AstroNebulee

I was in the process of buying a zwo asi294 mcpro from Abs but bad communication on the sellers behalf let me down big time. I have a skywatcher 72ed ds pro that I shall use the camera with and also use the ovl Field Flattener from flo in my usual imaging train with my Canon 600D (obviously won't use the 600D now) My question is to gain the back focus required of 55mm I believe, how would I connect everything. Is it scope +FF+294mc pro or will I need to include some spacers between the FF and 294mc Pro. Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Pleased you got it sorted this time and much better success with imaging, great work 👍

That's sad to see your having issues with the new firmware and guiding. I don't use NINA sorry and use my asiair pro, hopefully done one will be along that does soon. Maybe something can be adjusted in the callibration settings of Phd2 to help you

Brilliant! So pleased it worked for you. 👍

Yes I know another M31 image haha. I've tried reworking my previous image to include more colour this time. Still think there's more data to get out of it yet. There's a starless version too and so much detail in there before the stars gone back in. I'm trying to learn how to star mask and include it in the starless copy but failing, so I just used the opacity and fill sliders to introduce the stars, still learning and very green at this. 4 hours of data 800 iso Skywatcher 72ed ds pro AzGti in EQ mode Canon 600D Asiair pro Deep sky stacker and photoshop

Great job, really nice and sharp. I'm looking forward to Orion when more sociable hours and no clouds! Witches head and HH are my targets to grab for the first time. Once again fantastic work there 👏

Love it! You've done a fantastic job there, blends in really well too. I hope you get many happy sessions with your new obsy, congratulations 👏

Totally agree with you 👍

I enjoyed it, as someone who became seriously into astronomy in May 2020 it made a lot of sense to me and helped explain things, even though I do know a little about astronomy. I always enjoy Brian's programmes, and as its about the only astro related programme on TV atm apart from sky at night, which is less about astronomy. I really used to love stargazing live and wish they'd bring it back. I shall give the naked astronomy podcast a go though thank you @Chris 👍

I'm not an expert by any means but if I were in your situation, I would do them the same exposure length.

Hopefully the upgraded firmware and lower aggression will sort the majority of your issue, let us know how you get on when you have clear skies 👍

I have images of my mount when I took the covers off if it's any use to you David.

I'd definitely upgrade the firmware to 3.36 as this ironed out a whole heap of issues with the AzGti. What is your dec and RA aggression settings when guiding? I have a skywatcher 72ed ds pro on AzGti mount in EQ mode, with an asiair pro and my Canon 600D, guidescope is the zwo 30f4 with my zwo asi120mc-s for guiding. I have my dec aggression to 60% and RA to 40% but this can depend on each night but its a rough figure I work from and I set the dec duration to 500ms and RA to 500ms (this really helps the settle time after a dither for me) and combined with the 3.36 firmware update, I've so far gone to 3 mins guided perfect round stars and probably easily go longer, just haven't tried it yet. Guiding is a dream with it now. But definitely update the firmware. I did also take my mount apart and regreased it all and checked the worms and gears. If your confident enough. I focused my guidescope during the day to save time, it doesn't need to be perfect though, as good as you can get it is enough. I guide at 50 gain and 2s exposures mainly. When PA with Asiair pro I generally go to the 3rd time the circle increases (zooms in) if you know what I mean and get to total rms of around 0.38"with PA (I think) or lower if possible. This mount and scope have been brilliant for me lightweight and easy to carry from my first floor flat. The below rms figures are the best I've had but normally around 1.5"

I think it's something to do with the settings in the app. I remember a few other users a while ago having this issue. I can't remember how to resolve it yet but I think you have to input new time and intervals or something on the app as it's set to how it was from the factory. I'll try and see if I can find the post. This may help you https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/367987-star-adventurer-2i-sideral-tracking-issue/?do=findComment&comment=4066237

I've since managed to add more frames to this image to a total of 296 x180sec 800 iso. I didn't use gradient x terminator as I had a previous trial of it that ran out do couldn't download it again. I used astro flat pro and horizontal banging reduction in astro tool in photoshop, I can't help feeling there's more there and my image looks like it was a beautiful fresh painting that has had a sheet of paper placed over it and pressed to crunch and smudge the image, if you know what I mean.

Pleased it's all working for you. I guess it's pot luck with which mount you get. Definitely update the firmware though and should run much better too.

Looks lovely, really got that core now, the colour and dust lanes looking real nice, once moony out the way grab loads more data on it to stack with it, really enhance it even more. 👌

Absolutely stunning Mike, you made good use of our recent clear skies too. I got just under 5 hours on M33 so hoping for good things

I do prefer the first one, it's a lot smoother to, your doing fantastic and controlling the core of M31 real nice, top work 👍

That's woukd make a stunning image, hopefully it's clear for you, looking good so far 👍

That's a superb image 👍

I hope you get a chance to test it out. I updated to 3.36 and have no drift wurh mine, though I'm running an asiair pro and dither 19 pixels, guiding has been ok and getting some good figures, though the wind was an issue last night with guiding. Imaging on Friday and guiding was excellent, just need to sort the long settle time after a dither.

That's brilliant, so pleased the counterweight and firmware upgrade did the job and improved your images. I also don't take dark frames with my dslr and just take bias, flat and dark flats, found that darks make no difference. You've controlled the core quite nicely in both images, it's very easy to blow it out. I do prefer the first image of M42 but both are excellent. Look forward to seeing your results wurh more data 👍

Thanks Mike, hopefully got another hours worth tonight, though guiding was acting up a bit. Yes there's quite a bit of banding in it and managed to get most of with the horizontal banding removal action in my astro tools in photoshop but not that good a job at it, I'll download the trial of gradient exterminator and see how that deals with it. I did use the free trial of pixinsight and that removes it beautifully but trial ran out and its very expensive at over 230 euros and not paying that just to remove banding. Normally the colder nights I have less banding but strangely not on this night.

Finally got the scope out, after 5 weeks clouds, my try at M33 on Friday night, sw 72ed AzGti (3.36 firmware) eq mode Canon 600D, 42x180sec exposures, stacked in AAP, baffoonly processed in PS, needs more data, so hoping tonight is staying clear to grab some more data.