Planitair

Just a mention the 533 is a CMOS not CCD, the advantage of modern CMOS is that exposures can be much shorter than with the older CCD. Eric

I took this image on the last clear night we had in my area, 13th Feb 2023, Sky from my backyard is Bortle 7, we are experiencing clouds that are getting more and more regular in the seven year since I have been doing EAA, its taken me this long to get where I am with both my Astro Gear & how to use it correctly. Rossette Nebula ngc 2244 (Caldwell 50) or Satellite Cluster in the Constellation Monocerus, taken me 2 yr to wait for a reasonable night and at the right time of year to get this Beauty. Sharpcap pro with Optolong L-eNhance filter, 17 mins think taken at 15 secs, I nipped inside for a cuppa and returned finding it had dropped a lot of frames due to FWHM being too low, readjusted FWHM and then Clouds rolled in !!!!! eric

I have the SW az/eq 5 gt mount with a SW Espirit 80mm, (f5), ZWO 533pro OSC, great for everything except the very large DSO's, I would recommend a Refractor and Sharpcap Software. Unless you have plenty of time & regular clear skies then I would steer clear of a Mono Camera, OSC is easier and more convenient. Eric

I have the SW az/eq 5 gt mount with a SW Espirit 80mm, (f5), ZWO 533pro OSC, great for everything except the very large DSO's, I would recommend a Refractor and Sharpcap Software. Eric

I had problems with this new Polar Scope, I ditched it for Sharpcap Pro PA, NO MORE KNEES creaking, easy and accurate. eric

This Polar Scopes should be first Calibrated before using.

SHARPCAP is easy PA, easy on the neck & Knees 😁

As if Clouds, Rain, Wind, & Moon doesnt Blight us, we now have little or no cloud, Moon out of way until early hours BUT, Minute Sand Granules from the Sahara are giving a Milky aspect to my sky. They apparently called Particulates. Eric

What I have learned is to keep things as simple as is possible when starting out on the imaging trail. It is a very Subjective Hobby, so find out what works for you to start. Point Tripod North & level Balance both Mount & Scope with accessories Camera etc attached in place, I use a Telrad Finder I dont use Calibration Frames at all, I dont Guide either. Use Sharpcap Pro for PA & collecting my data on the night, it does the lot really well so you can advance at your leisure learning the other great things it has to offer. In Sharpcap Pro I do short 30 sec subs and lots of them at Gain 250 to 350 depending on conditions. Get the colours lined up on the Histogram, I dont use the display Histogram but check it is reset. The ASI 533 pro is a great OSC Camera and with my 80mm refractor i can get enough Stars in the field to PA with Sharpcap. I use my handset (still) 2 Star Align and find my target easily following Focus with a Bhatinov Mask, sometimes forget to return my mount to Home position after PA, goes Haywire lol. My images end up decent. Of course, if you want to get really good images then use Calibration Frames, PHD or equivalent to Guide, longer sub exposures and even Dither etc if you want. Pixinsight seems to be the leader of the Pack in Post Processing, expensive to buy & steep learning curve to start but excellent by all accounts The ASIair products are becoming popular but have hitches for some I have been reading, maybe if they brought it out for use with a Laptop then I may have a try. Your own set up can determine what is the best set up & Capture method for you of course. Hope this helps anyone just starting out on the rewarding hobby of Imaging DSO objects I havent done any Planetary imaging due to them being not well placed this year for me. Put the subs mine are just lights (or with Calibration Frames) through DSS then after I use PS & the free Gimp Software. Eric who cannot dodge the Clouds

Plus for Sharpcap pro

This like everything else in Astronomy regarding all equipment, Software, Scope, Mount, Camera etc etc is quite subjective Its down to personal choice. after looking around, reading up, asking questions like you have, then you will have a good idea of what will work for you. I keep things simple by using a comprehensive piece of Software like Sharpcap Pro, PA, high gain, short 30 sec subs, Stacked, no guiding, no calibration ,play with the Histogram and obtain reasonable images, save Stack and run it through DSS, then improve in post processing software, I use PSCS2 ( found it free a while back on internet) GIMP is free but I wasnt keen on it. Pixinsight is probably the best but cost a bit too much for me. Eric

Not sure how you can get a 2" filter near to the sensor on the 533 using the available spacers for back focus. 86mm is nearest I can get it, seems to work ok, would be glad to get some advice on this. I use Sharpcap high Gain ( 300 +) with lots & lots of 30 sec subs.

I have a ZWO IR/UV cut filter that I have no issue with

I have had 6 clear nights since beginning of late September 2021, 2 with New Moon. I kept a record 2019 and tallied 15 good nights for the season. I am Bortle 6/7 backyard but can get to a good Bortle 5 in 40mins. I suppose depending where you live is the factor, I am West Yorkshire not far from Pennines. I keep my set up basic so as to ensure not too many issues on the night ( Well not too many anyway) Eric

Hope the Weather holds up for you Damian. Eric

Just found this in the loft The ' Cosmic Anarchist' Sir Fred Hoyle

Yes, you were facing the wrong direction, it was travelling North, I was going to have a go at Jupiter myself but decided on M33 instead, glad I did now Eric

Same shot i got from W/Yorks on my iphone while I was imaging M33, great sight.

I saw it (while imaging M33), was inside having a cuppa looked outside, travelling North it was a great sight. Managaed a quick shot on my mobile. Now confirmed as being the Atlas V Rocket entering the Atmosphere to deliver 9 Satellites, launched earlier from California, last seen heading North across the UK, Centaur upper stage debri burn. Eric

Great Image, glad someone else doesn't go with Calibration Frames, short subs and lots of them for me, no guiding either, mount tracks well , PA in Sharpcap pro, 2 star align and thats it, due to the weather here cant afford the time to mess about with too many things lol. eric

It would be well suited I imagine, it goes well with my 80mm Frac. Eric

After a PA, do you return the Mount to home position ? if not you will be way out with your first alignment star and the second. ew

Agree regarding Start Position, often overlooked by beginners.

This hobby is very subjective when it comes to equipment advice, read up, look at what other folk are getting & using , think about what you eventually want from this game, dont rush into buying anything, you can throw a lot of cash at this and then find you need the other. ew