M13 Eq3-2 Guided Drainpipe

[jnp]

I previoulsy abandoned a DIY project to control the stepper motors on my old EQ3-2 from my laptop because the tracking results were poor. I gave up and purchased a proper EQ3 handset.

Anyway I was curious and had a play with incorporating guiding into the DIY project and was pleasantly surprised when I accidentally took an 854 second exposure. Maybe I was lucky, but even the DEC axis behaved itself.

Below are some early guided images. The next step is to apply the EQMod to the EQ3 handset to see which solution is best.

The current setup is

• guidescope - based on a 60mm Lidl bino lens
  
• guide camera - QHY5 (guiding is controlled by PHD)
  
• imaging scope - my old DIY drainpipe with 90mm Surplus Shed F10 lens
  

Applogies for the strange 'Maltese Cross' effect on bright stars, I still have no idea what causes that.

Why on earth are you mucking about with Eq3/drainpipes when you already have a C8N + Hq5 + Synscan I hear you say? Well that kit is 60 miles away at the moment. Mind you, I didn't half miss the GOTO (as I couldn't find M101 without it ).

thanks for looking

John

[Mick UK]

John, im gobsmacked!..........Guided Drainpipe!

Excellent stuff!

[Deneb]

Excellent John, you must be gobsmacked...

Nadeem.

[adamsp123]

Well done John, nice images from a drainpipe!!

[Psychobilly]

Excellent results ...

The Maltese cross ... try making an aperture mask and fitting it in front of the lens come in a few mm...

Peter...

[jgs001]

Very good John... that drainpipe is working real well ... Very inventive setup as well...

[Beyond_Vision]

A great result from something which didn't 'drain' all your resources

Regards

Kevin