Borderline Bob

Don't know what it is but I think images of the bubble nebula are fascinating and this one is stunning.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think this is a beautiful image.

QHY5111462C Camera and Expansion kit but we need to keep it quiet.

Thank you, will probably go with the ZWO ASI462MC as seen quite a few youtubes reviews and its just in the price range I am not that unhappy with.

Thanks Alan sounds an ideal solution.

That's great, thanks Geoff

Thats great, thank you. Any recommendations as to the camera, I do have a ZWO ASI 120MM Mini USB 2.0 Mono Camera that I use as a guide camera in another ota but I am not really a fan of it and would like something a bit better.

Thanks Alan, yep there is a field flattener in the mix.

About a year ago I bought a Meade LX90 8" ACF for the Perfumed Ayatollah, she though hasn't really been interested so I thought could use it for solar system/planetary imaging, is this realistic. I don't really want to change the fork arms for the wedge setup and realise I would be limited to length of subs etc and truth be told I don't want to spend a fortune. Was hoping perhaps in the purchase stakes I would need obviously the camera, some spacers and a focal reducer. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks in advance.

New to AP and a bit confused (what's new), if I put a filter drawer in the train I understand I would need to add (generally) 1mm to the train for back focus purposes when inserting a filter, do I then if not using a filter in the drawer remove the 1mm spacer. However as I'm typing this I do feel a Homer Simpson "d'oh" moment is imminent. Thanks in advance.

Ironically the license has not long expired on Sharpcap, I did initially connect to Sharpcap but was only getting a white screen and thought I had problems with backfocus. The OTA is a SW Esprit 80ED and it seems their is an "old version" of the field flattener and "newer" version and each has a different spacer size.

Thankyou both. I mentioned white balance because when I first connected to ASIAIR + I was just getting a white screen and initially thought my backfocus was out but putting my hand over OTA and I saw an image and had to muck about with the gain/exposure and to a small degree wbr and wbb in the ASIAIR before I got any picture. I give a gain of 121 a go and do a lot more test shots. Thanks again.

Just starting out setting up with ZWO ASI 294MC-PRO connecting via ASIAIR plus, setting up during the day to make sure focus, gain etc. Does anyone have any recommended starting out settings as to to gain wbr, exposure etc. Thanks in advance

Replying to my own post: If you don't want to go with the mucking about with tube rings then fitting a longer dovetail works (and cheaper), I went with the 11" ADM https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-vixen-type-v-series/adm-vixen-style-universal-dovetail-bars.html

I recently removed the foot on the Esprit 80, there is a thread on here that I followed: Also I didn't need a spanner or ratchet on the nuts inside the ota, just pushed down on the nuts with a finger (that may work for you). My intentions was to replace with rings and initially went with Sky-Watcher Tube Mounting Rings Mounting Rings Size: 101 mm. These fitted fine but was told by FLO that "the cast alloy Skywatcher rings then they are not really suitable for bolting other accessories on top. The alloy is very soft and the 1/4" threads on the top of the ring easily strips." They (FLO) recommended https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tube-rings/stellalyra-101mm-tube-rings-for-sky-watcher-esprit-80-evostar-80100-ed-startravel-102-and-evostar-102.html with this vixen saddle https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adm-replacement-saddles/adm-vixen-style-saddle.html ADM Tapped (sadly still out of stock) You would still need riser blocks though

Stunning

The perfumed Ayatollah wanted wifi in her cabin and she installed one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077HTZ4TT/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=7404319f47bf9c063099725aab1bf69b&content-id=amzn1.sym.e4f48e2a-4f4e-495a-a95b-34f114e19c84%3Aamzn1.sym.e4f48e2a-4f4e-495a-a95b-34f114e19c84&hsa_cr_id=8120727250702&pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=b56d7cac-7a52-4a98-a2af-a69644eebd60&pd_rd_w=Ip2wF&pd_rd_wg=2wYY9&qid=1656503728&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_img&sr=1-1-fd947bf3-57d2-4cc9-939d-2805f92cef28 it works really well. PS Cabin is about 30m from the house

HI Everyone, New here and to Astronomy (oldish to life), I have a SW Esprit 80ed with a SW Evoguide 50ED as guide scope. I really dislike the vixen dovetail foot on the scope and want to replace it with tube rings? FLO has suggested these for the tube rings https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tube-rings/stellalyra-101mm-tube-rings-for-sky-watcher-esprit-80-evostar-80100-ed-startravel-102-and-evostar-102.html, the problem is though that the lugs on the "boatwheel" interfere with mounting the guidescope and the ota. Could someone suggest a workaround as I don't know enough about what is available and even what they maybe called as very new to the hobby. Many thanks PS First picture in this thread shows the "lugs" on the "boatwheel".