AstroNebulee

The stars look good in all the corners and no back focus issues I can see. It was really windy out ladt night when I was trying for the milky-way with dslr, so I'm not sure where you are but the wind will play havoc with guiding unless really sheltered. I found the 72ed was better on bigger targets and never really bothered with to many galaxies. I did do M31, M33, M51 and M81&82. But found it was at the limit. Lee

My dew sheild pulled off and had a felt strip attached to the scope. Will take a photo when I'm home. I wouldn't bother cleaning the element unless it's really dirty, you'd be surprised how much dirt doesn't bother the image. Lee

Yes I did use an Astronomik L3 filter to cure the blue fringing and bloating of stars and did a really great job worth every penny. It really tightened up the stars. I'm in bortle 3 so never had to worry to much about LP. I used it on nebula and some galaxies but I was more of a nebula imager. Lee

Fantastic Gerr. I've not seen the zodiacal light yet. All the more lovely with the H alpha of Orion. Lee

So much depth and structure Paul, lovely image. 👍 Lee

Congratulations Paul 👏. So brilliant your getting the recognition you deserve. Such a stunning image, as Paul said I do like how the mountain and milky-way arc compliment each other perfectly. Lee

It's looking very nice indeed. 👌 Exciting times ahead. What I did to help balancing in RA better was to mount the guidescope on a small dovetail bar on top of the scope so all was central and no excess weight either side of the rig. That was my ocd kicking in the though. But yours shouldn't weigh to much to affect RA. Lee

I'm sure you got it all sorted as best you can without a real world test in the stars. I was plugged in to and asiair in the photo. Though I don't do the imaging side with my scope anymore. I just do visual with another scope and lunar and planetary. Mostly dslr Widefield Nightscapes now. I'll look forward to seeing your setup. Lee

Did you insert the flattener all the way in and tightened the thumbscrew up? Or did I misread that part. An all screwed imaging train is best when you can manage it. That way you can eliminate a few errors that may crop up with an imaging train that has thumbscrews that hold parts together. If you get any partly clear skies at night you can now refine the focus position with your setup either in stars or the moon when visible. I always left my imaging rig set up when not in use, covered in a couple of sheets to keep the dust off and carried it out to my imaging area in a couple of trips when in use. Lee

It can be but once you've cracked it you shouldn't have to do it Again. Unless you change something with the imaging train. Tomatobro gave good advice to try it during the day on a far away object. Even when it's partially cloudy at night give it a go too. Good luck, you can do it 👍. Lee

I have the older long tube version of the SW 72ed and had the ovl flattener which is basically the Stella mira one and use the RVO rotator which was excellent on my scope and so much better than the SW one. I had about 5mm of focus tube showing and able to achieve focus. Lee

Thank you Paul, that really means a lot coming from yourself 😊. I'm looking forwards to getting some milky-way core action going soon when the skies and moon obey. Can't wait for your next journal. Clear skies and thank you. Lee

I too enjoyed your video Paul. I admire your dedication and to be rewarded with your beautiful images and that amazing Dawn chorus sunrise with a hot drink. What makes it all the more special. Take care and clear skies. Lee

Thank you, I really appreciate your kind comment. Lee

Whilst out comet hunting at Delabole, Cornwall on 28-3-24, I swung the camera around to the southwest and using my samyang 14mm f2.8 lens I took a Widefield shot of Orion, the V of Hyades and the Pleiades asterim. Taken with Canon 600D and Samyang 14mm f2.8 Sky 7x13 sec 1600iso Foreground 1x90sec 800iso Stacked in Sequator and processed in Photoshop. Still learning masking the foreground in and not the best foreground as only one exposure and should of turned LENR on the dslr. Lots to learn to get it right. Lee

Another brilliant image. I like how the holiday let illuminated the building. Lee

It's such a beautiful foreground and a stunning image. Well done 👏. Lee

Brilliant capture Paul. Got to take the chance when it arrives and well worth it too. 👍 Lee

Thank you both very much. I'm pleased you both like the image. It was fortunate to get the meteor. The foreground could of done with a longer exposure. Still lots to learn about Widefield astrophotography. Clear skies Lee

Thank you that's very kind of you. Lee

Comet hunting on Thursday 28th March at Green Lane, Delabole 🥶. Around 9.30pm and finally managed it. The meteor is in the centre of the image slightly greeny blue with a faint tail behind and a bonus bright meteor in the top left photo bombing. Taken with a Canon 600D and 50mm Yongnuo lens. Sky 8 secs 3200iso F1. 8 Foreground 60 secs 800iso f2.2 Processed in Photoshop. Only a single exposure as I wasn't happy with how the stacked image looked.

Maybe worth a look in this thread. Lee

A lovely evening spent comet chasing. I wanted to capture something of comet Pons Brooks before it disappeared under the horizon, so with mixed weather reports I headed up the northern part of the village with a clear view to the north western horizon with my dslr and 50mm yongnuo lens (not the best but my longest focal length prime). The clouds were stubborn offering few breaks but enough for me to get the lens in the right area and eventually the clear spell arrived and manged to get some images, experimenting with higher iso. It was showing up quite nice with its green and white glow of the coma and onto the faint white tail. I was so pleased to get something of it especially with the hour shift in the clocks this weekend and it getting even lower to the horizon. So possibly my only chance to to bag it. Sadly I forgot to take my binos with me (maybe tomorrow if its clear again). A superb view of Orion chasing the Hyades, Pleiades to the west and towards the horizon for it's departure. I came home very cold fingers and toes but with a warm glow inside for eventually seeing Pons Brooks. If the images are any good I'll share them in the imaging section. Clear skies Lee

Brilliant image, well done. The 50mm lens really captured it great. Lovely foreground. Thank you. Lee

Beautiful Paul. They are so sharp and stunningly detailed images. Definitely love the merlin and Orion image. It sounds as though you had fun with the WhatsApp group and lovely to get so up close and personal with merlin dish. Keep them coming. Lee