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Skywatcher AZ GTI mount owners thread


AstroNebulee

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12 hours ago, happy-kat said:

Thanks happy kat, it looks like the same bracket that @AstroNebulee linked too.

Had a look again when I am a little more with it, looks really good and at just 45 euro relatively inexpensive. Just going to wait for a reply to an email I sent out before I make my next move. However the evoguide and flattener look a good, lightweight and low cost option to get what I am looking for.  Also need to look through my box of bits to see if I have spare dovetails and other bits. 

I have already flashed my mount for EQQ mod, that was done last year when I used the AZ GTI for unguided images with a cheapish 60mm spotting scope, but looking to go one further with the ASI Plus, ED evoguide and a guide. 

Things are looking up. 

Thanks all.

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2 hours ago, bomberbaz said:

Thanks happy kat, it looks like the same bracket that @AstroNebulee linked too.

Had a look again when I am a little more with it, looks really good and at just 45 euro relatively inexpensive. Just going to wait for a reply to an email I sent out before I make my next move. However the evoguide and flattener look a good, lightweight and low cost option to get what I am looking for.  Also need to look through my box of bits to see if I have spare dovetails and other bits. 

I have already flashed my mount for EQQ mod, that was done last year when I used the AZ GTI for unguided images with a cheapish 60mm spotting scope, but looking to go one further with the ASI Plus, ED evoguide and a guide. 

Things are looking up. 

Thanks all.

Glad to hear your making some progress Steve. I too saw the flattener for the evoguide and agree it's a good set up for your needs. Once you look through your box of bits there may be a good solution too. As you've seen it's a tested setup. Let us know how you get on be really interested 👍

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I'd like to get an idea of the length of exposures I should reasonably be able to get from an unguided AZ-GTi - should it be at least a minute?

What are other owners experience, and what have you achieved (and at what focal length)?

Thanks

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1 hour ago, adyj1 said:

I'd like to get an idea of the length of exposures I should reasonably be able to get from an unguided AZ-GTi - should it be at least a minute?

What are other owners experience, and what have you achieved (and at what focal length)?

Thanks

On alt az mode I was getting around 15-20 seconds at the maximum before stars began trailing. When I started in eq mode I was guiding so can't answer about eq. My focal length is 420mm 👍

Edited by AstroNebulee
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17 hours ago, adyj1 said:

I'd like to get an idea of the length of exposures I should reasonably be able to get from an unguided AZ-GTi - should it be at least a minute?

What are other owners experience, and what have you achieved (and at what focal length)?

Thanks

I managed exposures of up to 15 seconds but usually used 8.5 seconds. I used to do a maximum unguided total exposure time of 15 minutes.

Caveat: You AZ GTI may be more or less accurate unguided but the only way to find out is give it a blast. 

I would try for a start at 6 second exposures, I used to get my histogram on 10-15 and then try 100 subs (10 minutes).

See how you get on from there and this should give you a feel for the unguided accuracy of your mount. 

Below are some of my unguided efforts which when I find the raw data I will reprocess, this was very early days.

 

Edited by bomberbaz
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All below are unguided. I cannot find raw data to give details on exposure, gain  etc.

Ring nebula, first thing I did, pretty rough.

1441781718_Ring160x2.jpg.8b159ec097cf5d9acd72b40676df29c6.jpg

Iris nebula, one of my better efforts, again bit of amp glow on right.

iris.thumb.jpg.5f273613e9d9ef205b28746b1554de0c.jpg297425789_m31processed16.5_21.thumb.jpg.b3eb42009bfc7ab9961ef7f4c83995df.jpg

On Andromeda here I got a great central galaxy but you can see a dust mote as I had no lights and the amp glow where I pushed the camera too far. It is uncooled and I will continue using uncooled. 

I am considering using a computer heatsink to make a homemade cooler but I am still in the planning stage, I will let you know if it comes to anything.

Edited by bomberbaz
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1 hour ago, bomberbaz said:

All below are unguided. I cannot find raw data to give details on exposure, gain  etc.

Ring nebula, first thing I did, pretty rough.

1441781718_Ring160x2.jpg.8b159ec097cf5d9acd72b40676df29c6.jpg

Iris nebula, one of my better efforts, again bit of amp glow on right.

iris.thumb.jpg.5f273613e9d9ef205b28746b1554de0c.jpg297425789_m31processed16.5_21.thumb.jpg.b3eb42009bfc7ab9961ef7f4c83995df.jpg

On Andromeda here I got a great central galaxy but you can see a dust mote as I had no lights and the amp glow where I pushed the camera too far. It is uncooled and I will continue using uncooled. 

I am considering using a computer heatsink to make a homemade cooler but I am still in the planning stage, I will let you know if it comes to anything.

I’ve got good news and bad news and they’re the same: that’s not Andromeda, that’s the Triangulum galaxy. So if your go-to failed to get to M31, at least you can be proud of having gotten quite a usable image of M33 - which is more than I was ever able to with my own AZ-GTi (but, hey, mine’s a lemon of the yellowest kind).

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23 minutes ago, raadoo said:

I’ve got good news and bad news and they’re the same: that’s not Andromeda, that’s the Triangulum galaxy. So if your go-to failed to get to M31, at least you can be proud of having gotten quite a usable image of M33 - which is more than I was ever able to with my own AZ-GTi (but, hey, mine’s a lemon of the yellowest kind).

Ooops yeah so it is, sorry got mixed up in my rush to put it up before anyone else posted, what a 🤡 😂

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Anyway, uncooled and unguided = lots of short subs in a quick time with higher gain than long exposure guided is the way.

If I get chance I will get another go of M33 using my 60mm svbony guidescope, see if I can better it. 🤔

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On 30/01/2022 at 20:44, bomberbaz said:

Are you aware of anybody using a SW Evoguide as the imaging scope.

It is a lovely little ED frac but the main issue is mounting the guide. I haven't been able to figure a way to mount an mini guide to the main evoguide.

I'm using one at the moment.  I'm not guiding just yet though.  Building up my setup as I go along.  Evoguide 50ED and Starizona FF with an unmodded (yet) Canon 550d. 

I've done a bit of cable management since this image was taken :D    Just a beginners system i'm adding to as I go along and tinkering.  Got a few beginners images that i'm happy with so far. Orion Nebula, Andromeda, Flame Nebula.  Wont win any awards but i'm happy as a first go and with a 50mm guidescope that isnt meant for this type of thing.  

 

1065048974_2022-01-2118_13_46.jpg.f0668654cbc8a888b9023b778d449135.jpg

 

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18 hours ago, adyj1 said:

I'd like to get an idea of the length of exposures I should reasonably be able to get from an unguided AZ-GTi - should it be at least a minute?

What are other owners experience, and what have you achieved (and at what focal length)?

Thanks

Depends how well i've roughly PA'd.  I can get 60sec if I take my time with PA on a 50mm and 100mm aperture.  Any more than that it's trailing.  I am roughing it though and not PA properly in any sense of the word.   This is unguided.    I tend to step back and do 40 or 50sec exp's and lots of them.   I intend to start to PA properly and add a guidescope before next year.  Slowly does it on a budget.  

 

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1 hour ago, TerraC said:

I'm using one at the moment.  I'm not guiding just yet though.  Building up my setup as I go along.  Evoguide 50ED and Starizona FF with an unmodded (yet) Canon 550d. 

I've done a bit of cable management since this image was taken :D    Just a beginners system i'm adding to as I go along and tinkering.  Got a few beginners images that i'm happy with so far. Orion Nebula, Andromeda, Flame Nebula.  Wont win any awards but i'm happy as a first go and with a 50mm guidescope that isnt meant for this type of thing.  

 

1065048974_2022-01-2118_13_46.jpg.f0668654cbc8a888b9023b778d449135.jpg

 

Great to see your set up it's looks superb. Yours and @bomberbazsetups really intrigued me. I would love to see your images you've mentioned. 👍

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15 hours ago, bomberbaz said:

Anyway, uncooled and unguided = lots of short subs in a quick time with higher gain than long exposure guided is the way.

If I get chance I will get another go of M33 using my 60mm svbony guidescope, see if I can better it. 🤔

I hope you do get another chance at M33. Do keep in mind that, while it's a large target, it's very faint. I recently had a go of it and at 3h it's not nearly enough to do it justice. Next time around I'm putting in at least 12h from my Bortle 6/7 skies.

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44 minutes ago, AstroNebulee said:

Great to see your set up it's looks superb. Yours and @bomberbazsetups really intrigued me. I would love to see your images you've mentioned. 👍

A couple of snaps.  Not brilliant I know and need more integration time but i'm happy with a few first attempts and for an unguided 50mm guidescope.   I'm still learning processing and have a bit of a light pollution issue.  302936474_FlameNebulaHorseheadNebula21Jan2022.thumb.jpg.c52a9db974b7d7714d5d89ed81175904.jpg

251668418_Pleiades-19Jan2022.thumb.jpg.faa9e7ba9d0c7c916346dd409d349699.jpg1313979125_OrionNebula.thumb.jpg.fdc4b54623c65099c7ade52aceef4361.jpg308157457_Andromeda21Jan2022-1.thumb.jpg.748918b5b61d3f4e799aeb2f64af0952.jpg

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2 minutes ago, TerraC said:

A couple of snaps.  Not brilliant I know and need more integration time but i'm happy with a few first attempts and for an unguided 50mm guidescope.   I'm still learning processing and have a bit of a light pollution issue.  302936474_FlameNebulaHorseheadNebula21Jan2022.thumb.jpg.c52a9db974b7d7714d5d89ed81175904.jpg

251668418_Pleiades-19Jan2022.thumb.jpg.faa9e7ba9d0c7c916346dd409d349699.jpg1313979125_OrionNebula.thumb.jpg.fdc4b54623c65099c7ade52aceef4361.jpg308157457_Andromeda21Jan2022-1.thumb.jpg.748918b5b61d3f4e799aeb2f64af0952.jpg

Why did you write " not brilliant"? ... just think about what you have done ... these are great photos . Especially the flame and HH . 

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9 minutes ago, Stu1smartcookie said:

Why did you write " not brilliant"? ... just think about what you have done ... these are great photos . Especially the flame and HH . 

Thank you.  I'm pleased with how they've come out really.  Esp as my whole system is put together for less than £500.  2nd hand, re-purposed, donated etc.  :D     My tripod is a broken AZ3 I chopped the head off and added the tower.     "Ghetto" Astronomy.  :D 

 

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26 minutes ago, TerraC said:

A couple of snaps.  Not brilliant I know and need more integration time but i'm happy with a few first attempts and for an unguided 50mm guidescope.   I'm still learning processing and have a bit of a light pollution issue.  

 

Nothing wrong with them fella, better than I managed although I held my total time to usually 15 minutes. Maybe yours tracks better than mine as that will obviously make a big difference.

I used to have a 12" goto dob that literally tracked for what seemed like forever without needing adjustment. When I have the 35mm solar scope on the AZGTI, I have to adjust every 5 minutes or so due to drift

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4 hours ago, TerraC said:

A couple of snaps.  Not brilliant I know and need more integration time but i'm happy with a few first attempts and for an unguided 50mm guidescope.   I'm still learning processing and have a bit of a light pollution issue.  302936474_FlameNebulaHorseheadNebula21Jan2022.thumb.jpg.c52a9db974b7d7714d5d89ed81175904.jpg

251668418_Pleiades-19Jan2022.thumb.jpg.faa9e7ba9d0c7c916346dd409d349699.jpg1313979125_OrionNebula.thumb.jpg.fdc4b54623c65099c7ade52aceef4361.jpg308157457_Andromeda21Jan2022-1.thumb.jpg.748918b5b61d3f4e799aeb2f64af0952.jpg

They are great. I really impressed with your images and it shows the evoguide is a brilliant scope for astrophotography. Plus unguided, you should be proud of your images. More integration time yes as with all astrophotography is better but you have shown what a gem your scope is. Your processing is coming along nicely too, your M31 is super 👍

Edited by AstroNebulee
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3 hours ago, TerraC said:

A couple of snaps.  Not brilliant I know and need more integration time but i'm happy with a few first attempts and for an unguided 50mm guidescope.   I'm still learning processing and have a bit of a light pollution issue.  302936474_FlameNebulaHorseheadNebula21Jan2022.thumb.jpg.c52a9db974b7d7714d5d89ed81175904.jpg

251668418_Pleiades-19Jan2022.thumb.jpg.faa9e7ba9d0c7c916346dd409d349699.jpg1313979125_OrionNebula.thumb.jpg.fdc4b54623c65099c7ade52aceef4361.jpg308157457_Andromeda21Jan2022-1.thumb.jpg.748918b5b61d3f4e799aeb2f64af0952.jpg

You should be proud of those pictures and your ingenuity.

In a short length of time, achieving those results with kit bought for less than £500, including a cannibalised alt az mount and a 50mm guide scope for a lens is simply brilliant.

I'd go as far as using 'inspirational' to describe your efforts. You deserve lots of 'likes'! 👍

 

Edited by ScouseSpaceCadet
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Thank you guys.  I'll keep plugging away and see how I can improve with more experience.  I'm just amazed what I can see with this little rig.     Sneak peak but this is 3hrs of 40sec subs of the Rosette nebula.  I've a feeling i've overdone this one with the processing to see what I can drag out of it but i'm amazed I could even see this.  I couldnt even check I had it lined up correctly with a 60sec sub as visually I could see nothing from the frame.  I think it's pushing the boundaries a little bit. 

 

 

Rosette Nebula 29 Jan 2021.jpg

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