TerryMcK

This has probably been asked many, many times before but I am interested in what other members have had success with. I've installed and configured AstroTortilla and had varying degrees of success with it. However it does not always work and when I try goto image, load a TIF and let it plate solve it rarely works. Even changing the parameters to arcsecperpix works very occassionally - that seems to have been the most reliable. Having said that it is flakey probably due to my installation. I used this tutorial to install it https://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorial-setting-up-and-using-astrotortilla-for-plate-solving.html I probably need to re-install it again but.... What other plate solving software tools do you use? I would prefer something offline, like astrotortilla, but if an internet connection is required I'm fine with that too. Another question on AstroTortilla - the website shows software from about 2014 and a beta from 2016 - is it still being actively developed ?

Yes I did have a thought about that (having read most filters are one way only) and Hutech show in detail here https://www.sciencecenter.net/hutech/idas/lps2.htm the anti reflectance coating is on the sky side. It’s important that they are the correct way around in the imaging chain. So I’ve ordered a TS-Optics M48a-M48a gender changer. Essentially it is a M48 threaded tube 7.5mm long that converts the female thread inside the back end of the flattener to a male thread. Hence filters will then be facing the correct way around. I could only find the adapter from Teleskope-express.de or their shop on eBay. Here is the item https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4516_TS-Optics-Adapter---continuous-male-M48-thread--as-with-2--filters-.html William Optics gear is fantastic but this particular oversight in the design of the flattener seems to be a schoolboy error. Fortunately WO are in continuous development and the next version of the flattener may allow the filters to be orientated the correct way around. Astrophotography is an expensive hobby due, in small part, to all the little bits and bobs you need to screw everything together!

Fantastic. That's the solution. Thanks Francis.

I've just received the WO Flat73A Adjustable Flattener for my WO ZenithStar 73 APO. I am dismayed to find that there is no internal M48 thread for filters within the body of the flattener . I think the non adjustable version has an internal M48 thread but I needed this particular adjustable version. I'm using the IDAS LPS-D2 which successfully filters out the LED/sodium lights but now have to hang a camera off the filter itself! The adjustable flattener needs to be 11.3 mm and I am assuming this is when a filter is not attached. Do I need to take into account the extra distance that the filter glass effectively moves the camera sensor away from the flattener. It is 1mm thick glass and therefore the flattener shoul;d be set at 10.3mm to maintain that correct distance to the sensor (I think it is 55mm for a Canon DSLR)

I've just received by new HEQ5 Pro fitted with Rowan belt upgrade from FLO. Wow it is quiet! All you can hear is the gentle zuz of the stepper motors, no grinding of gears, zero backlash! The mount also came with SynScan version 5 (the manual is SSHCV5-F-170808V2-EN) but the manual is not currently in PDF form on SkyWatchers global website - only V4 of the manual is available. I'll have to make sure I don't drop it in a puddle. The polarscope reticule is the newer SkyWatcher one that has 3 concentric rings corresponding to 2012, 2020 and 2028. It also has 3 subdials for 2016, 2024 and 2032. So it now corresponds with the PolarAlign app from George Varros. I've also ordered an aluminium carrying case for the HEQ5 from 365Astronomy. https://www.365astronomy.com/Aluminium-Carrying-Case-for-HEQ5-Mount-Head.html anybody got one of these? Rowan belt mod is well recommended if you are thinking of an upgrade.