astroenthusiast

It's a cloudy night, so why not set up and test out the PrimaLuca Lab ESATTO 3" micro focuser with the ZWO 7x2" EFW and ASI2600mm Pro camera. This isn't my first time setting up the ESATTO, I've used it before, but unfortunately, the 308mm, Ritchey Chretien wasn't properly collimated. So, after painfully collimating the RC, I'm good to go now. Well, except for one more piece waiting on and that's the Primaluce Lab 2" Visual Back (Eyepiece Holder Barrel) Oh, and once the clouds clear. https://www.astrobin.com/2ervab/

I'm in full swing tonight, with a cloudy night, guess there's no better time than to practice a swift and careful setup. Nowaday's I don't use the 80mm Sky-Watcher guide scope, on top of my Explore Scientific ED 165mm APO Triplet Refractor, but rely on plate solving for polar alignment and guiding. I'm definitely antsy to get out and capture some images! Clear Skies, everyone! https://www.astrobin.com/smecr3/

Explore Scientific ED 165-FPL53 AIR-SPACED TRIPLET Imaging Cameras ZWO ASI2600 MM Pro Mounts Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro Filters ZWO Red 2" · ZWO Luminance 2" Accessories ZWO EFW 7 x 2" Software Photoshop · SharpCap Pro Version 4.0 · Astro Pixel Processor APP

Thank you, @davies07, for all the help in getting my RC collimated! I appreciate you very much!

It took some time to get my RC collimated properly. Waiting for several months for a Howie Glatter to become available was a challenge as well. Hopefully, when the clouds clear, I'll mount the ASI2600mm Pro onto the RC and use the Primeluce Esatto 3" focuser, and ditch the slop, awful Crayford focuser. Hopefully now with the Sky-Watcher EQ8 -R Pro mount, I'll do away with the guide scope and just use plate solving for polar alignment and tracking. Can't wait to test out imaging again, with the corrected collimation. Well, as soon as the clouds clear! 😄

https://www.astrobin.com/zum9yd/

The galaxy NGC 2403 located in Camelopardalis, lies at a distance of 10 million light-years from our planet. NGC 2403, resembles Messier 33, the Triangulum Galaxy, part of our Milky Way's Local Group of galaxies. The Radian Triad Ultra Narrowband 2" filter was used in place of a luminance filter, which has a broad bandpass of around 400 - 700nm. The Radian Triad filter was designed for color cameras but works well in monochrome cameras doubling as a luminance filter, reducing light pollution by restricting the narrow bandpass. Equipment Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses Explore Scientific ED 165-FPL53 AIR-SPACED TRIPLET Imaging Cameras ZWO ASI2600 MM Pro Mounts Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro Filters ZWO Blue 2" · ZWO Green 2" · ZWO Red 2" · Radian Triad Ultra Quad-Band Accessories ZWO EFW 7 x 2" Software Photoshop · DeepSkyStacker Version 4.26 · SharpCap Pro Version 4.0 · Astro Pixel Processor APP https://www.astrobin.com/f6ejlo/

Equipment Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses Explore Scientific ED 165-FPL53 AIR-SPACED TRIPLET Imaging Cameras ZWO ASI2600mc PRO Mounts Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro Accessories Starzona Apex ED 0.65x Reducer-Flattener - Long Version Software Adobe Photoshop · Astro Pixel Processor APP Acquisition details Dates: March 9, 2021 Frames: 26x300" (2h 10') (gain: 200.00) bin 1x1 Integration: 2h 10' Darks: -28 Flats: 40 Flat darks: 10 Bias: 40 Avg. Moon age: 25.70 days Avg. Moon phase: 15.72% Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 6.00 https://www.astrobin.com/nk00qt/

Both galaxies, NGC 2336 and IC 467 are located in the northern part of Camelopardalis, at 100 million light-years away. NGC 2336 is an immense galaxy that stretches 200,000 light-years across, according to NASA, and is a beautiful galaxy! Light pollution is heavy in the image, and I didn't use an LPO filter at that time. NASA's image of the NGC 2336 is breathtaking! https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/potw2109a.jpg https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2021/hubble-beholds-a-big-beautiful-blue-galaxy https://www.astrobin.com/tusqk2/

Equipment Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses Explore Scientific ED 165-FPL53 AIR-SPACED TRIPLET Mounts Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro Filters Radian Triad Ultra Quad-Band Software Adobe Photoshop · SharpCap Pro Version 4.0 · Astro Pixel Processor APP https://www.astrobin.com/sicueu/