Gmx76

Welcome!!!

did my first collimation on the secondary with a Cheshire (it has a fixed primary) a week ago, now managed to get some better pics of Ring Nebula M57 and Dumbelll M27. Just live stacking in AltairCapture.

Hi!

Hi Martin, this is what AltairCapture supports, unfortunately no FITS files saved this time, will need to see if I can do next time.

Welcome, and great scope!

Thanks Mike.  Good point on the double stars, the RA motor seems to slip sometimes, this is the second one and still does it a bit, could be that? - Greg

Welcome Anthony, quite new myself but they are a great bunch and very helpful here.  Shout if you have any questions!

Finally a clear night so after some planetary visual I had another go at ring nebula tonight, this is on my Starquest 130P newt with RA tracking and GPCam2 290C, captured in AltairCapture with LiveStacking of 5s frames.   

Just ordered an AZ-GTI which will hold my 130p newt until I can get a C6 (that's the plan anyway). I asked Celestron to confirm the C6 weight and got this reply:

"The 10 lbs (4.54 kg) stated weight for a C6 OTA (model 91010-XLT) includes the finderscope, diagonal and eyepiece. The bare optical tube weight is approximately 9 lbs (~4.08 kg). There is no difference in weight for the Astro Fi, SE, or AVX versions, but differences in accessories can affect the effective weight."

Hth

Greg

Love the setup and great images!

hi, I'm also considering an EQ3 Pro or possibly an EQ5 Pro depending on what I can afford and find on the second hand market just over a month from now.

As mentioned above by people who have far more experience than I do, the HEQ5 seems to be the de facto choice, however they are very expensive.

As a total beginner myself and from advice from others from this forum,  the eq3 or eq5 pro maybe good for you starting out if budget is a consideration,  which it is for me. 

There is an eq3 imaging thread on this forum so you can see what people are getting from this mount. It might help you make in making your decision.  If you feel after trying AP is for you,  you can always put more money in later. Hth. Greg

ordered! thanks all very helpful

Thanks, if I buy the ebay one mentioned above do I also need a collimation cap?

Great thanks will give it a go. Can you recommend any links with simple instructions on how to use it?

Hi

Think it's time I collimated my scope (Starquest 130P, 1.25 inch focuser). Looks like a Cheshire is probably the best option from what I can work out.

Would this be any good?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-1-25-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece-for-newtonian-refractor-telescopes-Jq/193613045463?hash=item2d143c9ed7:g:ebUAAOSw5cRZNSrk

or am I better off paying a bit more and getting the longer one from FLO? (and if so, whats the difference between the long and short)

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/astro-essentials-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

Thanks

Greg

I see, thanks!

Thanks for your advice, I had looked at this before and I'm now leaning towards this again now. seems like you need to add a lot to the az-gti inc. high end tripod to get near the same capabilities as the eq3. cheers

BTW are you using in eq mode?  If so, are you using the Star Adventurer wedge? 

Nice. I'm looking to use it for visual and EEVA so sounds like a good combo, as long as on a decent tripod. Thanks

Good feedback, thanks. I'm hearing/reading different advice from different people.  Is the eq3 pro much to lug about? I can probably get one used for around the same price as the az-gti, and for a bit more maybe an eq5 pro. I don't expect to travel much with it but mostly moving from garage to back garden and back.

hi @Ags I'm looking to buy an Az-Gti soon and possibly a C6 later. How is this combo working out for you? Thanks Greg

Thanks  I did think the Photon would be pushing it , I read 5.3kg, even so,  still a bit over the payload limit. I'm reading conflicting info on the C6, some quoting OTA at 3.7kg or so but fully loaded its around the 4.5kg mark as stated in the manufacturer's spec. 

I have the Starquest 130P newt with GPCAM2 290C. I'm looking to upgrade my Starquest mount to an Az-Gti for EEVA as I really want Goto. I will probably use the Star Adventurer wedge as want to use EQ mode.  

I plan to upgrade the scope later, maybe next year,  to a 6 inch SCT such as the C6, though have also thought about a 6 inch F4 newt such as the TS-Optics Photon.

Does this sound like a sensible upgrade path?

Any suggestions on whether to go for the SCT or the F4 newt?  I am quite a novice so think SCT will be more suitable. 

Cheers Greg

Great, thanks for this.

Thanks will contact them both