AstroNebulee

Follow the video that @happy-kat posted about 4 mins in will show you. Lee

I have used my Skywatcher 72ed with a Canon 450D and then a 600D in the past. Both worked perfectly well and really gives you a good start in imaging before falling down the rabbit hole for an astro camera. I also used my asiair pro with the 600D all worked great with fabulous results to start. Lee

Thank you. I agree with a need for grab and go set ups in the UK. It's been outside so much more than my imaging set up. Lee

Fabulous detail and clarity. Brilliant images and a good interesting write up to. Thank you for sharing. Clear skies for more Lee

Thank you. Yes down here we are generally caught in the narrow band of wet westerly wind and rain, I forget what it's called now but southern Wales is in that corridor too. It tends to Peter out after it goes past Devon and then clears for everyone else further along. 🙄 Thank you. I hope you get your clear skies this week, good luck 😊, not a sniff down here this week, the only day its not raining is Friday but it's a cloud blackout predicted. Thank you, you are all very kind. Clear skies everyone. Lee

Stunning, just stunning 👌

Thank you Reggie 👍

Yes this was just taking my grab abd go AzGti alt az setup out with SM90 and laptop quickly. Think I've only had 4 good deep sky sessions this year, awful indeed. Let's hope for better things soon (this week is looking rubbish here in Cornwall again)

This is Jupiter taken on 30-10-23, the only chance I was going to get this close to opposition with the impending storms, rain, wind, snow, Armageddon, apocalypse and plagues. It was a briefest gap in the clouds that lasted 20 seconds which included high cloud before I had to deploy the umbrella and cover the scope and laptop up before trying to hightail it inside. You can spot the transit of Io on the bottom left of the disc and Ganymede in the top right of the frame. Taken with Skymax 90mm, AzGti and zwo asi120mc-s. Processed in Autostakkert, Registax and photoshop.

Hi Ahh the age old debate of the 533 square sensor and other astro cams with the rectangular sensors. A bit of a mine field. I have the 294mc pro and works done with my set up, though I don't use a dual band filter with I believe can have issues with this sensor regarding flats but I could be wrong. I use mine with a astronomik L3 filter to cut down the bloat and can calibrate fine with darks, flats and flat darks. You could look at astronomy tools website to see what your set up could manage with the 533. Then see how many targets won't fit on the sensor. https://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/ Of course you're not tied to zwo cameras and maybe others out there that will work for you. I can only comment on what I have, works for me and my experiences. Others with better knowledge will be along shortly. Lee

Hi Thomas. It does sound like a bit of a dud mount if the 12v d socket didn't work. I've used this 12v 3A talentcell battery pack and had it for 2. 5 years now and still performs brilliantly for my alt az visual, lunar and planetary imaging sessions. I do use the lynx astro cable and it it's perfect. It could be both a dud mount and battery pack. Cheers Lee

That's a brilliant image well done. The the clear skies have been non existent down here in Cornwall so I'm pleased you got something where you are. 5 min exposures are to long really for M42 as the core gets blown out easily. Try a series of 15-30 secs for the core and longer exposures for the outer detail, then blend them together. It's an outstanding image and one to be proud of. Keep up with your dslr for the moment I would say and learn that way then go for the dedicated astro camera. You really do get to learn so much about astrophotography and then will hit the ground running when you get your astro camera 😊 Lee

Good luck when you get your AzGti. I love the mount so much I have two. One in EQ mode and one for alt az observing, lunar and planetary imaging. Keep us updated on here with how you get on. Any any advice needed just ask. Even if you dont use the sw wedge there's wealth of fun in alt az astrophotography with the AzGti to get you started. Have fun and clear skies. Lee

Super image. I'm really looking forward to the darker nights and hopefully so clear skies. Happy hunting this winter 👍

A gorgeous image, that's a stunner. Well done

Great images Paul. I'm especially loving your boat and Orion image 👌 Lee

Definitely need the opportunity to play out. Now with the clocks going back tonight and much darker nights coming 😁, hopefully the clear skies will happen and we'll all be capturing beautiful Orion Nightscapes. Good luck. Lee

I agree with you Paul. Once you get an image how you like to see it, it will look completely horrible on other devices. I've been battling this recently with processing images to be able to print and sell them locally (yes I'm amazed too that people buy some) As you say getting the brightness right is the key in processing. (I've been through many printing services to find the right one now) I've hopefully calibrated my laptop screen with a i1 display device and use soft proofing with the printing companys software plug in for photoshop to check. The low light level long exposure foreground is the way to go I think if it's big foregrounds. I've even used daytime captures of foregrounds and reduced the exposure to get it how I like it and blend the night sky in. I do enjoy light painting singular foreground objects to isolate them from the main foreground. They are all great images, your Orion one is lovely. Im hoping to get some Orion Widefield in this winter and seeing yours gives me a lot of inspiration. A lot of images processed on pc or laptops don't look as great on some devices I find as I say above. Lee

Look at astro buy & sell website, possible to sell there. Nice scope indeed Lee

That's not great the weather was rubbish down here it has been very poor for a long time with only one full clear night in early October. Try selling your set up on here in the classifieds or astro buy & sell is your best chance. What set up are you looking to get once you can. Lee

I'm pleased you got the scope balanced all ok now. Those are great images, well done 👏. You should see my first images, they definitely weren't as good as yours. Lee

Hi Yes mine was the plug top version and still works fine. Think it was an amazon buy.

I used to use one with my Canon 600D and no issues. To stop dew when I use my set up, I put an old plastic box placed over the extendable waterproof socket. (the lid of the socket doesn't close properly because one of the plugs for my usb bank is a bit bigger) This keeps everything dew free. Lee

Brilliant catch, that's some orionid, well done.

I have measured mine and it's a 21cm green skywatcher dovetail bar that I had to drill one hole part way down and recess it and use one of the existing pre drilled holes at the end of the bar. Looking at my guidescope dovetail bar it too is a 21cm one and slotted, so this should suit why you need for mounting your 72ed to your mount. I think I got it of a fellow member here but there are many slotted dovetail bars at flo to do the job. You should also be fine balancing your dslr when you have the new dovetail bar as I used to use a dslr before my astro camera. If flo don't have what you want I saw on the bay here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284647417484?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=MsnxS3WGSCy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Fo3Iht4XRKy&var=586276580261&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Lee