AstroNebulee

Thank you. The SM90 really punches above its weight. I do miss my SM127 mak but very happy with how the SM90 performs. Lee

Thank you Laurence. That's very kind of you. I have to say it's the best Jupiter and Saturn images I have captured to date, I'm really pleased with what my SM90 can do . I know Saturn is way past its best but still has something to offer everyone. Lee

Finally the skies cleared and I was able to image Jupiter and Saturn. It was forecast to cloud over after a few hours so I went with the planetary imaging set up. As it turned out it stayed clear most of the night so I coukd of had my deep sky imaging set up out, hopefully next time. I took a series of captures of Jupiter to create an animation though missed a section as I wanted to image Saturn for probably the last time this year. Taken with skywatcher SM90 on AzGti az mode with x2 Barlow. Zwo asi120mc-s. Still images processed with As4, registax and photoshop. The animation created in Windows timelapse creator. Mainly 5000 frames on both Jupiter and Saturn. A few 10000 frames chucked in on Jupiter. Best 30% used in stacking. Lee Jupiter 5-12-23.mp4

Hopefully moving the red wire removes the issue for you. Now you've got it open best time to regrease it all, good luck. Lee

Sounds like you're going to have an amazing image of the flaming star nebula. Looking forward to seeing it 😊. Lee

I just regreased mine with white lithium grease, no issues and still working fine. Lee

I had this issue too with my first AzGti. Not sure if the timing was the same but I had a ticking sound when tracking and RA axis stiff in parts. I found that the locking ring was to tight and needed undoing ever so slightly and then by adjusting the two grub screws that hold it to adjust the tension. This thread may be of help. For the image credit to @TSRobot

A thank you. I think if I had a 24mm samyang it would of got more details in the rays (one for the wish list). I was going to image that night but the moon put me off so I'm glad it did as I wouldn't of got this one. I ogoe you had a good imaging session not far up the road from me and I agree it was chuffing well freezing. Thank you Mike. It's the best spot in the village to view north, hardly any LP and a few mins walk up the street for me. Lee

Thank you soo much. That is typical that the timing of the mist coincided with the start of the Auroa for you, I'm sorry to hear that. It does sound like Delabole weather that. I'm sure you'll get a chance at the Aurora next time, good luck. Lee

Thank you all, its very kind of you. I was in bed at 9.30pm and looked at aurorawatch app and coukd make out some orange coming on the map and numbers picking up. As it was clear skies, Friday night plus not suitable for getting the imaging rig out with moon, I gambled and went 800m up the end of the village into a field. Now 2 Auroras in 1 year for me, hoping for more to come as solar maximum next year I think. No apod or anything but no clouds this time. Lee

Hi Well here it is my try at capturing the Aurora event on Friday 1st December 2023 around 10pm. Saw the alerts and starting to build up so doubly wrapped up and hot footed up to the best North facing spot in the village. As soon as I set the dslr and tripod down and took a few test shots, it then started to begin it's show for me. I finished up around 11.15pm as my fingers were falling off. Though I took a few cheeky shots of Orion rising above the field hedge. The 85% moon didn't help. Captured using my Canon 600D and Samyang 14mm f2.8. Sky 5 sec at 1600iso. Foreground 60 sec at 800iso. Processed in Photoshop. Timelapse created just with jpegs in Windows Timelapse creator. Worth turning your device to landscape orientation and click 😊 Lee Aurora Timelapse 1-12-23.mp4

Popped out earlier on around 9.30pm here in North Cornwall and got some aurora on the back of the dslr (only a smartphone capture) Not gone through the images yet. Couldn't see anything by eye but lovely on dslr. Canon 600D and Samyang 14mm f2.8. Be interesting to see the proper images. Lee

I think this is the thread Lee Lee

@Mr Green I will try to find the thread mentioned. In the meantime here's a diagram of my imaging train. I have 60.5mm of backspacing. I do have a tilt plate on my zwo asi294mc pro, though I believe this is only just pinched up and not tilting the camera. The rotator from RVO really helped me as no slop in it. Lee

That's a superb image indeed. Well done. I will hopefully give it a go and see. Though clouds are descending as we speak so hopefully they'll chuff off soon. Lee

Thank you for your input guys. Sadly I don't have the funds for any extra equipment so I will be keeping my setup as is for the foreseeable (I've not bought any astro equipment for at least 3 months) I may nip out later in the evening and do a bit planetary, dslr Widefield or visual with my other setups and hope that another clear night falls on a moon free night, if that happens I'm winning the lottery 😂 On a side note I'm laying new lino in the kitchen on Saturday so I can use my free time to clear the appliances out in preparation. Thank you again. Lee

Hi It's my first clear night in a couple months. I only have an East to South View really for imaging. The moon is 85% lit tonight and the only targets I can image in reality is M45 or California nebula from my position. I'm not a galaxy person. My set up is 72ed AzGti eq mode zwo asi 294mc pro and astronomik L3 filter no narrowband. Is it really worth it judging on the moon and position. Its a shame I don't have an observatory as I have to stay out with the rig 🥶 Cheers Lee

Just like me then Paul 😂, except with a poorer image from me. Don't put yourself down, there's a lot to be learnt from your workflow and not just new swear words😂. Clear skies Lee

Absolutely Paul, breathtaking scenery. So pleased to see you've been enjoying some clear skies. Would love to see a processing workflow video or some tips videos on how you just get beautiful images. Lee

Not in my part of North Cornwall tonight, Clouds! 😕. Enjoy your clear sky Steve, hopefully some good stuff tonight 👍 Lee

They are available on the Internet to buy, just search 1.25inch focuser adapter. A few examples from some online marketplaces. PUSOKEI Telescope Accessories Focuser Adapter,1.25inch M35x1mm Reflector Telescope Eyepiece Adapter,Aluminum Alloy Mount Adapter Device https://amzn.eu/d/e2TBI38 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295362508450?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=t7VbWmHDTC2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Fo3Iht4XRKy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY From China, both very cheap if you wanted to go that way. If you ask on here someone may have one laying about. Cheers Lee

Fantastic outstanding images, well done everyone 👏 Lee

Good point 👍, one thing if you move your mount after taking your flats you may move any dust particles or foreign objects that won't match up to your lights or your focus position could get knocked a touch. I know it's a slim chance but I don't risk it after collecting all that data. You can just put a t-shirt over the end of your scope and get the histogram correct. I think with my old dslr set up I stretched a t-shirt over the end with elastic bands, shone a white phone screen through and set the dslr to AV mode and keeping all the settings the same and fired off my flats. I may be incorrect but it's what worked for me at the time and of course there are many ways to take flat frames. I know use an asiair pro and astro camera so changed procedures now. I use a homemade light box from light pad and sheets of paper at the end of each session now. Lee

Brilliant image, for your first this season it's really well done. Looking forward to seeing wgat you can achieve from the tips on the processing. Lee

Just watched it and one of the better ones they've produced. Shame though why they always go off air when the skies are darker longer and more chance of astronomy. Its always baffled me. Lee