AstroNebulee

The asiair was about the only place to mount it to avoid to many wires and just loop wires enough between the Counterweight bar to avoid snagging and keeps everything in line and no weight on either side. I drilled holes in the dovetail bar I think but will take photos later and size. Lee

I can't remember what I did to the dovetail bar now. When I'm home ill measure it and try to take some photos for you. I think I drilled new holes in the dovetail bar. But will check. Lee

I fitted a longer dovetail bar on mine and did the trick for balancing better.

That's a really stunning image, well done. 👏

Beautiful image. Love the foreground and how well it blends to the sky.

Beautiful image and a fantastic walk through. Lee

Sad to hear this, I'm pleased you've managed to capture it now. Fabulous image. Lee

That's an amazing image, congratulations. Stunning foreground 👍 Lee

Thank you. That's very kind of you. I am looking forward to seeing your mosaic. Thank you, still struggling and off work with the covid. Lee

The only filter I use is an Astronomik L3 filter. Your images sound great Steve I will look forward to seeing them. Lee

Hi Steve Of course I don't mind. You've done a great job there. 😊 Yes there was a lot of play in the dark levels. Like I say I processed it to be printed from a printing company and use the profiles to check how they print it which would be slightly darker. It is a shame I don't have a ha filter but to be fair I can't be bothered with anymore filters, I just like the simplicity of shooting a target and skies have been so poor that a few nights imaging could be a years worth haha. Lee

On the Saturday 7th October 2023, here in North Cornwall. I took this image of IC1848 The Soul Nebula. Taken with Skywatcher 72ed Az Gti in Eq mode Asiair Pro Zwo asi294mc Pro Astrononmik L3 Filter Guided with zwo 30mm guidescope and zwo 120 mc-s 5 hours worth of data (my best ever captured in one session) 180 secs each, 120 gain -10 degrees Processed in DSS, Siril, Photoshop and Topaz. Maybe the processing could be better on this one. I'm blaming having covid. 🤒 And I processed it for printing rather than devices. Lee

Great image Steve. Definitely improved on the first image. Less stars, slightly more definition, contrast and detail in the nebula. I think 5 hours on it is enough and not sure you'd get much more improvement anyway. Once again a brilliant image, one to be proud of. Lee

No problems Jules. If not I have pm you if you wanted me to send you a spare bolt and adapter I have here. Lee

Thank you. I think I used a 3/8inch adapter screwed into the AzGti mount, then a countersunk Allen bolt as in the photo. I'll try to search it out in my box of bits. The 3/8 bolt didn't go through the dovetail bar slot. I did use some black hockey stick tape on the black dovetail bar and now the sticky residue has inadvertently leached onto the back of the AzGti and a rock solid fixing to both AzGti and dovetail bar. A blessing in disguise. Edit.. I found the bolt I used it measures 25mm from end to end and about 6mm across. I believe the adapter is a 3/8 inch to 1/4 tripod ball head adapter and it fits the bolt as shown. Lee

Yes it's a good idea to play around with what you have first before you fall down the imaging rabbit hole. I started out with a dslr in az mode on my AzGti and had some very pleasing results. The 1.75inch steel tripod really is a must for serious imaging with the AzGti in EQ mode, but as before I dud use the supplied black tripod unextended for a few years and served me well. The steel one though really cuts down vibration and wind buffeting and helps guiding. The 2 mounts your suggested were the ones I was looking at too. Lee

Hi Your ED80 will be to much really for the az gti in eq mode, along with the length aswell as the weight. The 127 mak would be ok but with the focal length with the zwo 120 attached wouldn't be worth it for dso imaging. Best stick to az mode for the 127 and do planetary and lunar imaging with your zwo120. I don't think you include the cw when working out the payload capacity of the mount. Though I happily run a sw 72ed with zwo asi294mc pro for imaging, zwo asi120mc-s and guidescope, with asiair pro for imaging. This is slightly over the 5kg but I can guide at around 0.7 rms. All on a sw 1.75inch steel tripod as this makes it much studier. Lee

Great result! You coukd put the output image from autostakkert into a free piece of software called registax. This will enable you to sharpen and tease more definition out. Check the linear and gaussian boxes and moved the top (number 1)slider all the way to the right. Then tweak the sharpen and denoise values by moving up on the sharpen to increase sharpness or if to much noise and over sharpening you can put the de noise up a bit. It's a fine balance. Just don't overdo it else it looks over sharpened. Sometimes just moving the slider all the way to the right is enough. Then click do all and save. Took from the August sky at night magazine. I know this is on Saturn but I'm sure this workflow will work on lunar images too. Or just slide the slider 1 up as far as you think you need to sharpen. Lee

Sounds perfect to me. Plus you'll do a grand job at blending them in 👌

It'll be definitely worth the drive next time if you can stay for a while too, it's a long way but hopefully you'll be rewarded with amazing images. Those 2 trees in the distance look potential candidates for framing, if the farmer will let you. And thank you for your kind words 😀

Nice images and what a perfect location to image from Lee

I've just measured one of mine and it's 9mm of thread. Lee

Thank you Dave, that was good of you to try it on 3 different screens. I shall try your advice and take a closer shot of the lone tree next time or when it's next dry and not blowing a hoolsy as is at the moment. Thank you again. Lee

Thank you, it's much appreciated and I'm pleased you like the image too. Clear skies

Simply stunning Paul. That is such a magical image with Aurora and the windmill, I can see why you were dreaming about it. Now I'd buy that! Magnificent. I do really enjoy your posts and videos, I can't wait for the next one. Clear skies my friend