Lunt LS60 & ZWO 174MM - Questions

[Altocumulus]

Another 'bouncy' day with the old Sun this morning.

Two questions, if I may.

1) I've started to notice some linear artifacts around the rim of my images - This is a snapshot, but all my frames are similarly affected and AS3

produces a stack that's no better! Can anyone shed some light? You will probably have to blow it up a wee bit to see.

2) For those who do use a 174MM on their Lunt 60 - how do you attach it? Direct to the blocking module, or with spacers.

[richard ashbee]

Will be interested in the answer, I hope to get same set up soon

[Altocumulus]

Thanks Richard.

The image artifacts is a new one - lots of small spikes tangential to the curve.

One the attaching, I just screw the 174 body directly onto the module.

'tis a steep learning curve from the 120MM.

[richard ashbee]

At least you are just `down the road' if I get any problems

[Altocumulus]

I  had to add a 2inch adapter between the module and the camera - I was getting large illumination problems all over the image. At least it 'cured' that particular issue.

[Ewan]

Try AS!2 fella & compare the two

 

[Altocumulus]

11 hours ago, Ewan said:

Try AS!2 fella & compare the two

 

I get the 'sparkles' on a snapshot, before I've even done any post-work.

[Zakalwe]

The pixel size on a ASI174 are too large for a Lunt 60. Once you zoom in you will see "blockiness" around the edges. You'll need to Barlow up to increase the image scale.

[Altocumulus]

17 minutes ago, Zakalwe said:

The pixel size on a ASI174 are too large for a Lunt 60. Once you zoom in you will see "blockiness" around the edges. You'll need to Barlow up to increase the image scale.

And yet the 174 is supposed to be a commonly used cam on the L60...

[Zakalwe]

25 minutes ago, Altocumulus said:

And yet the 174 is supposed to be a commonly used cam on the L60...

I have a 174 and use it with a PowerMate 2.5 for this exact reason. At native focus you can see the individual pixels as you have to zoom in so much.

[richard ashbee]

was told the ZWO Asi178 Mono camera is  a good match with the LS60

[Davey-T]

1 hour ago, Altocumulus said:

And yet the 174 is supposed to be a commonly used cam on the L60...

ZWO ASI178MM is a much better match, it's what I and a few others on here use with the LS60.

Dave

[Zakalwe]

12 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

ZWO ASI178MM is a much better match, it's what I and a few others on here use with the LS60.

Dave

2.4micron pixels versus the 5.86 of the 174. The 174 is great for a long focal length system such as a Quark.

[Altocumulus]

Thanks all.

I'll swop them round and use the 174 on the other 'scope, and the 178 on the LS60 - snag is I don't find the 178 particularly fast - at least not this altairastro version. It's supposed to be ~50fps full frame, but I barely manage ~6fps......I'll experiment, though not for a day or two, it's supposed to be raining here tomorrow.

In the meantime I discovered, today, my Lunt is losing pressure, so that'll have to be checked...I think I have some grease to go with spare "O"-rings.

[Owmuchonomy]

The 174 is an excellent choice for solar (and lunar) but you need to be around f/20 optimally. A lot of my solar images in my Flickr link below are a Lunt 60 and 174 but with a 2.5x powermate. I also use the 290 chipped cam from ZWO.

[SusieQ]

On 01/06/2020 at 12:31, Zakalwe said:

I have a 174 and use it with a PowerMate 2.5 for this exact reason. At native focus you can see the individual pixels as you have to zoom in so much.

Hi. I use the ASI174MM on my LS60THA. I had to mount the 174 directly onto the blocking filter to achieve focus. Would you please tell me how you're mounting your PowerMate 2.5?