AstroGS

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Wanted a new set of filters to replace the 7nm ZWO, which by the way were really good. Decided to give a go to a set of Antlia 36mm 3nm LRGB + Antlia SHO 2.8nm filter Looking forward to use them with the ASI1600mm (for now and a 2600mm in the future).

Sometimes I’m getting a really poor image when applying NoiseXterminator prior to stretching the image. Not sure if that is the case for you but, it might worth tchecking this as well.

@Cosmic Geoff @Adreneline many thanks for your input. May I ask why are you taking in the rig? Is it because you are (rightly) afraid that might be stolen or because the rig might be susceptible to damage? also, @Adreneline do you have more info on your pier and how you set it up?

I want to setup a permanent pier that, that will not be in an observatory but, it will be carry a permanent rig (Stellamira ED90 Triplet + camera, filter wheel and etc.) and it will be covered by a Telegiszmo cover throughout the year. Currently, I have a ZWO AM5 but, I will be using it as a grab-n-go mount rather than a main mount. Over the next 12-18 months, i will be investing in a RASA8 and probably at a newtonian reflector so, I will need to cater for a heavier rigs than the one o have today. For the foreseeable future, I will be managing everything via Asiair and I am not thinking of moving into Ascom, NINA an etc. any time soon. For this reason, I am after a new mount that will be able to cater for all the above and track well - I am based in Northampton at Bottle 5/6 skies. I have shortlisted the following mounts: SW EQ6R-Pro SW CQ350 Pro iOptron CEM70 I used to have an EQ6R Pro and it was very good (but, stupidity enough I sold it) and was working seamlessly with Asiair. I am not after the specs of each mount and load capacity - I am probably interested to find out from users of these mounts about their thoughts, if anyone has done anything similar (outdoors permanent pier) and how well it works with asiair.

And here it is

I will try to play a bit with the curves later in the week and remove the blue-ish layer from the background indeed. It didn’t show that much on MacBook. It is more obvious on my iPhone though.

A long anticipated desire - to image the Rosette in SHO. The subs were taken over 4 nights and in a period of 2 months (weather has been really bad), using the Redcat51 + ASI1600MM + ZWO 36mm filters, on a ZWO AM5 mount. The conditions in general during almost all nights were really challenging, which resulted throwing away almost 50% of the OIII and SII subs. Processed in Pixinsight and used Blur/Star/NoiseXterminator and a very new process called Foraxx - which I absolutely loved. 30 x 300sec (Ha) 22 x 300sec (OIII) 20 x 300sec (SII) 50 x dark, flats and bias

Chasing the needle galaxy tonight - 1st night with clear skies after 3.5 weeks. Using my largest OTA --> Stellamira ED90 Triplet + Asi2600MC While I am writing this, I realised that I have used the reducer 😒 tonight! Not the flattener - the reducer 🙄

Ok this is not during the night but, it is just a couple of hours before tonight's session started. The first evening with clear skies after 3 weeks!

Here is a new version of the same data but, I think the processing is better in my eyes at least.

Back in December 2022 and probably during one of those nights that the weather was unexpectedly good, I managed to capture just under 3 hours of data of the Crescent Nebula but, I forgot to process the image. While I was doing some HD cleanup, I found the data and did a relatively quick integration + processing through Pixinsight. I am super happy with the image taking under consideration the integration time. Captured 17 x 600 sec + 50x darks, flats and bias on: Stellamire ED90 Triplet + Stellamira 0.8x Reducer/ Flattener 2600MC Pro + Antlia ALP-T 2" filter ZWO AM5 + Asiair+

The longest ota I have is the 90mm/435mm ED triplet + 2600mc. I will give it a go with only the LPro filter and see what I can get for 8-10 hours. Sorry Olly for high jacking your thread. I will stop now 😇

This is an exceptional image. Very well done! Could you plz share some details regarding capture time, exposures and filters? I would love to add this one in my to-go list. Although I’m based in the UK and not sure if this is a southern target.

I absolutely love both your Rosette images…. Not sure why but, each one holds on its own. Good job!

These are some absolutely fantastic images - congrats! It seems indeed that the filters are doing a great job. And loving your reviews @Lee_P

It will be my dream to have a 1.7m ota…. You are right. I meant over 0.7m.

Nice video and it demonstrates the risk with this type of mounts. Nevertheless, this is a 12-13kgr rig (including camera, reducer, guidescope and etc.), which in my opinion is not the right mount for regular use with this type of OTAs. I would probably use it in specific occasions (e.g. a star party where I want to get my larger FL OTA) and at the same time I do not want to carry a heavier mount (e.g. EQ6R Pro) but, definitely this is not the right mount for me to use with such heavy ota’s on a regular basis. Why am I saying this? Because in those situations where I would want to use my larger FL and heavier OTA, I would always use the counterweight even if the manufacturer is “confident” about their mount’ specs. I wouldn’t mess with physics laws and especially when I have a £6K rig on it 😉 I am also starting to read that ZWO will start suggesting counterweights for over 10kg, moving forward for the AM5. My heaviest rig till now is the Stellamira ED90 triplet, which weighs 7kg, if I remember well, with everything on it; my concern here though is not the weight but, the length. It is over [edited] 0.7m in length. Next time I get this ota in use, I will perform some tests and see how the mount behaves.

Apart from once that the power cable was pulled from the Pegasus power box while I had my Redcat on, I never experienced a power loss while using the heavier Stellamira. But this is not something that would worry me to be honest.

Recently I bought a 2nd hand ASI1600MM with a EFW and LRGB/SHO 36mm ZWO filters. Managed to get a couple of cloudless nights but, with not the best seeing and with the moon being 100% full on the 2nd night. This was not the easiest and definitely it as not planned properly as I ended up throwing almost 40% of the OIII data and about 25% from the SII. Managed at the end: 27 x 600 sec Ha 21 X 600 sec OIII 14 x SII sec SII Equipment used: Redcat51 ASI1600 + ZWO SHO 36mm filters AM5 Asiair+ Processed in Pixinsinght - feel free to share any feedback or input. Although I did play around with curves, the image depicts the actual colours after the integration!

Thanks - I’ve sent them an email and awaiting their response.

I am not even sure if this the right place to ask this question so, if the mods need to move it to another place please do so. I was playing for a long period of time with the idea to use a remotely managed obey, where I will send them my rig and they will host it for a period of time. As you probably noticed, this is a very early stage and I have no clue where to start from or even if that is something that can be done. Trying to google this (I have not ChatGPT it yet) and I am a bit lost. Has anyone done it? Do you have any suggestions? Would I need to send just the OTA + imaging equipment or do I also need to send the mount and etc. Just starting from somewhere and I will see where this will take me.... Thankyou in advance for any help/ advice/ suggestion 🙂

All the above answers are from very experienced fellow SGL members and they are spot on. By following people’s advice in here, my first scope was a 6” Bresser Dobsonian (circa £350 new) and then went down the rabbit hole of Astrophotography. I always recommend to people that want to get into astronomy, to start with a Dobsonian scope - a 6” or 8” will be the best choice in my opinion, that helps to get familiar with the night sky while, learning your way around stuff. Since then, I moved to an SCT CPC925GPS, a WO GT81 refractor and today I’m the proud owner of a Redcat51 and a Stellamira ED51 Refractors + a SkyWatcher 150D. Every single telescope that I sold, I regretted it at some point as each was very good on different things. The Dobsonian is my personal must to have, regardless the number or quality of refractors or reflectors someone has. Why? Nothing can beat the ability to view the planets or the moon through your own eyes. During the summer, while my AP rig images a nebula, I will always have fun with my daughters observing the moon or the brightest clusters. You do not need an expensive one - you can even get an 8” one for less than £250 in 2nd hand market. I loved the CPC925 (SCT) as it was the best telescope I ever had to view planets and the moon. This type scopes provide high aperture at a reasonable price. A short field of view refractor - like the Redcat51 - is very good and forgiving for AP. A medium FOV refractor - like the SM ED90 Triplet - is very capable for AP and visual. My very last advice here though is the following - and something I’ve learnt the difficult and expensive way: is to spend more money on the mount than the actual telescope, if your aim is Astrophotography.

You are shooting with a C6 hyper star - correct? Those SCT+Hyperstar/ RASA designs are in my head for some time now...... The RASA8 is in my shopping list. I have never gone below 120 sec, the best SNR for me with the Redcat/ASI2600MC was always the 600 secs. But, I have never images with a mono before. It will be actually my first proper evening tonight.

Interesting input - thank you. You were shooting with a full moon back then (21/11/2021) - here is screenshot from that night 😉 . I am using the ZWO 6nm 36mm filters. I would give a try (starting with Ha) at 600 secs and review the first subs before to commit on the whole session on that exp time.