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I'm about to order a Redcat 51 and a ASI224mc and i'm just wondering if I'll need spacers and if so what ones exactly. Im very new to this and this will be my first refractor and astrocam. Also will I need a filter? I like in bortle 5 skies and I plan to try my hand at emission nebulae and of course planetary with this cam although it will mostly be used as a guide cam as I'll be using my unmodded nikon most the time.

Hey guys! I'm not sure what to do. I currently have a t7c astro camera (asi120mc clone) and would like to get a better planetary camera. I'm eyeballing the ASI178MM as I've seen some amazing work done with it, but can't find anything substantial on using it with a 6" scope. My scope is a Skywatcher Explorer 150p and I usually use a 3x barlow as well as a svbony ir-pass (685nm) filter when doing high res lunar mosaics. I've seen some awesome work with 127mm scopes and the asi178mm which is why I can't wrap my head around what the results might look like. Will using an asi178mm give me a better result than the t7c when used on same focal lengths (2x, 3x barlows)? I understand that the resolution might be similar between "asi178mm + 2x" and "t7c + 3x" which could help me save time when doing huge mosaics, but is that all that I'd gain from this (not much better resolution?)? Let me know please as I'm in a bit of a conundrum. Thanks! You can find my work with the t7c here.

I want to start planetary imaging under 100 USD do someone can help me out ?

Hi everyone, I am thinking about buying a Celestron Nexstar 6se to use for astrophotography at a very beginner level. I am thinking about using a ZWO ASI224MC as it seems a good option. I have a few questions about how to setup/use it - here they are: 1.) Do you just screw it on where the eyepiece is usually at? 2.) Do you just have the cable going to a computer where you have stacking spect where that stacks the photos it takes? 3.) Does it automatically take photos of planets and DSO’s? 4.) Does it need any filters to get color on nebulae as those are they primary things I want to photograph Thats all, as you can see I am a beginner to astrophotography and just want to know how to use the camera to take decent pictures. Thanks all

About 50 years ago, I was a keen amateur astronomer in Melbourne Australia, and I'd like to get back into astronomy and astrophotography, but boy have things changed in 50 years! I'd like to eventually target DSO, the larger planets and the moon. As I now live in London and suffer from Bortle 8 skies I think things will be challenging but keen to see what can be achieved. Also, I think whatever equipment I end up investing in will also need to be reasonably portable. As I'm also a keen photographer, I don't mind investing in gear that can also be used for regular photography. My plan is to start small and (rapidly) build up my equipment as my expertise and appetite for challenges grows. So I'm thinking I'll take the following steps: 1) Purchase a DSLR/mirrorless (full frame if possible) camera and a good zoom lens. Play with this for a while and practice imaging and post processing. But I'd like to be able to also use the camera on the telescope I end up purchasing (see (3)). Also will need a good tripod but will need to be suitable for (2). 2) purchase an equatorial mount for the rig to try out longer exposures. 3) Invest in a reasonable telescope and tracking mount - probably a refractor around 100mm to 120mm for the main scope. Utilse the camera from (1). 4) Invest in an astrocamera. I know I'm asking for a lot, but I want to be able to target DSO, the larger planets and the moon. I appreciate that to achieve this will be a challenge and a compromise (small f numbers for DSO, larger f numbers for planets) but I think this should be possible with the right combination of main scope and tracker scope and accessories. I also need the kit to be reasonably portable. Right now I'm exploring options for Step 1 i.e. camera, lens and tripod. I'm prepared to spend about UK£2000. All ideas and comments welcome!

Hi All, I wonder if someone can please help, I'm fairly new to astrophotography and confused about aperture. Basically I'm looking at a Canon EF-S 55-250mm lens. It has the specs f4-f5.6 does this mean that the lowest point of aperture possible is F5.6 or will it go lower. What I find confusing is that I have a lens that's the EF-S 18-55mm lens which has the specs of f/3.5/5.6 however My camera does allow me to set the aperture at f/8 The reason I ask cause it is advised to use a low aperture of f/8 to capture images of the moon. Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated!

going to start getting into astrophotography soon, looking into good cameras. i have a $400 budget, a celestron sky prodigy 90 mak-cass, and no equipment that would affect which camera i get. thinking about the orion starshoot all-in-one, but not sure yet. remember, price is not a huge concern (i have a scholarship from my school for $1000 a year to spend on educational stuff, its how i got my telescope,) but i would like to keep it under $400 so i have some left for more lenses and some filters later on. the more help the better, thanks!!

Hi all! A petition is now online against the Star Eater. It has been proposed by myself and reviewed by Laurent Laveder, Thierry Legault, Ian Norman, Damian Peach, Aaron D. Priest and Babak Takeshi. We invite you to sign it and share it to the max: http://www.change.org/p/sony-remove-the-star-eater-on-sony-a7s-r-mk-i-ii-and-a9-cameras Clear sky Fred

Hi there, Happy New Year everybody. My primary astro goal for 2018, will be to put in place a mobile EAA platform to work with my Vixen Sphinx SXW and C8 EdgeHD. I want to utilise modern digital USB, wireless interface wherever possible so all analog-based solutions such as the Mallincam range of cameras or Revolution Imager would not be suitable. My preference would be for a camera with a relatively small circular cross-section with possible long-term use with Fastar in mind. I am currently looking at two possible cameras: Altair Astro Hypercam 183c SX Ultrastar C Although happy to take on board alternative recommendations from this ‘August forum’ ? Fundamental to the platform is the ability to control everything from an iOS device via remote control software, so the integration of the control and imaging/guiding software is as important as the camera itself. My primary interest is real/near real-time viewing as opposed to traditional AP. Elements in the proposed platform are as follows: iPad Air - Already in place Compute Stick/ Mini computer - Yet to be obtained - Needs to be small enough to attach to the telescope dovetail bar without seriously compromising telescope balance but powerful enough to run all the necessary control and imaging software. The aim of this approach is to keep all necessary cabling lengths as short as possible and have as much of the cabling as possible integrated with the scope movement as opposed to trailing from a stationary point around the mount/tripod. I am very much a Windows guy so recommendations should be restricted to that OS for this aspect of the platform. Note my comments in this section of the post are based on the assumption alongside whatever research I have done, that there are no solutions that would enable everything to be controlled natively from iOS which of course from a simplicity perspective would have been my preference. Guide Camera - Yet to be obtained - Suitable suggestions for this aspect of the platform would be most welcome although I am thinking along the lines of the Altair Astro GPCAM2. Guidescope - I currently have an 80mm Altair Astro Maxi finder which I intend to press into service for this aspect of the platform. I am hoping that this may also function as a wide field imaging platform as well. May look to upgrade this to something with better quality optics in the future. Guidescope control - Sphinx GEM - has integrated ST4 guiding interface. Use of PHD2. My understanding is that ASCOM has a much richer set of feedback features to the user however I’m thinking that from a simplicity perspective considering the iOS primary interface I would be better to go with ST4. Primary Imaging Camera - Yet to be obtained Primary Imaging scope - Already in place - C8 EdgeHD Mount - Already in place - Vixen Sphinx SXW Mount Control - Already in place - SkySafari Pro Communications - Over WiFi - Currently scope control is from my iPad and SkySafari via a small TPLink router and thence to a cabled ethernet connection to the GEM (actually the Starbook controller). I am thinking that this may need changing to some sort of powered USB hub with integrated WiFi capability. The completed platform should permit switching in real-time between different scope control, guiding and imaging aspects of the system via the iPad to Windows remote control software. Regarding imaging software I have read on the various forums favourable comments regarding the Starlight Live software that comes with the Ultrastar, and this was one of the reasons why the Ultrastar was first on my shortlist. However I have also recently read favourable accounts of SharpCap which would be used with the HyperCam, not least of which is the integrated polar alignment routine that comes with this software. I’d be interested in any feedback from members with firsthand experience of these different software solutions. Does anybody know if there is a ‘blow by blow’ comparison between Starlight Live and SharpCap? Although I have done quite a bit of research on the topic prior to this post, still obviously very much a novice in this arena so happy to take on board recommendations and/ or alternative suggestions from SGL members to help me get up and running. Wishing you all Clear Skies for the new year Paul.

With the weather being poor posts and threads are a bit slow so here is something to discuss that may help others that are into VA or wish to get into VA. What camera/cameras are you using now and what did you start with initially. Did or do you use analogue cameras or did you start solely on usb cameras.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member of stargazing lounge ,and would just like to comment on a form from 2017 about Astro modified Cameras from Cheap Astrophotography in the UK. In December I purchased a Canon750D from Juan and everything was well organized and Camera works well, so anyone that's not sure about buying a Astro Modified Camera from him i can assure you everything is well worth it, thanks everyone.

Hello all I'm new to astronomy, and recently I have been enjoying my new telescope quite a lot. I have long thought of going more into astrophotography, but I am not sure about which camera I should buy and what tybe; dslr or CCD cameras. what cameras do you recommend? thanks in advance