wesdon1

@Flame Nebula I think this Q should be reversed, but in my experience I've seen more DSO's in my 8" Newt. Reflector than my 5 inch Refractor ( well, 120mm Refractor, so not quite 127mm, but the difference is negligible ) You also have to bear in mind than the two different optical systems have strengths and weaknesses on both sides, it all depends what you're looking at, for example SSO or DSO. Hope this sort of helps you understand my friend. Regards, Wes.

Hi all. I just wanted to tell any folk who don't know, if you want stress free easy and incredibly accurate Polar Alignment, then I cannot recommend highly enough the IOptron IPolar. I tried it for first time last night and I was amazed at how silly easy it was to use and the results were literally perfect! The software you download to Laptop to use the IPolar is silly simple to understand, it's everything you need, and literally nothing else, no frills, no fancy super complicated settings etc etc. My tracking has never been as good, not even close! Plus I didn't have to be on my knees breaking my neck looking through my mounts polar scope, struggling to get it as perfect as possible! SERIOUSEY worth the money! ( Remember to check compatibility with your mount/gear. Also, It requires a Laptop or other computer device to run it's software )

@Giles_B My goodness you've been spoiled my friend! I've only had 3 nights this year! lol I was actually imaging M101 last night with the Moon roughly 40 degrees apart from my target. I have looked at my data yet, although the subs coming through looked sorta ok. I'll have to wait n see later! ( I know, it's probably silly shooting so relatively near to the Moon but I'm hopeful! )

Oh dear! That was what i already feared ( I was about 90% sure! ) it was! It's junk like that which puts potential long term passionate astro-nuts off the hobby for the rest of their lives...really not good!

right i'm off now fellas, hopefully we'll all have great reports to share in the coming days! Clear Skies!

@Vroobel I've never even seen meteoblue, I'll have to look that up. Yes I agree the weather channels can give you a general idea what might happen with your local weather, but as you mentioned yourself we have to take a broad range of sources local and in the broader area of UK and western EU. I actually like the clear outside app but I agree it can be awfully inaccurate unfortunately...

@Elp I wish you the best of luck mate. I'm going for M101 myself.

@Elp and as luck would have it it's mostly broadband galaxy season! Damn Moon! lol

@Vroobel LOL mate I can't remember the last time I saw a weather forecast that reliable! GRRR haha

@Vroobel I just noticed you're in Liverpool same as myself mate! 👌

@Elp Yes mate, hopefully we'll all still get some good data. I image surrounded by trees n tall building so I'm hope that might mitigate the wind somewhat...🤞

@Vroobel LOL thats the exact same satelite website I use too mate. It's amazing, especially since it's also free!

Hi all. So finally tonight ( barring the weather changing drastically from the forecast? ) I/we here in NW England are getting a cloudless night. I was last outside imaging in January! Absolutely cannot wait! My only fears are 1-The forecast is wrong or 2- I have one of those hellish nights where everything seems to go wrong and I end up with crap data or none at all! lol.

@jp1977 Hi. May I ask, what is that name of the manufacturer that is illegible in the photo? It's on the side of the telescope written in black it appears?

@Alan White I have been into model making, rc car, plane and helicopter making/driving/flying since I was 11 yrs old! ( have you ever tried flying a proper "professional" rc helicopter?? It's almost as hard as trying to learn how to do produce top notch astrophotography images/learn astrophotography full stop!! 😱😂 )

@Elp Yes I see your points, but when you're a total newbie ( atleast from my own experience ) worrying about noise, SNR, dithering etc etc is simply not even a consideration yet. Just being outside and actually taking short subs successfully, then working out a basic calibration, stacking and processing regime is your main goal and is more than enough of a headache as it is! LOL. One will naturally start to learn more about aforementioned issues in time as one matures into the hobby. All that said, I don't dismiss your points at all, I merely think there's validity in both arguments!

@Mr Spock Have you managed to split a double star system where one star is orange/yellow and the other blue? I'd love to manage that at some point, in my minds eye I could imagine it to look beautiful. I've never actually tried my hand at star splitting but really want to. Do you think my 200/1000 newt would manage it? Thanks, Wes.

@Elp Yes I agree the dedicated astro-cameras are much better than DSLR's modded or not, but for a newbie though, I think it'd be wise to stick to the relative simplicity of a DSLR before getting a dedicated astro-cam because of the need for either a Laptop n software or extra expense of buying a ASI Air or the like. ( Just wanted to say, I have literally no idea why SGL wwebsite has only just flagged up these messages to me so many months after I posted this??? ) I had a DSLR modded simply because I already owned two of them. I also needed the relative simpolicity of a DSLR until I have the confidence ( and the money! lol ) to dive into dedicated astro cameras! Really happy for you in your new money making venture my friend!

I've just bought a S/H IOptron Ipolar Camera set with SW HEQ5 adaptor. I was going to buy the QHY Polemaster but IMPO the Ioptron is much easier to use and setup. I acn't wait to get outside and try it out! Only problem is this damn weather! I haven't had a single clear night this year!! LOL

I bought this new few days ago. I already own the 1.25" Optolong L-Pro, but I need the Canon EOS DSLR clip in version too for when I'm using my Canon lenses for widefield astro. I'm slowly building up my arsenal of Narrowband and Broadband Filters, they're very expensive so I can't afford to buy all of them in one go! lol.

@Naughty Neal I love a good book Neil. These days so much is online or on phone apps, that we often neglect to remember there's nothing quite like a physical book you can hold in your hands, write notes in etc!

@Beardy30 Aww thanks James! You're welcome! ☺️

@Cosmic Geoff Yes I would normally have mentioned those other important things in about astro gear but he was asking a very specific question about the Celestron 6" SCT price etc, so I kinda got fixated on telling him about the pro's and cons of them specifically. On that subject of wobbly/inadequate mounts, I remember a few years ago when starting out, I mounted a 4" achro F11 refractor to a skinny DSLR camera tripod while saving up for a proper mount, and I swear it was hilariously impossible to get the damn 'scope to stop wobbling while trying to view things!! Nightmare!! 😂

@Stu1smartcookie Sorry mate, I was trying to write a message but I got confused so i'll just start again on a new message! LOL

@Cosmic Geoff Hey jeff! I totally see the logic in your sentiments Geoff. What I was trying to tell the man, based on my assumption he was totally new to the hobby, was the nature and capabilities of the Catadioptric type designs. I wasn't trying to put him off, or "knock" the catadioptric 'scopes, I was just trying to help him make an informed decision. I have later discovered he has actually owned an SCT before, so he's well informed already. Also, I was telling him the Celestron brand is great quality and a great price? But from the comments you've made it appears you might have misunderstood what I was trying to tell him? Absolutely no problem though! We need open and honest discussions on here so we can all learn from each other! Kindest regards, Wes.