Mr Thingy

I'd be interested in a few examples, if you could. I don't have any experience of high performance refractors, so tips on some good ones that are below Takahashi price would be very useful. TIA

Looks like the start of something very good. You've just inspired me to look into All-sky-cameras!

When I saw the holder I thought to myself how cheap and low quality it looked. It does its job OK but it really isn't worth €26 IMO, particularly when you could easily craft something, or do as you suggested with a phone holder, for much cheaper. I'm not actually using the Synscan unit as I control through EQMOD, but I will keep just in case I decide to use later, otherwise I would pass you mine.

@Moonshed.Here's a link: https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p10189_Skywatcher-Replacement-Part-Holder-for-SynScan-Hand-Controller-to-Aluminum-or-Steel-Tripods.html Not sure they are worth the €26 they are charging! This came with my HEQ5.

Hi Moonshed, It was a bracket supplied with the HEQ5. It's a plastic holder, held in place with a velcro strap. Quite simple but seems to do the job. I will get a picture of it later.

I don't have much practical basis for comparison, but I did start out with APT and had some problems with setup, so I downloaded NINA and found it much more intuitive.

Looks like NINA has a DARV routine built in. I was going to expwriment last night until I realised that the weather forecast tricked me ☹️.

I found a good video on PA in Nina. Looks relatively simple.

Good to know. I assumed the polar scope alignment was enough and that the Nina PA was for use with polar cameras. I will have a play with PA in NINA.

Thanks for confirming. My polar alignment seems to have been good (once I realised that the reticule illuminates when the mount is powered 🙈).

I tried that and the platesolve worked 👍 That's one less thing to play around with next time. I was assuming I could dispense with any star alignment process by using plate solving - is this correct or should I also perform a star alignment?

I use the same and seem to work well. This size fits my range of refractor sizes from 120mm all the way down to my 50mm (double-wrapped, as mentioned above).

Thanks for you kind comments. I didn't think about testing out the platesolver with one of my lights - I will try that - Thanks for the suggestion. I realised the source of the problem, which was that I didn't have a database installed 🙈. Hopefully it will now work. With PHD2, it seemed to keep timing out. I never saw the chart running, so I don't think it was even operational. Since my time was short I opted to go unguided,l and didn't spend any time trying to get it working. I've since done some more configuring of settings, so hopefully it will work next time 🤞

I use this: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/batteries-powerpacks/nevada-ps-08-6a-8a-regulated-linear-power-supply.html But only to power my HEQ5. I need a separate power supply for my camera though.

I'm very jealous.

Thanks for your comments and advice. I didn't realise a dust mote could make such a big dark circle. Good to know. I decided not to take flats due to time and as I assumed dust wouldn't make such an impact 🤭... Live and learn! I've since rotated the camera so I can't get any flats now. Nevermind.

I've just completed and set up my AP rig, so with a few hours of clear skies last night I decided to run an equipment and software test (and user competence test!). There was a full moon and my time was limited, but nevertheless, I'm very pleased with the result. I couldn't get platesolving to work, so I had to manually locate the target, which was very difficult with M31 near the meridian. Turns out I hadn't installed the platesolving database. That ate a large amount of my time. I also had difficulties with PHD2 so, rather than spend more of my limited time solving that, I opted to go unguided. In the end I only managed 10 x 90 sec lights, plus 5 darks and a few bias frames, as time ran out, but nevertheless I'm pleased. My goal for AP was never to make beautiful pictures but resolve those faint fuzzies I've looked at for years and bring them into something more tangible and really understand what I am seeing. It's not the same looking at some else's images, however beautiful they may be, and creating your own image really links you to that astronomical object. I'm pleased with the polar alignment and being able to do 90 sec subs unguided. Focus needs improvement, I need to fix get PHD2 running and I seem to have a little tilt to fix. I also notice a weird dark circle in my lights (at about the 1 o/c position from the nucleus) - any ideas what has caused that? I've not inspected my optical train but can't fathom what has caused that. My next piece of research needs to be image processing! Anyway, a reasonable foundation to start my journey. Kit: HEQ5 Pro; Evostar 72ED; ZWO ASI 183 GT; Evoguide 50ED; ZWO ASI 120 MM. Image capture software: NINA -Thingy-

We were treated to a few hours of clear skies over here near the East coast. Managed to try out my new AP rig and, despite some teething issues, I grabbed a few shots of M31, which I will attempt to process later. I also had assistance from cats - "this warm laptop looks nice to lay on..." 😱

My wife bought me a 72ED... No idea how she knew to buy me that... 🤭 The mount was an unexpected Xmas gift to myself (unexpected as I thought it would arrive weeks ago, but turned up Xmas Eve).

After a 4-month wait it has finally arrived. Now I have all I need to take some astro snaps. Prepare yourself for silly questions and bad pictures. Shame my cat seems to have laid claim to it...

Due to be cloudy here in the East tomorrow but the clouds parted this evening and the planets are close enough to share the same frame at 120x magnification. Here's a crumby picture taken through the eyepiece using my phone.

My USB cables are the stock ones. I expect it would be a good idea overall if I replace them with good quality ones.

I'm trying to piggyback my guide camera and EAF through the integrated USB hub on my ZWO ASI 183 GT but when linking everything up through the hub my computer won't detect the devices. Does anyone have any experience of setting up like this and some ideas on how to detect the devices? Maybe there are some settings somewhere that I'm missing. Setup and connection details: - Camera connected to PC via USB 3 - Power to camera power input - USB 2 leads from USB-out ports on camera connected to guide cam/EAF - EAF powered from lead connected power-out on the camera TIA -Thingy-

Thanks. My camera has a built-in USB hub, so I may be able to do the same through that. I will do some experimenting later. Nice setup, by the way!

Bringeth the Astronomy gear, bringeth the inclement weather. My bad. Sorry. Shan't let that stop me playing with my new EAF though. Nice solid piece of kit. Only gripe is that it doesn't come with a power supply, but nevermind. Not sure if it can be powered via the USB but assume not.