mark7331

Great image. Well done. ☺

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Utterly delicious! this is awesome and makes me proud to own a 314.

Very nice.  There's loads of fine detail in here.  I like this a lot.

Fantastic. Really like the second palette.

It's a good scope. In fact I'd like one. Also Olly's advice as always been spot on for me. I know that scope choice is always personal but his opinion is good.

Mark

I'm an EQMOD/CdC user and it's working pretty well.

This may be a stupid question but are you pressing 'Sync' when you've centered your alignment object? If so do the objects then show up in EQMOD when you've synced them?

EQMOD should have 'Append On Sync' set for the 'User Interface' if you're using CdC.

Hope this helps.

Mark

Signed!

Awesome.

I agree too. When out imaging the stress of getting everything working, hoping the seeing will hold out and praying you know what to do with the results can be quite stressful at times. Then I look up and can't help but smile. So I try to sit in a garden chair and just look up. It's wonderful.

I have thought of a compromise which means I can keep the EQ6, and that is to maybe get a 12" to replace the 10. This may keep some of the options open others have mentioned and give me that bit more aperture I am after?

I bought my NEQ6 with a 12" Newt. Works fine. You'll probably need an extension tube for the counterweight shaft (NEQ6 comes with one) and more weights as mine takes four of the 5kg weights to balance it. The only other thing you may occasionally need is a ladder to get to the eyepiece.

Hope this helps

Mark

This is a tough one. I don't think I could give up my NEQ6 even for 400mm. So I've voted no.

There is no both option

but would have like a 'both' option

Hello and welcome to SGL from me

Yes really good stars for unguided! Can't wait to see your images when you get the QHY set up.

Brilliant start.

Mark

Hi albusdl. As dag123 said you're scope and equipment are fine. You'll be able to see a great deal of objects from our solar system and beyond.

A simple way to work out what to explore is though planetarium software such as Stellarium. You can become familiar with your local sky before you get out there with your scope. Some things to look for are the Messier objects: M57 (the ring nebula), M27 (the dumbbell nebula), M51 (the Whirlpool galaxy), M31 (the Andromeda galaxy) and of course M42 which you mentioned in your post.

You can see the objects I've listed in binoculars so a scope like yours should give you a lovely view.

Total darkness is not absolutely required. I image and observe in less than perfect conditions without problems as many members do but you many need to invest in light pollution filters to help your views improve.

Regards

Mark

For me the PI version is the best showing wonderful star colour and delicate details. Over and above that though these are both brilliant, well framed images.

I'd like to add my congratulations for brantuk for the countless helpful and kind posts sharing a wealth of knowledge will us all. Thank you.

Mark

My vote would be for the 150 dobsonian too. It's also cheaper on FLO (this site's sponsor) which can be found here:First Light Optics - Skywatcher Skyliner 150P Dobsonian

The 130 on the eq2 is more difficult for a beginner but it's also a good scope. It also over £40 cheaper on FLO: First Light Optics - Skywatcher Explorer 130

Thanks again everyone.

I recon if you throw in a layer of 10 sec or so subs to show the trapezium stars it'll be just about perfect.

Cheers Ben, I'll give it a go when it's clear next.

Beautiful, what are these clear skies you speak of?

They're a sort of mythical beast. I didn't believe they existed until last week.

I love the contrast of the colours and the dark patches of nebula. Really beautiful.

What a lovely image and the wavelet transform really pulled out the detail in the core. Very nice.

Mark

I use 2 x 5m active repeater cables for a 10m run. You can chain up to 5 together without problems.

One of the cables I use is from Amazon: 5m USB 2.0 Active Repeater Extension Cable - Premium Quality / High Speed: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

You can get active repeaters up to 25 meters but I haven't tried these.

Mark

Well, promise not to laugh but, I use a mask make from high grade tracing paper as a diffuser and my little boy's Ben 10 bedside lamp. The top of the lamp is white plastic and the light shines through. It's been the best way of making them for me and they seem to work.

I feel the need for a Gerd Neumann flat field panel though as it looks quite silly.

Great result. I really like this. Brilliant attempt

Awesome. I've not seen it quite like this before. Amazing.

I'm amazed at the level of detail you've pulled out of M31. Wonderful.

I don't know it this is useful but all I can suggest is when recently taking M42 I took 2 minute exposures and the core looked pretty blown out but when processing with PixInsight I used a HDRWaveletTransform to reduce the contrast on the core. The result was the detail of the outer nebula was clear and the core was visible with detail without a whitewash.

Here's a quick run of your core image with the wavelets run.

Hope it helps

Mark