What can the Skywatcher Evostar ED80 do for me?

[Uranium235]

Oops... totally forgot about these.... All taken with the 80ED and 314L+

[MattJenko]

Nothing forgettable about those...

[Uranium235]

Thanks they're what I did in year 2 and 3 (so right at the bottom of me flickr stream). The last couple were big ones, I think the pelican was 6 panes.

[hjw]

I thought I give this post another bump. I found it a great inspiration to see what people do with what is basically a "beginner's scope". This is a image of the eta Carina nebula taken with a Baader UHC-S filter (60x60sec; ISO1600).

To all SW80ED users - Keep it coming!

[GaryCH]

Very nice! I just bought myself a baader uhc-s filter but I haven't had the chance to use it yet as I can't figure out a way to fit it into my current setup without the reducer/flattener (which I am saving for right now!) I hoped it would work somehow but no luck

[MattJenko]

@hjw - that is really lovely. The Southern hemisphere gets a lot of the sky goodies! Here are a few northern images with my ED80 you probably can't get from down there, all with an Atik 414ex.

The Iris Nebula in Cephus.

The Whirlpool Galaxy in Ursa Major:

M103 in Cassiopeia:

And M81, part of a double with the Cigar which sadly did not fit on my chip:

[Night Hawk]

Reading this thread, I feel the need to grab the plastic and buy an 80ED straight away  . A very nice thread with some great images. Thank you for sharing them.

[MattJenko]

Very nice! I just bought myself a baader uhc-s filter but I haven't had the chance to use it yet as I can't figure out a way to fit it into my current setup without the reducer/flattener (which I am saving for right now!) I hoped it would work somehow but no luck

What is your setup and where does it not fit in?  Maybe we can help?

[hjw]

@hjw - that is really lovely. The Southern hemisphere gets a lot of the sky goodies!...

Nice images. I really like your galaxies. I am struggling with them. I might have to put them aside until I get a guided setup . In a couple of month Sagittarius region will come above the tree line. Can't wait.

[glowingturnip]

that Iris Neb is reeeally nice, Matt

[GaryCH]

Sorry Matt, I missed your post!

I did just have the standard dslr bits that came with the ed80 kit to connect my camera and I hoped the filter would fit in there somewhere but it only fits into the diagonal, or the eyepiece.

It's not a problem now though (I hope!) as I've just ordered the fr/ff and the flo adapter and t ring )

Can't wait for it to arrive - shame the weather looks bad for a while though!

Gary.

[MattJenko]

Not had much space time with my ED80 of late. I have been helping set up an imaging system for my local astro society, but did sneak a couple of hours this week on the Sunflower Galaxy. This passed pretty much directly overhead and was a tricky one to track and all the L subs had trails, so I still need to work at it. The image is from 2 hours total RGB subs.

[MattJenko]

Had to post this image here as well, it is by far my best effort with the ED80. I can't explain how much I like this scope, unbelievable what a mere 8cm can do!

This is ngc6888, the Crescent. 20 x 20 min Ha, 19 x 20 min Oiii and 20 x 1 min RGB for the stars. All shot during a full moon week!

[Thalestris24]

Had to post this image here as well, it is by far my best effort with the ED80. I can't explain how much I like this scope, unbelievable what a mere 8cm can do!

This is ngc6888, the Crescent. 20 x 20 min Ha, 19 x 20 min Oiii and 20 x 1 min RGB for the stars. All shot during a full moon week!

Lovely image!

[Moon-Watcher]

Had to post this image here as well, it is by far my best effort with the ED80. I can't explain how much I like this scope, unbelievable what a mere 8cm can do!

Thanks Matt,

Am being drawn more and more to the ED80.

Also, (on another topic!) whats all this about a dew shield?  I am assuming, they are important?

Cheers,

Mark

[Magnus_e]

What can the Skywatcher Evostar ED80 do for me today?

So, as my question almost matches the name of this tread, i tink it's appropiate to ask it here.

I live in Norway at latitude +- 59.5. Not shure how it's like in the UK but there are members here from many parts of the world.

What i'm wondering is what coud i image with the ED80 today? As you probably know from the latitude THERE ARE NO NIGHTS for a while.

I was imaging with my ST80 as a beginners scope the second half of this winter, but had to take a pause to fininsh my bachelor.

My plan has always been to buy a better scope and use the ST80 for a guidescope. I was thinking of a 8" Newt, but by folowing this thread the last months, i really like the ED80.

Buing a telescope always make a dent i a budget, and i was wondering if i bought it now is there anything i could image or would i be better of waiting a month or two?

I would think the moon is possible, but i'm guessing nothing else? (Moving futher south is not an option right now   )

PS, if someone has a link to a "daylight calculator" where i could see exactly when normal imaging is possible, i would appreciate it

[ArmyAirForce]

.....I would think the moon is possible, but i'm guessing nothing else?

Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, & Jupiter. OK, so Mercury is hard to find in daylight, but it can be done. Saturn is a bit pointless, being so low. Venus & Jupiter are easily spotted. Sun spots with a white light fitler, and before you know it, the darker nights will be coming in again.

[Magnus_e]

Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, & Jupiter. OK, so Mercury is hard to find in daylight, but it can be done. Saturn is a bit pointless, being so low. Venus & Jupiter are easily spotted. Sun spots with a white light fitler, and before you know it, the darker nights will be coming in again.

So there is some fun to be had

Kan i use the same t-ring that i used with the ST80, and just get a larger kamera adapter "the little treaded tube that screws into the t-ring and fits in the eyepeace"?

I have decided to get the .85x Reducer/Flattener. Does it screw on to the t-ring or do i need the camera adapter?

[MattJenko]

For the reducer, you need the T-ring to M48 adaptor, not just a T-ring. http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reducersflatteners/skywatcher-dslr-m48-ring-adapter.html

As it is a frac, you can do all manner of Solar things with it. I bought a simple Baader file cover for a few quid and in my first outing took this : 

I am counting the days until I can afford a Quark (there are a lot of days in this particular countdown ).

The scope has a dewshield on it already (non retractable), but I use heated dew bands to prevent fogging up.

[Magnus_e]

Nice. The m48 ring wasn't expecive so i'll get one of those.

If you like solar you can have a look in my rehersal for the march 20. total eclipse. It was compleately clouded on march 20. so my rehersal was kind of pointless.

Kind of sad, but i wached the eclipse streamed live from Longyearbyen in Svalbard.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bx0H87uxM0zZY2FvaDhvNzZvUTQ&usp=sharing

Think it's possible to view the timelapse in your browser

Just one question. Fogging up is a problem when the temperature changes while imaging?

All my imaging sessions has been in sub zero © temperatures, with little or none temperaturechange during imaging, and i've never had an issue whit fogging.

I do have a habit placing my gear outside atleast 2-3 hours before starting callibrating, so that may have helped.

[MattJenko]

The UK spring and autumn are dew filled and things dew up rapidly. Without a dew band, I would be using a hairdryer or packing up within an hour or so. I don't imaging that is a problem at sub zero temps, frosting would be the concern.

[Magnus_e]

I see. Then i'll probably need one of those when autumn comes.

Probably going to write a mail to FLO and ask about shipping to Norway.

The stores around here only got the ED80 as a kit with a lot of things i don't need.

Hopefully i can poste some new ED80 images here in a while

[Tums]

Hi Matt, and all ED80 owners, (and those thinking of buying one)

Only just come across this thread, and have to say, there are some fantastic images here, taken with this brilliant scope.

I'm afraid these light nights, are very frustrating, and I can't wait for dark winter nights to come back. Sorry all you Solar lovers.

I have to say this thread,is very inspiring, I'm only dabbling with imaging at the moment, using a Canon 1200D and more recently a 700D, I'm in the progress of saving for a ZWO Asi120 mm, which means, lots more things to learn.

Anyway here are a few of my images. Good and bad!!.but I really love this hobby/Pastime, and look forward to learning more from this thread in the future. Cheers everyone , Clear skies.

[toxic]

nice images Tums

[MahlerMoonMan]

Hi guys,

amazing images!!  I've got an Orion ED80 and a manual equatorial mount, with an electronic drive, and a Canon 40D (unmodded) ....  I don't have a guide-scope but I've got a right-angled 9x 50 finder ....  All these images are so beautiful and inspiring, but can I really produce anything like them with my 'very basic' set-up?  What about Jupiter and Saturn?  I really want to give imaging a try now that I've seen what an ED80 can do, but I really doubt that I'll succeed so spectacularly as all you guys have done!  And I'm really not sure I'll ever get to grips with a CCD!!  A DSLR is challenging enough for me so far!! LOL  By the way, Matt, what's an 'ASI120M'? 

All the best,

Donaldo