Steenamaroo

I should probably add that I have had good clear, strong, guide stars using 1 or 1.5 second exposure, stable enough seeing,
and I'm testing in an area sheltered from wind. Polar alignment is decent, tracking is good, and the motors all work fine via manual control.

Hi all,

Hoping someone might be able to help a new-comer to guiding.

I have a 200p (downsizing shortly) on Vixen GP with EQstar EQ5,
and QHY5L-ii on 50mm Svbony guide scope.

I have ST4 option available, or pulse via serial.

I have set the EQstar unit in guiding mode but no matter what I try in Ekos the calibration either completes with questionable pattern and guides badly or,
much more likely, doesn't complete, failing at the last stage.

Most often I see drift....recovery....drift.....dot dot dot...no recovery. Doesn't even look like an attempt is made.

Does this make sense to anyone?

The EQStar EQ5 offers 0.5/0.75/1 guiding rate. I have tried all three, setting it at the eq5 control (for both axis) and in ekos, also making sure to adjust the proportional gain in ekos to match.
 

I briefly tried Linguider app to rule out a software issue but it has the same results.

Many thanks in advance.

Safe to assume they're nothing special, then?

Hi all,
I'm looking at a go-to upgrade pretty soon - Probably the eqstar eq5 setup.
 

Trying to figure out what my existing motors are and if they're worth selling on to a new home.
Was wondering if anyone can identify them, or pass remark on how good/bad they are?
 

The motors themselves are marked 30 2L16 and 30 6F24,
and the gearboxes are marked 5k 96/1 and 5k 96/3.

Many thanks in advance.

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks

I am using a good heavy mount with decent tracking and remote shutter so that's a few things ruled out, at least.
I appreciate the resolution for video is going to be much lower than for an image but figured I should definitely at least try a decent video, stacked, for comparison, before asking for advice.

I'll take some time to compare multiple DSLR raws, picking the best, with iphone/eyepiece shots and see what I can come up with.

I could give it a go, sure, but why would that be sharper than a 500d?
It clearly is, but I don't understand why.

Hi all,
I've been dabbling for about a year and am having a lot of fun.
Nothing too serious and I don't have mega expectations but I'm starting to wonder if my images could be sharper and there's something I'm missing.

I'm attaching a picture which is the best 10% of a 3 minute video with 500d 'bolted' straight to the 200p f5 scope. No filters...no barlows...just camera straight on.

It's sharpened and saturated after the fact so in every way this is the sharpest I can get it.

I've always had the same issue whether it's with a single shot, stacks of shots, or stacked video.
Views through the eyepieces (circle-T 12.5/25) are mega sharp!

I'm happy that collimation is very good and it was a remarkably clear night tonight.
All in all I'd be pretty happy with this image (maybe over exposed a bit...) if the craters with shadows didn't make me want to rub my eyes.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or advice!

Ok, fair enough.
I appreciate the info.

Ok, thank you very much.

Would you consider that price about right, if you don't mind me asking?
Seller originally wanted quite a bit more but I see classifieds here within the last year for around that much, or a bit less.

How about an old black Vixen GP, wood pod, with dual motors and pretty old-tech controller + Astro Master (basic goto?)
Trying to push it into £250 delivered territory - @John I understand you're a vixen fan?

 Can't blame me for trying.

Well hearing that you got yours for half the price, even taking cosmetics into account, and knowing that you don't want to part with it,
makes me think I'm on the right track but I'll get a better deal somewhere else.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone.

Thank you for the responses folks.
Polar scope is fitted and weights are included. Condition is said to be very good and I understand the need for polar alignment and manual target-finding is required.

I did wonder if £400 was approaching, or beyond, the upper pricing for this - Seems that may be the case.
Maybe you're ready to upgrade from yours, @CraigT82?

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks.

The considered mount is Skywatcher - non goto.

Hi all,

I'm reasonably new around here and have been slowly getting to grips with things over the last while.
I have a 200p(f5) dob with a small set of circle-T ortho eyepieces and a Canon 500d with prime adapter + eyepiece projection adapter.

I'm interested in a bit of light astrophotography for fun, maybe DSO + planetary, and built a basic equatorial platform last year with some success.
I can get consistently good 10-15 second exposures out of the platform but am considering switching from dob/platform to an equatorial mount instead for convenience, reliability, and greater accuracy / longer exposures.

I'm not necessarily interested in bells and whistles (go-to, guiding) etc so much as just a good solid reliable eq tracking mount.
If this is misguided (pun intended), feel free to say!

I'm considering a used black eq6 (mount/tripod/hand controller) for approximately £400 and was wondering if anyone would recommend that as a good choice/price,
or if there is value in holding off for a more modern equivalent?

I'm looking at used market - Not really interested in brand new equipment and prices.

Many thanks in advance.

Came here looking for click-bait and found an ingenious device.
Disappointed. 😂

Posty kindly brought me this - the 7mm.

Beautiful clear blue sky right now but ClearOutside says 80+% obscured.

Let's hope it's as accurate about the coming evenings! 😂

No, my scope came with only the 1.25 but it was bought used.

I had been trying to find something using the same thread shown in the circle in Image C,
but totally overlooked the fact that I could just get a low profile T2 female to 1.25 adapter, like the top half in this picture (not my picture).

Maybe that's the best plan.

In image B the inner diameter at the thumb screw is 2 1/4" but the diameter deeper in is exactly 2",
so I think your teleskop-express link should do the job.

That last link looks like the chap!

I got caught up trying to figure out what the threading was on my piece circled in image C.
Didn't realise that that 2" parts were directly compatible with my gear! 😳

Many thanks, again.

Ah, I see! That makes more sense.

I was hoping for a lower profile solution where the eyepiece securing grub screw would still be accessible,
but that's not the end of the world. Thanks for your help.

For clarity, here is an image of the flanged base piece from Image C, with a tape for size reference.

14 minutes ago, Cornelius Varley said:

The only two items you need are the t-ring and the lower part in picture C.  This part should have a t-thread that matches the thread on the t-ring.

Yes, I've set up that arrangement in images D+E and it works just fine.
I'd like the option of placing a barlow in-line, though.

Thanks ^.

24 minutes ago, Ruud said:

That's a really long adapter. This one is just 1mm long: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4218_TS-Optics-Adapter-from-2--to-1-25----only-1-mm-length.html

I've seen these but that's described as a 2" to 1.25".

From what I understand my Skywatcher would have come with the base piece (Image C) plus two adapters...one for 2" that I don't have one for and 1.25" that I do.
I.E. I don't think the product linked would fit directly to my base piece.

I might be wrong about that but that's why I'm here...To make sure.

Thanks for the reply.

Hi all,

Beginner here, slowly getting set up with my new (to me) 200p.
I picked up a Canon 500d and T-adapter with 1.25" fitting recently.

As expected I can achieve focus with Camera > T-adapter > Scope, (image E)
but I can not with Camera > T-adapter > 1.25" adapter > Scope. (image F). There isn't enough inward travel.
The same is true with a barlow in between.

The photographs are just to show the equipment - I realise the focuser is not fully down/in? in the images.

It gets very close to focus; Another quarter inch would do it so I was thinking of buying a second 1.25" (circled Images C and F)
A low profile one would be ideal. If that doesn't exist I figure I could cut/grind a spare one down half an inch,
then drill and thread for grub screws.

Problem is I'm having trouble finding this part and am now wondering is it unique to the brand?

I suppose a low profile barlow is an option but I'd rather have universal kit than one modified piece.

I'm certain about the direction of travel required.
I actually fitted the circled part in image C into the back of its mate (same image) for testing and could achieve focus perfectly but, of course, the camera wasn't secure.

First real question here, but I've learned a lot already from reading! Thank you for this wonderful resource.

Apologies for vague or incorrect terminology. 😂

That's an empty cell
Thanks anyway.

Hi again,

Thanks for the additional welcomes and for the advice.

Turns out good deals on mirrors are hard to come by so I picked up what I think is a great deal on a used Skywatcher 200/1000 on a DIY dob mount.
It's bundled with a 3x barlow that looks stock, and 4mm+25mm Or. eyepieces.

It hasn't arrived yet but can't wait to get stuck in.