Imaging with the 130pds

[Thalestris24]

My leg weights are held on with a combination of velcro straps (to hold it roughly in place), then backed up with a load of elastic bands to make it a snug fit. That makes it easier to remove if you need to... tape would be a bit of a one-way process (and leaves residue on you nice new shiny OTA if left for too long).

Oh ok. I have some Velcro though it's of the heavy duty type - the stick-on is really hard to get off! Insulation tape is easy enough to remove. It's, um, just a metal tube! As long as it's functional, I don't much care!  I've left the scope in the box in my bedroom this afternoon - too cold for messing about in there. Will have a go with it tomorrow

Louise

[happy-kat]

What about a 1 inch luggage strap, they hold stuff together pretty tightly.

[sidelight]

I use a couple of jubilee clips joined together and strung around the scope and the ankle weights seems to work a treat.

[Uranium235]

Oh ok. I have some Velcro though it's of the heavy duty type - the stick-on is really hard to get off! Insulation tape is easy enough to remove. It's, um, just a metal tube! As long as it's functional, I don't much care!  I've left the scope in the box in my bedroom this afternoon - too cold for messing about in there. Will have a go with it tomorrow

Louise

I just need to add, the velcro isnt actually stuck to the scope, I used it to extend the leg strap of the ankle weight so it fits the circumference of the OTA.... a bit like having a really big leg...lol.

[Thalestris24]

I just need to add, the velcro isnt actually stuck to the scope, I used it to extend the leg strap of the ankle weight so it fits the circumference of the OTA.... a bit like having a really big leg...lol.

Ah, I see! Still, I'm not bothered about sticking some Velcro to the tube itself. At the mo, it's still in the box! I'll definitely get it out tomorrow!  As you suggested previously, it looks like there'll be little chance of actually trying it out this month

Louise

[Uranium235]

Yarrr.... it be another blast from the 130

Fullsize with info can be found in the deepsky subforum.

[toxic]

hi Rob 

do you have a focal reducer on your 130 pds and if so where did you get it, i find myself wanting to do a bit wider field shots than my 200 pds will allow.

[Uranium235]

hi Rob 

do you have a focal reducer on your 130 pds and if so where did you get it, i find myself wanting to do a bit wider field shots than my 200 pds will allow.

Yes I do use a FR (of sorts), its just the Skywater coma corrector. As well as fixing the coma (but not as good as the Baader in that aspect), it has the odd side effect of being a 0.9x reducer. And that reduction factor is tuneable (ie: more distance = more reduction, but more coma). Ive managed to get mine running about 0.87x(ish), which translates to f4.4.

Though its great for NB, its not really apochromatic - so you need to refocus between filters (something you dont need to do with the Baader). If I were to do some RGB work, id probably switch to the other corrector.

[nickb2513]

After reading this post I'm considering selling my Celestron Astromaster 130eq and buying a Skywatcher 130 pds!  I can't quite afford the £450 200 pds at the moment. 

The images posted on here are absolutely amazing!!

[RogerOfHeaton]

I just want to say thanks to the contributors on this topic. I have finally.....finally....finally....got good balancing with the 130 PDS with my imaging train (100D + cc). I was going daft but then I read the posts.....and then made up 2 x 500g home-made counterweights, secured them to a spare large dog collar (literally), and velcroed them to the mirror end. It has worked like a dream. Thank you folks.

Now happy to recommence imaging with my EQ6 AZ GT. Cheers.

[tingting44]

I just want to say thanks to the contributors on this topic. I have finally.....finally....finally....got good balancing with the 130 PDS with my imaging train (100D + cc). I was going daft but then I read the posts.....and then made up 2 x 500g home-made counterweights, secured them to a spare large dog collar (literally), and velcroed them to the mirror end. It has worked like a dream. Thank you folks.

Now happy to recommence imaging with my EQ6 AZ GT. Cheers.

look forward to seeing your results

[tingting44]

latest attempt from my little 130-pds

im quite out of my comfort zone with comets lol as this is my 1st time imaging one and 1st time creating a GIF...... still need to stack my comet data to give me a nice picture, i will get around to it once i finish processing my M31 data,,,,,, only been processing it for about 3 months lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFpopWXFk08&feature?version=3&loop=1&playlist=JFpopWXFk08&feature

not sure if this silly video or GIF is going to upload properly....its one thing making the gif, its another thing trying to upload it....giving me right head aches

edit. it looks rubbish via this way,,,,,oh well lol

Edited February 6, 2015 by tingting44

[toxic]

i like that,

great gif there Martin

[toxic]

thanks for the info rob but i went the other way and got the 80ED with and FF so now i can get some Wider shots (when the cloud clears) 

Though its great for NB, its not really apochromatic - so you need to refocus between filters (something you dont need to do with the Baader). If I were to do some RGB work, id probably switch to the other corrector.

the only filter i needed to refocus with is the blue all others seem to be fine but then that was with the 200p ds and the skywatcher cc not sure if that makes a difference.

thanks again

[Uranium235]

thanks for the info rob but i went the other way and got the 80ED with and FF so now i can get some Wider shots (when the cloud clears) 

the only filter i needed to refocus with is the blue all others seem to be fine but then that was with the 200p ds and the skywatcher cc not sure if that makes a difference.

thanks again

No prob mate

Youre using the 383 with the 80ED reduced yes? Then i might suggest 900s subs as a benchmark, but certainly not below 600s as f6.38 does the 383 no favours.

[toxic]

No prob mate

Youre using the 383 with the 80ED reduced yes? Then i might suggest 900s subs as a benchmark, but certainly not below 600s as f6.38 does the 383 no favours.

yip it is the 0.85 reducer F/F for the 80ED.

hoping to go 1800 sec or more now that i can get over 1800 sec with the 200 pds without human error lol just want to try and get more without doing a mosaic all the time, it will help cut down on sub capture time if i can get it into 1 or 2 frames insted of 4 or 6 frames plus all the other problems with mosaics 

thanks .

[Uranium235]

On balance it will work out quicker than the 200p for larger stuff, slower FR yes - but youre grabbing a lot more sky so youre cutting down on mosaics. Im currenty trying to finish a 6 pane mosaic - which seems to have taken forever! January wasnt a kind month for AP.

[Uranium235]

Just a preview of what im working on at the mo, its not ready yet so its just a cut-down version (quite a bit of moon damage on the top strip to be fixed):

[Chris]

Wow! and I'm not just saying that!

[tingting44]

now thats dedication Rob! cant even begin to imagine the amount of hair pulling and time going in to this mosaic!

[JimFR]

Fantastic!

[Scott]

Rob, That is an amazing mosaic. I'm just in awe of your dedication. A note to myself, there are no quick fixes...only hard work and perseverence

[DaveS]

Oh my word!

[Uranium235]

Thanks guys, hopefully if I can get another night or two (with no Moon) I can finish it off and present a full resolution version. Whether I get that night between now and the end of Feb is another matter! Something tells me I might still be doing this one at SGLX

[toxic]

blooming ek   i wont complain about my 2 or 3 pain mosaics again lol well good that is