Help/advice for EAA newbie…

[Big Ian 65]

4 hours ago, Toltec said:

Interesting thread as I'm planning on having a go at this myself this year.

Thanks Toltec, good luck with your EAA adventure!

[Mike JW]

Hi Ian, 

12 hours ago, Big Ian 65 said:

is the need to refocus due to temp, just down to the expansion/contraction of the scope components, or something else?

As you say just down to expansion/contraction. Sometimes scopes will need to be re-focused if you point them at a very different part of the sky (things move slightly in some scopes). I only very rarely needed to re focus my C11/C9.25 during a session but makes sense to be aware that focus might change during a long session.

Cheers,

Mike

[Big Ian 65]

Hi all, another question… does it matter where you place the focus mask? Does it have to be placed directly in front of the corrector plate on my SCT, or can I just place it over the dew shield? My dew shield adds about 450mm in front of the corrector… obviously easier to use if I don’t have to remove the dew shield.

[happy-kat]

I place mine on the dew shield, though it's a lot shorter, try it and see.

[Big Ian 65]

Just a quick update, the Y focus mask seems to work well when placed at the opening of my dew shield!

 

[Big Ian 65]

Hi all - here are a few EAA images from my second outing on Saturday night 9/10 July (unfortunately my learning has been delayed by a bout of Covid...) however I am slowly evolving my setup procedure to make things a little easier (limited by the equipment I have) I tried to use my Antares F6.3 reducer, but couldn't achieve focus with that, so these images are at the native focal ratio of my scope (F/10) - I think I need an extension tube to be able to use the reducer. (Camera has 18mm focal path, the sony T adapter adds about 36mm + the focal path of my 2" diagonal)

FYI The Y focal mask works great!

Thanks for the support from you guys, I think I am progressing slowly, and I am pleased with the results so far.

[happy-kat]

The third image and the spiral galaxy are particularly catching to look at, great set 

[Mike JW]

Hi Ian,

The camera chip will most likely need to be at around the 100mm mark from the reducer.

Mike