Kon

During my imaging last night, the AZ motor of my 12" Syncan GOTO stopped tracking; I could hear the motor working but not tracking and I could use the hand controller to move the telescope so the motor is operating ok. Is it just slipping? The clutch was tighten and I had no issues until last night with it. I opened the housing but I am lost beyond that. The brass rode is rotating with the controller. I can see another black disk under the whole system. I found some info online that I could tighten the nut at the top. Before I do anything silly, are there any suggestions?

Nice images. Rupes Recta has an almost 3d feeling to it in the last image.

Thanks Neil. I tried not to push to much as seeing wasn't great but also inspired by your excellent processing to avoid edge crater artefacts (there are a few but i would sacrifice details over tidying 1-2 craters). I am really excited what the 12" can do under good seeing; the IR was boiling, but I still managed a few decent frames. These are stacks of 3% of 8000 frames with 1ms exposure; any higher exposure and I was losing the finer features but the light gathering of the 12" is amazing compared to my 8". I have to say that you were spot on to always tell me to get some kind of tracking. It is a game changer! The biggest advantage I have found so far is refocusing constantly without losing my target. Planetary season will be fun but the moon is an excellent target to get all teething out of the way.

I managed some decent images last night despite the jetstream. The craters and mountains are: 1. Ptolemaeus/Alphonsus/Arzachel, 2. Sinus Fidei, 3. Vallis Alpes and Montes Alpes. The shadows casted in the 1st and 3rd image are really intriguing. 12" Flextube goto, asi462mm, IR pass 685nm, 2.5x TV powermate. I also tried a colour image for image 1 using my asi462mc.

Thanks Ian. The seeing was just awful. with the overhead jetstream. I have been imaging tonight and it is a bit better. I will post the images later. Looking forward to your captures.

Thanks Mark. I will never unsee the smilly crater now 😂. Yes I hate when updates decide to happen during imaging. I hope the weather improves so we can get some high resolution images.

Another go on imaging craters despite the awful seeing. I opted for an IR pass filter 685 tonight. Maurolycus is showing some details although I could not resolve the small craterlets inside. Aristoteles and Eudoxus had better seeing and I framed them to capture the mountain shadows on the left. 12" FlexTube, GoTo, asi462mm, IR pass, 2.5x TV powermate.

First attempt with the 12" GoTo to get high resolution images of craters. I am blown away despite the awful conditions tonight. I am really looking forward to what it can do under good seeing. 12" FlexTube GoTo, asi462mc, 2.5x TV powermate, UV/IR cut filter. Pushed the colour saturation to reveal the mineral colours.

Thanks Roy. I am hoping to get it even younger/thinner if I can. It's more of a challenge for me rather than anything else.

Thanks Neil . I pulled more out of the image than I thought it's possible.

That's one I always forget about. On my to- see list.

Dust storms on Mars. Observing Mars is challenging itself but getting the finer details needs really stable seeing.

For excellent transparency nights and darker skies, Barnard 33 (Horse Head) and colour on M42. Clouds on Venus.

Observing anything under UK skies in recent months is a challenge itself 🤣.

See here about the screws: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/420499-gas-giants-knobs/ Regarding the washer modification, you need to undo all the secondary screws to allow the washer to insert. It's worth doing it as the base of the secondary is rather soft and eventually the screws will dig into it. I wouldn't bother doing it until you start playing with the collimation. I have done it on both my Dobs .

Thanks. The benefit of working from home somedays, I can pop out for a quick imaging session. There is also the benefit of a dob that I can place anywhere in my garden to avoid obstructions (the earthshine was captured between a gap between my fence and an access gate).

I am really sorry to hear Ian. I hope nothing serious and you can be under the skies (whenever they clear) soon. Thanks for comment too.

Thanks. I almost gave up as the clouds kept coming but it cleared in the end.

My 'youngest' new moon at 0.9 days and 1.45% illumination. Captured at daylight. The earthshine was captured at 7 degrees elevation when it was starting to get dark; 20 frames were stacked. I am really surprised how well it came out considering I could not see any details in the raw images apart from the overall moon shape. Skywatcher 300P FlexTube GoTo, Nikon D3200.

Spectacular image and no noise at all. You should be very happy with these. Apart from the craterlets, it's the fine details of rilles in many of the larger craters including Clavius, I am not sure I have seen them in photos before. By the way are these with IR pass?

Excellent processing Neil. I see you haven't lost your touch been away for a while. Nice resolution on the craterlets.

Thanks John. Nice snap with your mobile. It's a nice sight with the phase. My young kids always confuse the crescent Mercury and Venus for the moon 😆 when they look at the eyepiece.

Thanks. I only get a small observing/imaging window between my neighbour's house and a big tree. It's worth getting somewhere to see it once.

I managed to see and image Mercury on the 29th March.

Mercury from a few days ago. Awful conditions at the low elevation. The crescent phase is showing but no chance to pull surface details. 300P Flextube GoTo, asi462mm, IR pass 685, 2.5x TV powermate.