AstroNebulee

Yes totally understand what your saying with the polar alignment side of things, I'm wondering when my star adventurer arrives and use the wedge on AzGti that mh polar aligner Pro app may help with polar alignment using the daytime polar align, to save chugging my laptop out as I prefer the goto set ip of az gti. Lazy I know but when short on time quick set up and finding targets are paramount

Thanks Stu, what was the issues with usdung the az gti in EQ mode you were suffering from. I can reliably get 30 sec dubs with mine in az mode which is great I think. My M51 image was quite pleasing to see it emerge in processing, I'm loving my 72ed it's an amazing scope and so proud to own it, produces fantastic images and so portable, clear skies

Hi Thank you for your kind comments and advice, as I said I'm still very new to all this, I will try your suggestions out on my M51 image I agree it looks orange on here, I thought it looked OK in photoshop so not sure if converteting to jpeg caused more orange. Going to give astro tools a blast also. Clear skies

Thank you Peter, certainly better than my first ever milky way image but then it was to late in the year. It certainly pays to not pull my bedroom blind at night when you wake up and see the milky way and probably the only benefit of being in a first floor flat. I trued to image it more last night with my Omegon lx2 and then just the dslr on its own for 100 x20sec subs so will see how that processes. Certainly feeling very tired at work today the later nights and early calls but worth it for these shots. Clear skies

That's a pity about your tracking issues imaging M51, what is your set up? I'm still learning about processing myself properly, keep watching the videos and tutorials plus there's very helpful members here. I've just bought astro tools and astro flat for ps so hoping that can help me better process also. I think the more subs the better in any imaging. I've only just managed to control my urge to inage a few things in one session so now I only image one and get lots more subs on it instead. I imaged M101 100x30 secs last night so hoping they process well, clear skies

Here is my offering of the milky way around 3am in North Cornwall, I imaged this through my bedroom window 60x21sec 3200iso, Canon 600D 18-55mm kit lens at 18mm 3.5f, stacked in dss and tweaked in ps, but could go with more stretching I think, but happy to see the milky way starting to show its core gradually. Clear skies

Hu My first attempt at M51 the whirlpool galaxy on my sw 72ed AzGti and Canon 600D, 79x30sec subs, 5 dark, 20 flats and bias, 1600iso, stacked in dss and tweaked in ps. Think I need to do my processing better will have to learn more but happy so far.

Definitely the best plan for you. They will offer you the advice needed and what requirements you request and equipment for you. If it were me on my experiences so far being quite new and also needing portable. I have a az gti, sw 72ed with a 9x50 raci fs on a star adventurer tripod and wonderfully portable , then my skymax 127 with a 6x30 ra fs, also goes on this mount and both are more than meet my needs. A nice refractor as the members suggest here like the st 80 would be a great choice.Clear skies

I understand what you mean now, I was being a bit dense last night haha, so the shaved nut with act as a locking nut against the clutch body. Just got to wait for the star adventurer to arrive now, could be mid April if I make the cut with back orders or maybe late may.

Thank you Stu I'm glad you got your credit back ftom FLO and hot your new order in. Hopefully not yo long to wait for you. I shall use the counterweight bar and weights from my star adventurer when it arrives as I've already bought the m8 m12 thread adapter and no access to a 3d printer

Thank you powerlord, definitely think you should do a video on it, as most I've seen involve using a guidescope. Will give this a go when my star adventurer arrives just to sort it and hopefully have two capable systems, all seems very simple really. Kind regards Lee

Plus 1 for a skywatcher star adventurer, also an apo refractor like skywatcher 72ed

Thank you powerlord that's a very good explanation, you should definitely make a video of that for instructional use. I'm definitely going to try this when my star adventurer arrives using the included wedge and counterweight, the goto functionality along with the 2 min subs are brilliant. Sorry if I'm getting slightly confused, do you use the rdf to align the mount. As my 72ed has a 9x50 raci I could use that I expect and I have a hot shoe adapter for my dslr to connect my rdf. Or any instructional videos you've used for polar aligning your az gti. I have a true North compass app and polar aligner Pro I use with my az gti now. Clear skies

Hi I have the az gti but use just in az as no wedge yet. I have also ordered a star adventurer pro 2i with FLO to hopefully be delivered soon. As my az gti can only track for around 25-30 seconds before trailing, so wanted a star adventurer to complimebt my 72ed and dslr to get better tracking. When it arrives I can use the wedge as you do on your az gti for quick set up and imaging. But my star adventurer will definitely get a lot of use. So it's a case of 6 of one and half a dozen for you I expect and which you feel in your head suits you better. Clear skies Lee

That's mahoosive 👍

Thanks @knobby, thsts the lithium grease I was looking at on amazon also, so will purchase that and when I'm brave enough open up my az gti mount. So would you recommend not having the fixed worm method for the mount. Clear skies

Hi alacant and ddm Sorry for jumping on board here as I'm looking to maybe astro mod my 600D or 450d. Excuse me asking a silly question but what it the hot filter and if this was just removed and not the ir filter could it take good red nebulosity images or best to get a full spec mid and purchase the relevant clip in filters after Kind regards Lee

Hi, I'm thinking of stripping my az gti mount and regrease it as its a bit stiff, what is the best lithium grease to use. Also how is the fixed worm method working for you, I have watched cuiv the lazy on YouTube a bit doing this method.

What no box shot! 😉 That's half the fun there 👍

I love my AzGti mount with my Skymax 127 and though I haven't been able to image the gas giants planets with it yet as I only had the mount a few months ago but did image Mars and Uranus. It's a revelation for lunar imaging with my zwo asi120mc-s and aldo my dslr. I use it with the star adventurer tripod that came with the az gti mount and pretty solid but its really at top weight capacity and I have a 6x30 RA fs on it. Its such a portable system as space oddities rightly said and I can also be set up in 5 minutes then cooling time of course, I also use my 72ed on this mount and have had beautiful images with both. I'm waiting on delivery for my star adventurer to use my 72ed on. Here are some images of my skymax 127 set up, clear skies

Not sure but do the delay and interval time need to match. I use wrongly or rightly 2 sec delay and interval

Keep plugging away, you'll get there, your definitely on the slippery slope now, keep your eyes peeled for a cheap st80 maybe. I find the mak is great for doubles. Good luck

My next efforts for the no eq challenge. Again on my sw 72ed, az gti and Canon 600D. M42 is 48x30 secs 1600 iso, stacked in dss and tweaked in ps & starnet. HH is 36 x 25sec 3200iso,dss, ps & starnet. 8xdarks,10xflat and bias frames. By no means award winners but progress none the less. Probably the last time I'll image these until the winter now.

Hi Peter That's a real shame, we're you using it on the mak, maybe try your 4" refractor next, the wider field will give you more to go for, I'm happy to offer advice if needed.