Jamgood

Other than that glitch in the optic the collimation is pretty good.

I have tried without the MPCC as it has always worked. I will try it though and see. I've just been doing some diagnostic tests, (Still with the MPCC) pointing at different places in the sky and imaging bright stars. Pointing straight up to Polaris and it looks pretty good. Everywhere else and the stars go odd with that spike. EDIT* I know the focuser protrudes into the light path, that's the nature of the beast with the 130PDS but I never had this problem, it just started random?

Hi all. Hopefully someone can tell me what this is and how to fix it? Started happening a few weeks ago. Nothing had changed with the scope, no knocks, all fine and then all of a sudden I'm getting images like this and I can't for the life of me fathom it out. I've recollimated the scope, several times, I've tried collimating while tightening and loosening the nuts but the mirror keeps on giving this strange (I don't even know what to call it) optical glitch? All advice welcomed as I'm stuck and this is starting to waste many many hours of imaging time now. I'm sure someone has seen this before and knows the fix or is the mirror just done for?

@Uranium235 Stunning image 👍

When you connect PHD2 to the mount, what do you have selected? EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6 or On Camera? Are you connecting the mount as well as the camera?

Cheers. 👍 I'm using a Skywatcher 130PDS on a HEQ5. Camera is a Canon 60Da with Astronomik CLS filter and Baader MPCC. Guiding with Orion 50mm Scope and Orion Starshoot camera. Nothing amazing but I'm very much a newbie, learning as I go.

The first practice run I did of M42 had an overblown core but I was mainly just checking framing and exposure. The second time I took a series of images and got this. 12 x 300s - 12 x 30s - 12 x 10s Lights 12 x Darks for each set of Lights 30 x Bias 30 x Flats Not perfect and needs some more data when I can but I'm happy with it so far. I didn't use any layers or anything. Just stacked in DSS in groups and edited the final image in Photoshop.

I highly recommend a 130PDS. Great little scopes. I use mine on the HEQ5 and it's a perfect partnership. 👍

I doubt any of them are ever straight from the factory. It really doesn't matter, it's a cosmetic thing. Makes no difference to function.

It really doesn't matter which way up, down or round the reticule is facing. The numbers and cross are only for reference. My 3 and 9 are closest to top and bottom. I just rotate the RA slightly, lock it off. Put Polaris on the reticule where it needs to be according to SynScanInit App (or any polar alignment app of your choice) and then reset the RA to the home position. Job done. Takes a few seconds when you're used to it. The important part is that the reticule is calibrated/collimated. With Polaris in position, you should be able to rotate your RA 180 Degrees and it should still be bang on the line. If it shifts, you need to calibrate/collimate your reticule.

Personally, I think it's more a case of balance. There almost seems to be a phasing issue between your voice and the music. When the music gets louder at 4mins it gets worse. There's a clash of music volume and the speed of your talking. I'd turn it down quite a bit and have it very light in the background. It would help.

Very good and informative video. 👍 My only issue with it was the music in the background was unnecessary. Sometimes your voice was muffled with it. I'm deaf in one ear though so it might just have been me.

A quick process of the Leo Triplet from last night that I managed to grab between the clouds and testing out the new version of PHD2. Very impressed with the new Multi-Star Guiding. Definitely made an improvement for me.

I use my mobile phone torch on my Samsung. Wrap foil around the phone, tiny pin hole, done. Works a treat. 👍

Unless you know the spider vanes are off, leave them alone. You can measure them with a ruler or callipers. To adjust the secondary mirror, you use the central screw and the 3 tilt adjusting hex screws. (You might have to back the hex's off a bit to move the centre screw. I did mine earlier today. You want to get it to look like this (Image below) through you cap. If you can get a good photo through the cap with your phone square to the cap, you can use Mire De Collimation on a PC to see how you're looking. I recommend using bright coloured card so you can see what you're looking at better.

Some interesting read over at CN. Cheers @rickwayne 👍 It would be nice to have the chance to have a go with the new build but the weather over here isn't looking great for the foreseeable.

Point your scope at a really bright star before using the Bahtinov Mask. Fine tune and remove. 👍

Looks very interesting. Will give this a run at some point. 👍

It always amazes me how many Astronomers are Musicians as well. His studio looks like mine!

Very nice 👍

Not sure about other operating systems but if you have Windows 10, you should already have one that isn't too bad. Click Start and search for "Video Editor". 👍

@Ibbo! I'm a complete newbie to Astrophotography and even more so to Solar imaging. I literally got a Solar filter on Thursday 26th in the post and Friday 27th was clear for a bit and I had my first "go". I spent much time just looking at my computer screen in awe and amazed that I got to see sun spots for the first time, on my first time. Looking at the image I took (one shot) and then looking at yours, shows me in more detail what I was actually looking at, so thank you for sharing. Maybe one day in the future, I'll be able to take images like yours. 👍 Here's mine.

😂 These things are sent to test us.

Do you have old Alignment/Sync points saved in EQMOD from your old mount? Delete any that are saved. Same with any custom park positions. Park your mount. Turn off. Re-balance and set everything to your home position and then turn the mount back on and in EQMOD click the Re-Sync button in the Park/Unpark section. (Looks like a recycle icon) Retry slewing.

Date and Time comes from your PC for APT. That shouldn't be an issue. Have you got the correct Lat/Long settings in APT and EQMOD? When you do a slew, are you starting from the correct home position? Weights down, scope up, etc? What are you powering the mount from? An insufficient power supply can play havoc.