Peter_D

Smallest is a Tasco 9VR 60mm refractor. Very nice Vixen optics from the mid 1980s. Lightest OTA is a Bresser Pulsar 80mm Mangin Cassegrain. It is mounted on a really well built alt-az mount.

Would a light Equatorial Mount not be a better option in the longer term? Something like a Eq3-2? If you are interested more in Lunar and Planetary, the next upgrade I would suggest would be a motor or motors to keep the planet in the fov? The next upgrade would be be the scope - maybe a Bresser 127/1900 Mak (think I'm correct in saying it operates at a full 127mm aperture?). Just speaking from experience but adding the relatively low cost Sky-watcher motors onto my EQ mount really helped my planetary observations. I had used a SW Pronto mount and I just found the constant moving of the axes really off-putting.

My two main scopes are a C6 (6SE version) and a de-forked Meade 8 inch SCT. For extended observations, I mount either on a Vixen GP. The C6 is perfect on the GP mount. It's a very light scope in relation to its size and doesn't tax the EQ5 upgrade motors at all. I would imagine a C8 would work quite well on a GP mount too. I use the 8 inch Meade for planetary and I want to buy a HEQ5 to mount it - think it would be a better fit. I don't want to sell my GP mount because it works so well with my lighter scopes.

I'm glad you are both ok. That is really shocking. I've never experienced something like that. Sometimes I sense curious people glancing through the cracks in my fence when slewing the scope at night. One time around midnight, I saw a middle aged couple reach up over the fence and remove a cutting from my cherry tree, unaware I was at my telescope. I said, 'Sorry but that's my tree' and the both ran away! They must have got a real fright 😆

Top arrow points to crater Delaunay and bottom arrow points to the merged craters of Nonius L and K. Rükl describes Delaunay as a 'formation 50km in diameter, heart-shaped, divided by the central mountain range'.

One nice memory I have is seeing the Milky Way for the first time in years when we visited the Ardennes - an absolutely amazing sight just scanning the star fields with a pair of 7x50s. It wasn't even a really dark site which makes me want to really experience a Bortle 1 or 2 zone soon.

Why don't you try contacting local astronomical societies and clubs? Members could have spare kit that they would be willing to give to you. Another option would asking at a university or school if they have a telescope that is not being used. Give it a try! Good luck.

I have a Vixen GP mount with a SW Synscan Upgrade kit attached. I wanted to start long exposure AP. I knew that I would really regret selling the mount to upgrade to a HEQ5 or EQ6. I decided to hold off on getting a new mount and purchased a used SW ED80 OTA instead. Love the combination. The weather has been appalling for weeks but I've had a couple of decent imaging sessions. Making progress with guiding, processing, got Eqmod set up etc. My recent image of M31 is not going to win any prizes but I'm happy to have it as a benchmark to compare it to next Autumn when it's better placed for me and I'll maybe have a corrector too 🙂

I have an EQ-5 Goto upgrade kit installed and am guiding successfully with ST-4. I have a new version of the handcontroller. I would like to use ASCOM and go down the route of direct communication between guide camera and mount, use of plate solving etc. I'm a little bit confused with how I can go about doing this. Am I correct in saying I have two options: 1) I can connect directly from the EQ-5 controller using this cable: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq5-pro-heq5-syntrek-pro-az-eq5-gt-az-eq6-gt-and-eq8-mounts.html (I would unplug the Synscan hand controller from the controller module and use this port and connect to the laptop's USB port?) I would then use Eqmod to control the telescope? 2) I can connect a printer cable to the Handcontroller and connect it to laptop's USB port. I have to enable PC Connect mode on the handcontroller beforehand. I would use Skywatcher's app to control the telescope? Thanks for any feedback given Clear skies Peter

Thanks! The photo is a bit misleading because I took it just with a normal finder scope attached. The SvBony guidescope is much lower and worked a treat. I just had to unscrew the lens element out to achieve focus as my Zwo asi224mc screws directly into the back threads of the guidescope. I still have to get a corrector so that should help with the coma around the edges.

Sorry, Tycho!

Here's an image of Clavius and Tycho along the terminator taken this evening. Meade 2080, Zwo asi224mc, Zwo UV-IR Cut Filter. Image converted to Grayscale. Clear skies Peter

You can also make effective homemade dew shields out of sheets of black foam and velcro.

Update: A used Evostar ED80 came up for sale and I was successful in my bid for it. I bought a svBony 30mm guidescope and got PHD2 working using the ST4 On Camera method (for now). I was out yesterday and captured an hour's worth of data on the Pleiades. Lot's of room for improvement but definitely a easier scope to use for AP with my GP mount than my previous attempts with a C6.

I was observing the Southern Lunar Highlands and the crater Maurolycus (lower mid centre) really stood out. I was only able to capture a short video as the clouds rolled in, yet again. (Clicking on the image gives a slightly better resolution) Celestron 6SE, Zwo asi224mc, Zwo UV/IR Cut Filter. Clear skies Peter

One of my most memorable observations was M42 through a Vixen 114/900 reflector (F7.9) - detail, contrast, really nice view. I had upgraded from a 60mm refractor so the increase in apperature was really striking. The Moon, Venus were also great in this scope as were double stars. I don't really use it anymore as I now have larger SCTs but still a very capable, lightweight scope that I will keep.

Hi, I finally got around to upgrading Stellarium and was looking at the position of the Leo Triplet in the coming months. I noticed that an asteroid, 202 Chryseïs will be in the vicinity this spring. Peter

Hi, Nice start! You can use an app called the Moons of Jupiter to identify them. I would try and reduce the exposure on your iPhone - with an 127 Mak, you will definitely see the main cloud bands. You can then fine focus. Using a peg on the focuser knob will give you better fine control. When you get good focus, keep the planet centred and record a video (maximum of 3 minutes). You can then stack and process the image. I started with my smartphone, then used a DSLR and am presently using a Zwo planetary camera. In retrospect, I should have left out the DSLR phase and gone directly to the planetary camera. Peter

It's often said that an 8 inch SCT hits a sweet spot: you have a relatively cheap (esp if bought used), light OTA that can be mounted even on a EQ5 equivalent mount. More generally SCTs are compact so a short movement arm. Easy to store and the smaller ones are easy to move around. As mentioned before, a external focuser can be fitted to negate focus shift. You can also get a 0.63 reducer that increases (and flattens) the fov somewhat and speeds up astrophotography. More advanced optics called Fastar can be added to make the system an F2 instrument. For Planetary imaging, apperature is key. The comparatively large central obstruction of an SCT will give a slightly less bright and contrasty image than a refractor or Mak but the larger apperature of a C11 or C14 should allow more resolution in the planetary image. Of course, this is not always the case because of seeing. Last point: lower cost eyepieces like Plössls work well in Cats.

Here's an image of Venus taken this evening. It was at 11 degrees elevation and has a phase of 0.10. 20,000 images, best 10% used. Final image reduced to 50% of original. Celestron 6SE, Zwo asi224mc, 2x Barlow, Svbony 685nm IR Pass Filter. Peter

Would a parfocal ring help? https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p581_Baader-FR-4---Parfocal-Ring-for-1-25--eyepieces-and-adapters.html If so, FLO will definitely have one too. HTH

I would make sure the front corrector plate had not dewed up - you don't have a dew shield. This will happen pretty quickly in the winter, especially if the scope is being brought out from a warm house. SCTs are prone to this. I use a proper dew shield. You can get one that fits the 6SE specifically. You can also make a homemade one using foam. You can also get heated dew straps. HTH PS Also check eyepieces and diagonal for dew. If any glass surface have dewed up, you will get a foggy view. If it is dew, don't wipe if off. Leave your scope to dry in a cool place. Leave caps off front and back.

First time imaging the Moon for ages.. conditions were not great though so I switched to an IR Pass Filter to image Pythagoras which is was prominent on the lunar limb. Reading up on this crater, it's 128km in diameter with central peaks of 1500m. Meade 2080, Zwo asi224mc, 2x Barlow, Svbony 685nm IR Pass filter Peter

Super images! Your link isn't working, would like to see your setup

And thanks again for the feedback. Yes, you must be blue in the face saying 'Mount first'! 👍