Dan13

Hi, i focus with a B mask as dont have an auto focusser , everything seems ok but thats just to me so could be still out? this is zoomed in on a full image of the cygnus wall this pic here , exposure time was 240 secs (im actually thinking of dropping it a little) cam is an asi 294mc pro @ -10, filter was an optolong L-enhance or L-pro ill have to check

Hi, ive noticed since ive had my new refractor (starwave 80ED-R FPL53) ive been getting the stars below,especially the bigger brighter ones. On the whole the scope is really nice and im getting imo some good images, but this is starting to concern me a little and also effecting processes like star net ++ for starless images as the bright ones wont completely be removed. so is this Chromatic aberration or something else i need to look at ? many thanks Dan

thank you, much appreciated

Thank you Mark, appreciate it

The Cygnus wall, part of the north American nebula. 5 hours total intergration time Altair astro starwave 80ED-R Altair astro 50mm guide scope Altair 0.8x V3 flattener Asi 120 MM-S Asi 294 MC pro Heq5 pro Stacked and processed in pixinsight

great job Steve!

No problem at all! it wouldnt take much to Convert me i currently use a OSC with L-Enhance and do like my findings, you have inspired me to do this "Hubble pallet" look on my latest target! clear skies Kinch

lovely Carole, great job. not often you see these targets, very refreshing

What a fantastic Image @Kinch i really like this! im not a huge fan of HOO and SHO etc but some nebula just really take to them and this is a fine example, great work.

Nice one Chris! I used to own the 600d its a great DSLR for astro good job

Perfect, thank you ill use that then and i get the other diagonal sent. Thank you for your help

Thanks, i have one of them adaptors and its two small! after searching a little it looks like this is a common issue, im waiting for altair to get back to me about the diagonal they sent as they were sure it would fit (it doesnt) and id like to grab there 1.25" one like i was going to in the first place. I can however fit the item you linked to the end of the part in the picture i took, that would give me a compression fitting but not sure if that will effect any focus at all??

thanks im just checking out 365 astronomy as they have a fair few adapters, just cautious of the wrong one being sent again so ill message Zoltan

Thanks, yea i did and I still got sent the wrong diagnoal 😅 now I know what its called ill imagine I can find more info on it.

its the black one mate not the green black and white if that helps

not old to me but its the black one so im guessing a fair bit old?

hi can anyone advsied what term would be used to describe this piece? It attaches to my 127 mak and I would like to swap it out for a compression fitting one. Altair sent me a diagonal but it was two big so going for the 1.25 diagonal and would like it to slot into a compression fitting. Many thanks Dan

haha the bottomless money pit of a hobby we share! a few maks around the £200 mark atm with extras. maybe pop into the ZWO facebook group if your on there, your get a lot more help with your decision there mate. good luck with your camera search!

No problem at all, i often like reading discussions like this because ive been in the same boat many times and like others thoughts. Again you cant go wrong with both so go with what you feel is best. there all good cams. As for the mak! im blown away, myself and the wife viewed jupiter and saturn last night it was a great experience! this was a single sub taken last night with the L-pro and 294mc pro, excuse the potatoe quality as i took it on my phone from the laptop, the stars arent trailing ither thats just the shakes can see great detail after only 240 secs @-10°c

No Worries, By the sounds of it you do really want the mono but something is holding you back.. I think if budget allows id go mono if i was you, im getting the feeling thats what you really want. Tbh im hugely impressed with the 294mc pro its a great cam, if i was to order again id probably look passed the square sensor and actually go with the 533 due to the amp glow. I like the fact i have a colour cam but i can also pull out some fantastic HA and 0ii data still with a swap of a filter. think its very versatile. Id sell the 120 scope and get a 127 mak mate they are "the bees knees" for planetary im over the moon with mine and very cheap to grab hold of, leave you with some extra cash towards some other gear

I just switched from a 600d to a asi294mc pro, couldn't be happier. Will i go mono later down the line...yes im sure i will but atm with uk weather an OSC is what gets me the images i require in the limited time weather wise i get. Like most astro "stuff" im guessing the 294mc pro will hold some nice value to change in the future but for now the filters plus filter wheel plus cam and lack of clear skies meant the OSC was a winner for me. That coupled with the L-pro filter for galaxy and reflection neb and the L-enhance for emission neb really does everything and more i need and have had some great images from it. Dont think you can go wrong with either you suggested, maybe check https://astronomy.tools/calculators/ccd_suitability for best fit for your scope and FOV. I have a mono asi120mm usb 3 for guiding and debating weather to get filters for that for the 127 mak or a 224, one thing i know is i really like zwo cams and will probably stick with them. Do you have the time to do 3 sets of images on a certain target? Do the cost implications of a filter wheel, filters and a 1600 fit your budget? If the answer to both those questions is yes then i would go Mono. I have a 80mm frac also like you. HTH Dan

me again! Good news is I've found why the dec was stiff! I've stripped down again and found that the bell housing had a knick in it somehow and that was catching on the brass worm gear, i filed down and nownits buttery smooth. My next issue is in astro babys guide she mentions the red washer on the RA but never mentions on on the dec at all and I have two! I previously used the other one at the bottom of the bell housing but I think that's incorrect as there's a metal type spacer down there i think the bearing sits on? .any one advise where the second red washer goes please. Photo below is when I know for sure one goes. Edit. Added another pic to show where I had it before

Haha, bit overkill for my rig there billy. Billy can I ask you mate , I've now put the mount back togther and slewed 360° with the RA and DEC on eqmod and everything seems fine, everything is moving and no loud crunches etc. Is there anything else I'm looking for as to a tell tell sign the worms need further adjustments? Also is there a program I can use to see if its running OK without phd and a clear night?

Cheers Billy. Yes I am actually contemplating upgrading the mount but still want to complete this. I'll try your advice. Thanks Dan

Thank you, its more so for my knowledge while trying to adjust the worm gears after strip down. Its bloody hard to say "yep thats right" when you don't know what right is if that makes sense! I have a tiny bit of stiffness in the RA head when moved with my finger but then the cog seems a little too slack maybe but not slipping. It could be fine but I dont know what its meant to be like