TerryMcK

It’s a pain at the moment. We can’t even travel to other countries to escape the constant gloomy skies. I’ve not known it be this bad for a longtime. Last time I was out imaging was late September. Some members with permanent observatories have been able to take advantages when they arise. I use ScopeNights which is a paid for app on Apple and that is generally very good. Meteoblue is also another good app. ClearOutside has been a bit hit and miss for me recently but others seem to use that.

Another entertaining talk. Thanks for arranging this.

Here's my attempt using PixInsight

Yes. The ASI120MM comes with everything you need and the C3 adapter is in the box.

I threw the standard SW finderscope mount away and use the WO guider rings to mount the guide scope on mine BTW.

Yes. I use one on my WOZS73. It is a Skywatcher through finder 9x50 that came with one of my old scopes. I attach a ZWO ASI120MM to it with this from FLO https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-sky-watcher-9x50-finder-to-c-adapter.html The only thing I had to do is remove the locking ring from the focuser to enable it to focus better. I use plumbers PTFE tape wrapped around the threads to lock the focuser. Once set you do not need to refocus.

Interesting. I wonder if the condensation could be routed away in a different direction with another hole drilled in the base of the pier and a hose attached. Maybe a small pump could be run from time to time. I wonder if other members have come across this before.

In my workshop I encourage the spiders in and Alice with her friends catch everything that ventures inside. She is huge now.

So what is the actual question you are asking?

No

My PI gets hot about 45 to 50 C (according to its internal data probes) as the box itself is a heatsink for the PI. The velcro I linked to holds fine on my PI and is relatively cheap.

Hershel to Hawkwind was very entertaining. Looking forward to Myth to Moon

Wow that is one of my desired targets too Carole. I have similar skies and last time I tried it about 12 months ago all I got was a load of stars. Obviously not enough integration time for me. It looks great.

This is the best stuff I have found https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M7P18HP I have it in several places on my mount and it works in low temperatures and high humidity with absolutely no issues. There are lesser velcro products that are not really intended for outside usage.

Hi Doug, this is where there is sometimes confusion. Assuming the PI is connected to all the gear and is running. Local is where the INDI server, the PI in this case, is running. Remote is actually the windows laptop. You can either fire up kstars/ekos on the PI or just fire up the INDI server (the pop out menu at the side is where that resides). In the latter case you have to make sure you have selected the equipment you have and started the INDI server. From the windows laptop fire up KStars and EKOS connecting to the ip address of the PI as you have already done. Then just using EKOS on the Windows PC do your normal setup of your sequence. When in the camera part choose both local and remote storage. For local enter what is greyed out as a default. I think is says something like /home/pictures from memory. For remote enter a location like your pictures folder on the PC and all should be good. Sub directories will be created automatically in both locations. You only have to setup the sequence in one location. I always use the remote device to run EKOS. So I only ever use the PI to connect to the gear using INDI. I normally get simultaneously quick downloads to the PC and direct to the PIs memory card although to be fair I am connected to the PI with a ethernet cable running at 1gbit. Wireless downloads can be slower dependent upon distance from the wireless access point.

The remote/local saving thing is when you are either running EKOS/INDI on the PI and EKOS on another device like a PC. If you have a Windows PC then download the Windows version of KStars. EKOS is in there and you use that to control INDI running on your PI. Then saving locally (the PI) and remotely (the PC) runs seamlessly. If you have a Linux machine or Apple Mac you can download the respective version of KStars and use it in the same way. https://docs.kde.org/trunk5/en/extragear-edu/kstars/tool-ekos.html#:~:text=Connection Mode%3A Ekos can be,INDI server host and port. https://www.indilib.org/forum/ekos/1050-how-to-use-local-and-remote-server-in-ekos.html

It does indeed look very similar John I think that may be the Eikow/Swift. My wife will have a look next week when she visits the house - it is her deceased Aunts house and it is being cleared out. I’m currently suffering with a damaged back and can’t move at the moment.

I'm afraid this is the only picture I have due to Covid restrictions. No more details available. My cousin wants it shipping over to the USA where he lives but I'm not sure it is worth it. I reckon it is probably 1990s vintage.

The 200P OTA on an EQ5 is at the limits, if not beyond it, for imaging and is more suitable for visual. However equatorial mounts and Newtonians end up with eyepieces at all sorts of odd angles necessitating rotating the tube within its rings. Also you end up needing stepladders in some orientations so not that comfortable. Imaging with a big boat sail like the 200P is frustrating to say the least. As you have decent skies the 200P Dobsonian would be good as it is simple to setup. Not so easy to cart about in a car but it is doable as you can remove the OTA from the mount. The mount is very bulky though. Skywatcher make goto versions of the Dob BTW. Get a catsperch type chair for comfort.

I noticed a returned HEQ5 Pro turned up on the FLO website yesterday Steve and thought you may have your eye on that. Next minute it had sold so have to be quick in these pandemic times 😊

What mount are you using? What cable do you use to connect it to the computer?

The 200P works fine with a DSLR. I imaged for a few years with mine. I think dedicated astro cameras struggle with it hence the PDS model. However the EQ5 is on the limts for imaging with a 200P because it is like sail in the slightest wind. Fine for visual work though but beware that the eyepiece can get to awkward positions necessitating rotating the tube within the scope rings so you are not seeking a chiropractor after every session. Always an issue when mounting Newtonians on a equatorial mount.

May be a satellite on a higher orbit than musks catching the light

Fantastic build and great write up.

Hi Steve. The 224MC is really a planetary camera and you are trying to image the crescent which is a deep sky object. For this generally use longer exposures (preferably guided) with cooled cameras or a modified DSLR to get the generally fainter deep sky objects. Also some objects are a lot bigger than planets in the FOV. Your scope will be great for deep sky in conjunction with a camera like a 533 Pro or 183Pro (both cooled). I’m not familiar with the mount so can’t comment on that. It sounds like a upgrade is in the pipeline.