AndyThilo

TS Photoline 130 Triplet 😊

Started acquiring data last night on M31. Plan is to get 16 hours or so broadband with a few hours Ha extra on top. Last night was a decent start although cut short by high cloud at 11pm, it's probably the clearest consistent skies I've seen for a good while. Star count and HFR in NINA barely changed over the 3.7 hours of subs I got. I think my UV/IR was ok, but would be interesting to compare with my CLS-CCD. Loving the 268C, the background noise is far less than I had with the 294MC Pro. Specs: 112 x 120s Lights - 3.7 hours 40 x Darks QHY268C @ -20 William Optics GT81 with Flat 6Aiii QHY5iii462C Guide Camera with WO 50mm Slidebase Stellardrive EQ6-R Pro Astronomik UV/IR Cut Filter Bortle Class 4 M31 Andromeda V2 20-12-2020 by Andy Thilo, on Flickr

Thanks I was thinking a 3X, now the issue is finding one lol, no one has any 3X produces a reasonable FOV for the planets and should be nice and close for moon shots.

Thanks for your comprehensive response. I’d be using my QHY5III462 so a nice small chip for planetary. Not in a huge rush as I’ve lost Saturn and Jupiter for the year but Mars is still quite high.

Hi Anyone have any recommendations for a reasonable Barlow that would work ok with a 130mm triplet, FL 920mm? Also how much does it affect imaging sensor focal position? Thanks Andy

I don't bother with that :D. I hadn't

Well 268C finally in my hands and back-focus all sorted. The sensor depth is where the centre of the desiccant screw is, so 55mm from there gives the correct back-focus spacing. If you need to use all the spacers, you'll need longer M3 screws. They only supply screws up to 16mm for some reason and you need 20mm for this config. Hope this helps someone. Photo below showing this: And my final spacing:

Hi I took the supplied vixen rail off and am using a Primalucelab one I had laying around. Photos below showing the EAF mounting. It’s rock solid and AF in NINA is perfect. Nails it every time.

Personally I'd stay away from mono as a beginner. The cost and processing requirements will soon become tiresome, not to mention the 3-4 times imaging time required over OSC and lets face it, the UK weather is crap at the best of times for AP. My recommendation would be this 80mm Triplet, many about and you don't need to spend over £1000 for a good one + £150 or so for a flattener/reducer EQ6R-Pro mount - this will serve you well for the future and cope with larger 130 refractors without issue - £1200 OSC Camera like an ASI533 - No amp glow for easier integration - £900 ZWO EAF or Sesto Senso focuser - £200 Optolong L-Pro for Galaxies and IDAS NBX for Nebulae - £400 50mm Guide Scope + ASI120mini - £180 Pegasus Pocket Power Box + PSU £200 Dew Heaters - £50 Prices are rough but close, total approx £4280 You could manually focus, save there, you could get a cheaper OSC, 2nd hand ASI183 for example, cheaper mount (really not worth it, spend your money here!) Hope that helps?

Happy Christmas to me 🥳

Hi So I’m swapping imaging train between my GT81 for wide field and my RC for galaxies at both 1624 and 1218 (with 0.75 reducer). I want to switch to an OAG to go with my new QHY268C but am not sure whether to get the ASI290 or 174 mini. The latter will be wasted in terms of FOV as the QHY OAG prism is only 8x8 but I don’t have the backfocus for anything else. Will the 290 be ok at all focal lengths or should bite the bullet and get the 174? Any other options to consider? Thanks Andy

Star bloat. Figured no one was interested so I've ordered an Astronomik L2 UV/IR cut

If it was screwed tight, the clamp would open up, not close?

I currently have a 2" CLS-CCD, owned since I started 12 months ago. However I'm wondering if the L-Pro would be better for Galaxies etc..? I'm Bortle Class 4 so bit confused as to what's the best, maybe I only need a UV/IR block? Any ideas/opinions? Thanks

Well I think all I need is a new filter drawer, my ZWO one is M42 to M48. I really don't want M42 so I'll get the ZWO M54 version..

Reposted in it's proper place Specs - 49 x 300s lights WO GT81 with Flat6Aiii ASI 294MC Pro @ -20 IDAC NBX Dual Band Filter EQ6-R Pro I'd like to get more data on this but clouds and sleep spoiled my night. Processed in PI with DBE, PCC, masked colour tweaks and general PI magic that still confuses me lol IC 1396 Elephant Trunk Nebula 22-11-20 V2 Hybrid HOO by Andy Thilo, on Flickr

Yeah I’ll need to get an M54 to M48 adapter and then some spacers. I’ll have to measure it all up but in theory I’ll need a 15mm spacer. I have an adjustable baader spacet which might work. I swap my imaging train between my GT81 and RC8 so need a sturdy solution.

It comes with the dovetail to M54 adapter? Can't I just a M54 to M48 adapter or get the M54 filter drawer instead Camera is 17.5mm, M54 ring is 6mm? Total 23.5mm So I've got another 31.5mm to play with? I'm really confused lol

If it's 17.5 with the dovetail, does that mean I can use my 16.5mm ZWO filter drawer + 1mm spacer?

Haha thanks

Here's the graph, the RA oscillations occur every 8 minutes. Looking at documentation it points at periodic error? I've no idea how to cure it though. PHD2 log attached as well. The frequency anaylsis also below. PHD2_GuideLog_2020-11-22_162241.txt

Oh sorry yes it is! @admin could you move it pretty please?

Thanks I have it, I’ll have a look later

My thoughts exactly, buts it’s far more regular than a full worm cycle

Specs - 49 x 300s lights WO GT81 with Flat6Aiii ASI 294MC Pro @ -20 IDAC NBX Dual Band Filter EQ6-R Pro I'd like to get more data on this but clouds and sleep spoiled my night. Processed in PI with DBE, PCC, masked colour tweaks and general PI magic that still confuses me lol IC 1396 Elephant Trunk Nebula 22-11-20 V2 Hybrid HOO by Andy Thilo, on Flickr