Simon Pepper

Hi Thingy, I noticed the same issue yesterday on the same target, but think this is pretty normal especially on starts like Alnitak! I dont use Gimp, so cant comment. I use PS which has a plug in where you can reduce bright blue halos. Thanks

+1 for the 5m cable that’s a great shout!

Hi all I too am looking at the WO 81 and having the same issue. No reviews? I want to stick with WO as I have the Redcat and that has been a dream to use. Did the OP settle with this scope or did the above opinions put you off? The GT looks good as well and is an option, but the shorter focal length is putting me off a little... Any recommendations for other scopes around the 550mm? Thanks

This is annoying though as i am note sure I want a square sensor... do you have the 533 does the square sensor cause any issues? thanks

Welcome looks like you have a good set up here! Happy imaging and clear skies!

I have checked cloudy nights and Astrobin and actually I hear of people complaining about random gradients that are not taken out when using calibration frames links below. This appears to be when using narrowband filters such as lextreme which is annoying as I think the 294 suits me better, however these threads are making me think again as I have been using the lextreme a lot recently... https://www.astrobin.com/forum/c/astrophotography/other/flat-frames-l-extreme-asi294mc/ https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/661685-word-of-warning-asi294mc-pro-and-opt-triad-and-nb/page-2

OSC it is then I reckon! Next question as OP has stated which one lol. I’m leaning towards the 294 because of FOV and lower amp glow compared to 183. Also not convinced in the square FOV from 533. Not sure like OP I can justify going up to the 071 or 2600 plus FOV with these are much greater which is not what I want...

I have the same problem which camera to buy mono or OSC and I am eyeing up ZWO range as well! I like Rustang’s comment here about spending more and not necessarily getting more I think that’s a true point and wondering now if I need to spend more for a dedicated camera or not! My DSLR has got noise issues but I can get most of these out in post and I am still happy with the images. Having said that I think if it were me I would buy a new scope and a camera instead of the 2600 only. I still have the issue of mono or OSC though...

Hi all, This content is really helpful and I have been following, however I also have a question around flatteners / reducers. I currently have the RedCat which I have been using for Nebula and wide field imaging, but I want to go a little deeper perhaps things like M33 and M101, Hercules etc and checking astronomy tools FOV I think I want something around the 500mm focal length (which is still forgiving for a beginner) I will pair this with either my DSLR or buy a ZWO 294 MC Pro. I am keen to stay with William Optics as the build quality and image quality is great, so I am leaning towards William Optics GT-81 IV (478mm) or William Optics Zenithstar 81 APO (559mm) there is quite a difference in price here and I assume this is down to the F ratio being far superior on the GT. My question is do these two scopes need / require a flatter to obtain a flat field across the image? I don't really want to be adding a reducer as that will increase the FOV, price and bring down the focal length which I want to avoid as I already have a wide field Redcat it seems silly spending loads of pennies if I am only going from 250mm to maybe 350 / 400m once a flattener is introduced on the above. Any recommendations on this or other scopes would be appreciated. Checking the OP specs I believe they are using William Optics Zenithstar 73 II APO 2019 which is another scope to for me to consider. Thanks

Hi Guys I tried again last night and the goto worked just about... The Asiair pro still does not goto then plate solve though as it did prior to the software upgrade. I am not sure why they dropped this function as that's what made it great! Unless I am still doing something wrong but at least it managed to get the target in view which I was then able to centre manually. ill keep trawling the release notes and forums to see if others have the same issue, but at least I managed to get some data from last night! Thanks all.

Thanks I tried this yesterday after PA and it slewed it 45 degrees past the vertical or home so dont think the issue was that... It must be software related I will try again tomorrow to see if its randomly fixed itself. If not i will restore the old software and just not update it when it asks. Thanks

Hi Alacant im not sure how to do that... loosen the clutches I follow but how do you park the mount bearing in mind I don’t have the hand controller? I assume the home position is both axis right down the middle? Thanks

Oh my gosh I think I can see the issue but not sure.... my dec axis is round the wrongly way. Last night my bolts to tighten the scope in place were on the left side when standing behind the scope pointing at Polaris, but checking when I bought it and the above video they should be on the right! Not sure if this has caused this but it’s quite possible!

I think this is a good shout. It must be update related whether it be the old app on phone but new firmware on asi or something along those lines.

I have the same I use the eqmod lynx cable but all settings looked good. I used my phone lat and long and synced that to the app so all was correct. My balance seemed ok, but may have been off a little either way pointing the scope at the floor is well off lol not just a degree so don’t think it was that. Just to confirm the home position I take it this is the RA being aligned to the base and the DEC being right down the middle aligned with polar scope retinal? I did the manually by eye and loosening both clutches. I have another clear night tomorrow so will try again but if it doesn’t work not sure what else to try thanks

Thanks Thorney me too which I am questioning if I did something wrong... what steps did you take after update? Did you polar align and then pick a target and it worked? Or did you do some other steps first? Perhaps set RA or DEC values or home position? I believe my issue could be something to do with the home position and the mount didn’t know it was in that position I am not sure how to set it exactly in the app? I checked out the Facebook group as well lots of people seeing issues with guiding but not so much random slewing like mine. I put the Pleidies in and the scope slewed and pointed to the ground!?! thanks

Same! Just picked up my gear in frustration and called it a night! No idea what to do now wasted night and most likely the next one as well. I think I should restore the pro back how it was!?!

Ok thanks Dave I have gone back and checked the video to make sure I am not being stupid but pretty sure it’s not me. So annoying on a clear night!

Thankfully I did but wanted to check if others have had any odd experiences?

Hi all has anyone had any issues since updating to the latest firmware? Mine is royally broken. I set it to home then PA then I used to use go to function then plate solve however this no longer appears to be an option? Also the go to just has a mind of its own? M31 didn’t take it there so did it again and got it in field but then pick another target skews off in opposite direction? Started again PA then set ack to home position and it slewed 90 degrees past the home! I can’t figure it out other than the update has broken it? Any advice will be appreciated thanks

I turned off the mount and pro then started again which seem to get it going however when slewing and platesolving that didn’t work then manage to centre M31 but then choosing another object it slewed off in the wrong direction again even when I then slewed the same object in went off elsewhere again it makes no sense it must be broken? Any help or ideas would be appreciated I am sure it’s the firmware update?

Hi all its clear I have set up I’m polar aligned but go to function is pointing scope in random places including the floor. Am I missing a step here or has this update I have just completed broken the asi air pro? All my setting are unchanged lat and long look good. Any help today would be appreciated don’t want to waste the one clear night a month! thanks

I have the same it’s really bad! I have the 800d as well but that’s not modified.

Thanks Xsubmariner Are you able to recommend a cooled camera for my needs? I mainly image nebula, but I will look to something with a bit more focal in the future probably still only around 500-700mm and ideally do not want two separate cameras (keeping the cost down ish). Thanks

Thanks Nikolas. Perhaps I look at the 071 instead. I am still fairly new to the hobby and shooting wide has its benefits so for me I don’t believe it puts me of too much. Is it your first dedicated camera? I assume you can really notice the difference is quality? My 300s subs on dslr has painful horizontal banding thanks