images, best 50% used. Meade 8 inch SCT, Zwo 224mc, Baader UV-IR cut filter, 2x Barlow. Final image reduced to 70% of original. Thanks for looking Peter

Jupiter imaged with a C90 Maksutov and Zwo asi224mc camera. Planet was at 28 degrees elevation. 22k images, best 15% used. PIPP, Autostekkert!3, Registax6. Thanks for looking!

Conditions really not so good here - Stellarium said Europa would be transiting too but I hadn't detected it visually or in the final image (would this be possible with an 8 inch SCT?) - Ganymede is to the bottom right, Europa was just under the GRS according to Stellarium. 20k images, best 15% used. 2 minute capture. 8 inch Meade SCT, Zwo asi224mc, 2x Barlow, Baader UV-IR cut filter. Thanks for looking, Clear Skies Peter

Thanks...sorry, should have included that: 2 minutes

Hi, I was all set to capture Io transiting Jupiter last night but dew intervened - I really need to invest in a dew heater.. Here's an image of Io just on the Jovian limb. I think my focus is slightly off - I really need to invest in a motorised focuser 🙂 30,000 images, best 15% used. Image resized to 70%. Meade 8 inch SCT, Zwo asi224mc, Zwo ADC, 2x Barlow, Baader UV-IR Cut filter. Thanks for looking, clear skies Peter

Hi, I haven't had much luck with planetary imaging this season so took the opportunity to image Jupiter tonight. The sky was clear but the image was quite unsteady so I only used a x1.5 Barlow. 8 inch Meade SCT, Zwo ASI 224mc, Baader UV-IR cut filter. Image reduced to 70% of original. Thanks for looking and clear skies 🙂 Peter

If it were me and I was continuing to transport the OTA in a backpack, I would wait until I had a few dents in the tube before I attempted to remove them. For one ( and the views are ok), I'd leave it for now.