billhinge

This is straight SII=red Ha=green OIII = blue, no multipliers etc SHO.tif

This is another version, Ha=L, SII=red, OIII=green, Blue=Blue Part of the problem I think is that I have SII, Ha, OIII, UV and Blue and I'm not sure what the best mix is? Ideally I would get the blue nebula minus stars from the last image and add it to the first

I'm reasonably happy with the detail on the Triffid , I like the textured look but since the image is Ha, OIII and UV there is not much reflection nebula so I took a normal Blue filtered image. Is it possible to easily add the Blue layer minus stars to the narrowband image? There are 2 images 1 from PI, the other from PS by the way I want to retain the Herbig-Haro jet but reduce the blue halo on some stars if possible feel free to play I'm at a loss as to what direction to go in FinalView.tif Blue2.tif FinalViewPS.tif

Glad its not just me that thinks that way 🙂

I had been looking at modernastronomy site as a UK QHY dealer for months, no news of the 268. However it was mentioned and discussed on US sites but going back to 31st May it was on backorder everywhere. (I posted on page 2 of this thread). I also looked at the astrograph site and it must be a recent addition since I looked at several items on there over the last few weeks eg Baader BFFC and Flir cameras European sites such as Baader and Primaluce also list it. In the end I ordered a Moravian G2-8300 instead since they were going out of production plus I marginally preferred the images I'd seen it produce compared to the 268 (there weren't a lot of 268 images back in May either). My sky isn't always brilliant but it can be OK and I wanted an option to do narrowband At the end of the day I don't mind ordering from Europe or even US if it is much cheaper after tax or unavailable in the UK and I was especially looking for the Pro version not the basic model advertised in the UK. The pro version is of similar price to what I paid for the Moravian kit so cost wasn't a consideration I actually bought a 2" Altair Quadband filter just in case the 268 Pro became available, suppose I could use it with the new Flir colour camera instead (arriving tomorrow)

Lol, that told me! thanks. Typical I waited months for this camera before going down the Moravian route. However has anyone actually had one delivered ? I was going by the US dealer sites that say backordered or expanded lead time. I take website availability with a pinch of salt these days https://optcorp.com/products/qhy-qhy268-pro-cooled-color-cmos-camera-aps-c-format for Pro version Still I'm happy with my choice of KAF-8300 when it eventually arrives,

er hasn't the QHY268C been unobtainable for ages, no one seems to be selling it even in the US, the pro version estimated cost I saw isn't exactly cheap ($2999) never mind a mono version if it ever appears. After you take off the effect of the bayer matrix isn't it equivalent to a very good 6.5 Mp mono ? I was really interested in this camera months back but if you can't even buy a basic version of it then whats the point? (still waiting for my KAF-8300 ) Anyway while I wait I got a Flir Grasshopper IMX252 colour coming next week so I can take some moon pics - it also comes in mono ;-).

I have seen pics with both, I don't think there is a manual for this so it would depend on heat loss through the back. To be sure I would do the back as well but I'll defer to someone who has tried both ways though

What I haven't heard is, does the benefit of insulation last all night or does it degrade?

I don't know if its of any interest, I bought mine second hand as new (original owner bought it new and sent it straight to be Darkframe stellardrive tuned https://www.darkframeoptics.com/product/darkframe-stellardrive6-spx-eq6-mount ). He then decided he wanted a bigger mount and I paid the original eq6-r price so I got a freebie hypertune. Anyway, Darkframe say they replace the original worm gear

but I may waste £15 😆

Been reading up on this. There does seem to be some evidence that insulating works. Most people seem to use reflectex but reading up on that it doesn't seem that good when wrapped I may try a high tech solution after the next credit card bill. You can buy aerogel blankets for < £100, may give that a go https://www.phstore.co.uk/aerogel-spacetherm-blanket

@kookoo_gr Thanks for the tip, I'd never seen that before

Glad I found a nearly new EQ6-R that had been commercially tuned and bought it when I did, also bought my refractor second hand! Having said that I've been waiting a month for other bits of new kit from two other well known dealers, why are astronomy sites so busy? (Orders from Germany only took a week and that was dealer ordering from the factory - also in Germany) Sounds like a good time to sell some unwanted stuff 😁

So there seem to be two methods, keep it steady by wrapping and get it to ambient temp asap Most people seem to go for the cooling approach but some have tried the Reflectix approach, how long did the benefit last and do you do your wrapping indoors? How do you get the wrapping under the dovetail so that all the surface is covered?

Lol, there is actually a commercial product, I was thinking of making something similar out of a small pc fan, thanks for the link (or sticking a vacuum cleaner hose in 😀 )

Just reading on another site, some people swear by wrapping their SCT in Reflectix, others leave outside to cool. Whats the best, both ways seem to have merit but I guess the warm option reduces dew on the corrector? Anyone tried both options?

Thanks John I may do that, It doesn't feel as heavy as you might think so it probably is Kruppax, certainly not as heavy as those metal TMB's on cloudy whatsits or even C11 I bought one of those Primaluce temperature monitoring devices a few months back, guess I may not need it 😉

I just gave it a tap, doesn't sound metallic, not magnetic, warmish to the touch. (could be the paint?) It's supposed to be a CNC if that tells you anything (not sure what that means as lots of things are these days?) may be Kruppax? I read that that is better than metal tube

Spent the afternoon doing some final dusting and putting the corrector back The tube was flocked with protostar several years ago, just picked up a bit of fluff (how did it get in there ??) I'll dig out the Hotech 3 laser jobbie next week

yes of course, just digging it out of the case and getting my phone 😀, obviously started raining so I'll get it set up on the EQ6 next week and do some better pics

A very nice man just dropped off an old APO, looks OK I think, may sell one or both of the Altair and C11 in my sig to reduce clutter?

I alway buy Swiss Tools if I can, probably the best - they used to come up on ebay many years ago https://www.pbswisstools.co.uk/catalog/PB_Swiss_Tools/PB_705.html

forget everything else, you need one of these! (on special offer now 😀)

I used to have a well respected manfrotto carbon fibre in the old days of film cameras (nikon f6). It was 'relatively' light but I found my self a little concerned about the bowing of the narrowest leg parts when fully extended, never broke but I didn't like it. I ended up selling it and now I have 2 Berlebachs (big and small). If I was going to take something on holiday I still have a sturdy manfrotto metal monopod with a mini tripod set of legs (good for film cameras, useless for telescopes but then again I plan to buy the panny GH6 when it comes out with vibration controlled lenses so I probably don't need that monopod anymore) Back to the original tripod, looks cute but I wouldn't pay £500 for it