parallaxerr

Just now, Filroden said:

Welcome Jon. That WO66SD should give a nice field of view. Can't wait to see your results. Do you have some targets in mind already?

Thanks for the welcome, as it happens I just punched the scope and camera data into FOV calculator and got this...

M31 is nicely positioned for me at the moment but I want to learn to walk before I can run! The double cluster in Perseus is one of my favourite visual objects and nicely positioned too so should be a good target to start with. Being brighter I hope to get away with less/shorter subs and test my hand at DSS.

Hi everyone,

Well, I've just finished reading the contents of this thread and I must say I'm thoroughly impressed with the quality of images here! I never thought it would be possible to creat images like these with the sort of equipment being used, I have obviously been brainwashed by the EQ only crowd

I was pointed in this direction when @happy-kat put me onto @The Admiral after disussing something about my Nexstar SE mount in another thread (I forget exactly what, now). Having spoken to Ian via PM I found myself being gently encouraged to have a go at Alt/Az imaging.

So...this is to say hello and I hope to join the party soon, as I've placed an order for all necessary bits to get my camera on the end of a scope (highlighted blue below)!

My setup will consist of:

• Celestron Nexstar SE 6/8 mount
• William Optics Zenith Star 66SD doublet Apo
• Baader SCT to 2" click-lock
• Baader Multi Purpose Coma Corrector (proven to work rather nicely with the 66SD here - http://www.stark-labs.com/craig/WO66SD/WO66SD.html)
• Nikon T-ring
• Nikon D3200 DSLR

Here's to hopefully contributing my first images before too long and quizzing you all on exactly where I'm going wrong! Looking forward to this little foray into imaging!

Jon

1 minute ago, Chris Lock said:

Very nice big brother to mine  Lot's more room on the 6/8SE version by the looks of it, and the Moonlite sets the whole thing off a treat

I've set an Alt limit of 75 degrees on the handset so it hopefully won't suggest objects above this, I don't want to crash into the mount! 

 

Ah 75° is fine, the handset will make suggestions above this but give you a slew warning if you try to goto them. I'm restricted to 62° before that pesky compression ring screw on the moonlite contacts.

Just realised you have the built in wedge which could help get around the Alt restriction, apart from when pointing N. I'm tempted by the wedge for mine as it should allow the scope to go past Zenith on the S meridian.

Big brother to Chris's setup

ST120 on Nexstar SE6/8 now updated with moonlite.

Despite the Alt restriction, I think you'll enjoy that setup @Chris Lock, very grab & go. I was tempted by the same scope before realising the 120 would fit.

Hi Knighty, the wrap is Carbon fibre effect vinyl from eBay. Not sure which seller I used but there's loads on there selling it. 

ST120 added to the frac stable. Fitted the standard dual speed crayford from the ED80 and wrapped & flocked the dew shield, looking forward to first light

Two of my fracs in action under two very different skies...

My very modest first attempt...

A little update on my frac after some recent mods

1 hour ago, Special K said:

Help has arrived!!!  Haven't had first light yet but I've really got the feeling this was the right thing to do 

THIS!!!

Second on my list after a 152mm Mak. These Starwaves look beautiful and your pictures are better than any retail ones I've seen. Scope look like it oozes quality

My ED80 on Celestron Nexstar SE mount, yet to see first light! Nice and sturdy setup but easily transportable.