bosun21

There’s a thread discussing all the new Askar triplets.

Hope you get a lot of use and pleasure from both the scopes. The 150 served me well when I started planetary imaging. All the best.

Okay they’re not good for wide field and don't usually come with tracking. They're still the best value for an introduction to observing there is IMO.

Looks like the return of the Silver Surfer.

Welcome to SGL 👋.

Bahtinov masks are not ideal for planetary imaging and you are much better focusing on the planet itself like the bands on Jupiter. A dedicated planetary camera will allow you to focus on the live preview and hone in on the details on the planetary surface. For DSO's a Bahtinov mask is the correct choice. Good luck.

Welcome to SGL Joe 👋.

I was a total beginner and even I got decent images from both Siril and Gimp. Good luck 👍.

It’s basically for astro only.

Siril is another free processing software that is used by many.

Search on the forum for Seestar S50 and you will find a load of information posted by owners.

The Apollo 15x70 are superior to the Stellar range and slightly below the Lightquest range. I bought mine new from Harrison Telescopes who actually drop shipped them from OVL. They cost me £259 as below.

Nice images Lee however I think you have slightly overdone the sharpening on the Jupiter image. I am learning from those people who are much better than me and trying to imitate their images with processing something similar. I've a long way to go. A saying that has stuck with me about processing Jupiter is " You're not making pizza". Pretty apt for a lot of beginner images.

I actually don’t like the 100 degrees eyepieces as I found I was getting distracted from my on axis targets. I have found that the Morpheus 76 degrees perfect for me. It’s been a while since I’ve tried the wider eyepieces though, so I may have a second go with them. Never say never as the saying goes.

I thought as much. That's why I left it alone 🙂.

My best views of M42 was with the 12" and an Astronomik UHC filter. So much detail on display.

Having recently gotten involved in planetary imaging it's all about the resolution for me. I used to own a 8" dobsonian then made the jump to the 12" for visual. I immediately noticed the difference both in brightness as well as resolution. The faint DSO's that required averted vision with the 8" were visible by direct vision with the 12". I started planetary imaging with a 6" Maksutov and have now moved to a 10" go to dobsonian. I consciously kept the step up ratio to the 4" which is recommended.

Like the previous answer I would avoid the 127 bird jones design like the plague. The Starsense unit is great so another model of scope in the Starsense range would be a much better decision.

Silly question but have you set up the exposure and gain etc for the camera? I have never used the NEXImage camera but I take it works like every other astro camera.

How was your supply voltage? Any loose connections? When I used the plus it always did two movements in polar alignment. First plate solve then about 20-25° and finally about 50-55°. The all sky polar align only does the two.

Where's the blue touch paper?

I have no intention in the destruction of my new scope 🤣. Seriously though there's no mention of it in the handbook that came with it. I'm hoping that someone who owns the go to version of this scope can shed some light on it.

Partially clear here but I am still waiting for a couple of bits for my new scope before I give it first light. Still to collimate it after fitting bobs knobs and removing the mirror to fit (not needed) new springs. I have two other scopes here but they are waiting to be collected.

It’s like a soft polystyrene. I think it’s to keep the dirt and dust out of the azimuth motor and gears.

I am wondering what the white polystyrene like substance is in between the base plates. It looks like it’s supposed to be there. Anyone know its purpose?