The Orion and running man

[Wasp]

My first image off my ED80. I have the EQ 5 mount and did an alignment with the polemaster and noticed im getting star trailing at just over thirty seconds. Id checked balance which seemed good, and I thought my alignment was spot on. Any ideas where Im going wrong?

[Adreneline]

Well first off that is about 1000% better than my first image of Orion with my ED80 (on an NEQ6) so you should be very pleased with the result. What camera were you using on the ED80?

I have no experience of using an EQ5 but my belt-modded NEQ6 needs a guide scope etc. if I want to avoid star trailing with exposures over about 60s. I suspect your EQ5 may be much the same. Adding a guidescope and using PHD2 has enabled me to go up to 15 mins without any evidence of trailing.

I am sure an EQ5 expert will pop up and help but that is a very good first image. Well done!

[scotttumsh]

That is a pretty stunning first picture thats for sure! really like this.

Scott

[smr]

That is a great first image. Just the sky looks a bit mottled which might be fixable in pp.

Regards the scope and mount I'd imagine the payload may mean anything longer than 30 seconds might result in trailing. I won't go over 60 second subs with my HEQ5 Pro Rowan belt modded and WOZ73 scope. 

Could be wind as well causing the trailing.

[ollypenrice]

You could try unbalancing the mount to make it slightly east-heavy. If you have backlash in the RA drive this will help to keep the gears meshing on the same side. Whether you are counterweights heavy or scope-side heavy depends on which side of the meridian you're on, which is why I say east-heavy.

Olly