Imagemate X4 & Skywatcher 130P

[SCOOB_81]

Hi All,

I’m new to the Stargazers Lounge and wanted to say ‘hello’ and ask some friendly advice, please.

Before I do, I’d just like to say thanks for everyone sharing their experiences and images. It’s because of what I have read and seen here that I bought my first scope, which is a Skywatcher 130P Supa Trak Auto – Thanks again!!

I’m a patient fella (probably helps with this hobby and northern climate) and really enjoying the experiences, but struggling a little with imaging using the Philips SPC900. I’m getting much better at working the settings for a detailed image, but have recently bought an Astro-Engineering Imagemate X4 barlow and can’t get any detail at all. I find even large eyepieces like the 25mm give very blurred images, even of the moon. I noticed that out of focus with a bright object in the background that there is contamination on the lens, with large specs and smears. I’ve tried very carefully on several occasions to remove these, cleaning the top and bottom surfaces, but if I had to say, they look to be on the inside surfaces and so I will be unable to improve the clarity.

Can I ask if anyone else has had a similar experience, please?

I have included a few shots of Jupiter (well, trying to put them onto the thread) stacked from 3min clips, with the smaller image using the included Skywatcher 2x barlow and the larger with the Imagemate. Contamination aside, I’m a realist (I’ve a 130, not the Hubble J), and so is it just that the Imagemate is pushing the limits of my scope? I’ve spent a long time trying to focus the image, but that is the best I can manage.

Thanks!!

Scoob.

Jupiter 1 15-10-11 (3).bmp

Jupiter 12-11-11.1.bmp

[Cloengaa]

I own the SW 130m and must say anything above my SPC900 and an X2 barlow gets fuzzy. An X4 Barlow I think is to high a magnification for you to focus.