1392 replies to this topic

[sketchism]

great mount, i have extended my CW shaft slightly and it didn't add any extra weight for international travel

i've also been autoguiding it with the smallest setup i could come up with, initially because i cant see the SCP from where i am, and this made it leaps and bounds easier to drift align

Edited by sketchism, 26 September 2018 - 10:38 PM.

[dciobota]

Actually I was going to ask about the guidescope, I don't think I've ever seen one like it.  I use the qhy 30mm one.  I also see you might be using the asi290mm mini?  Also, what pc do you use?  Mine is the intel cs325, but I've been looking at other lightweight alternatives.  I've tried the atom based compute sticks, but they don't really work very well for me.

 

Great setup.

[sketchism]

Im not sure if its new or not but its only just come available here in Australia,

It's the ZWO30F4 Mini Scope and a zwo asi120mm mini cam, so far its been extremely sensitive, even with mild clouds it seems to see straight through them


as for the PC im using my regular travel laptop, a 2017 Razer Blade 13"


on the agenda is something to lower that ballhead down, i have a low profile ball head but it isnt quite strong enough to hold the optics, its not a big deal though, just fine tuning now

Edited by sketchism, 27 September 2018 - 02:18 AM.

[Neicul]

Do you guys have any good solution for making polar alignment easier?

Or, to be more precise, raising the scope viewing angle?

I really don't want to crawl under my tripod every time i setup the Skyguider.

[SHFT]

Do you guys have any good solution for making polar alignment easier?

Or, to be more precise, raising the scope viewing angle?

I really don't want to crawl under my tripod every time i setup the Skyguider.

The cheapest way would be to use a 90° angled eyepiece to put on the polarscope but these were hard to find where I live.

 

The not so cheap options are a guidescope and sharpcap or QHY Polemaster. I use the latter and I really like it.

Edited by SHFT, 27 September 2018 - 04:04 AM.

[Neicul]

I see. Yeah i just found some angled viewfinders and will adapt one to the polar scope. Thanks

[WarrenK]

I see. Yeah i just found some angled viewfinders and will adapt one to the polar scope. Thanks

Can you please provide links to the angled viewfinders you found? I have the same issue as you and am not sure how you are attaching the angled viewfinder to the polar scope. Thanks.

[Neicul]

There's some on amazon by Neewer:

https://www.amazon.c...L70_&dpSrc=srch

Still have to try that one.
For adapting the viewfinder you have to get creative. You can for example take a plastic cap that fits on the SkyGuider Pro.

Then you can cut a hole in it and insert the viewfinder. It's pretty DIY but yeah.

There's also this french site which sells 3D printed adapters:

http://www.astrokrak...der--a129918512

[WarrenK]

Awesome (especially the French one!) Thanks.

[dciobota]

Thanks Sketchism, great info.  Didn't realize zwo had a 30mm guidescope, way cool.  A bit shorter fl than the qhy, but for most smaller refractors and lenses it should be fine.  Plus the price is way cheaper than the qhy/orion ones.  Awesome.

[kitka]

Hello guys, just got my SGP last week, and same issue here. Actually maybe worse. My declination is 62 degrees. I'm fine with squatting to some extent, but only way to see inside the polar scope is to put my head 45 degrees sideways and stuff my jaw under the tripod mount, between the tripod legs, and hope to get a glimpse of Polaris.  It's very hard to tell when 12 o'clock is on the top when your head is sideways. Of course I can tilt the declination axis up and down to see if Polaris moves along the vertical line of the reticle, but I would rather minimize the moments of acrobacy under the mount.   Thanks for the adapter link Neicul, hadn't seen that one before.

Edited by kitka, 27 September 2018 - 11:53 AM.

[sketchism]

this is the first i have heard of this combo, this information should be pinned, great find!

if i knew this was an option i may have delayed going to a guidescope and cam as the main reason was to help polar align without crawling between my tripod legs haha

 

 

 

There's some on amazon by Neewer:

https://www.amazon.c...L70_&dpSrc=srch

Still have to try that one.
For adapting the viewfinder you have to get creative. You can for example take a plastic cap that fits on the SkyGuider Pro.

Then you can cut a hole in it and insert the viewfinder. It's pretty DIY but yeah.

There's also this french site which sells 3D printed adapters:

http://www.astrokrak...der--a129918512

[Neicul]

this is the first i have heard of this combo, this information should be pinned, great find!

if i knew this was an option i may have delayed going to a guidescope and cam as the main reason was to help polar align without crawling between my tripod legs haha

haha oh well, having a guidescope is still better, since you can correct the tracking and also be more precise in aligning.

[StarCyclist]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new kit!

 

Here's my setup:

https://www.cloudyni...e-it/?p=8528056

 

The skyguider pro photo package comes wit what you see in the pic: the dec adapter with counterweight and shaft plus the dec head that has a vixen style saddle to mount the scope dovetail on.  So if you ordered the correct kit you should hav3 everything you need.  If not, you can still buy those pieces separately.

 

Once you mount everything that way, you can balance the ra by loosening the main clutch.  Then, you can balance dec by rotating the ra until the telescope is on one side of the mount.  Then tighten ra and loosen the two dec saddle knobs until the scope rotates freely in dec.  Then balansce scope and camera by sliding the dovetail until youre well balanced.  Btw, you don't really need to be well balanced in dec, since only the ra tracks and guides.

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks Daniel, I think I get it now. the SGP is arriving today... super excited. The Z61 arrived two days ago. Sharing my first picture of the moon:

 

[mbphoto]

Just ordered one of these adapters.. Hope it will fit my Contax 90° finder...

[StarCyclist]

The SGP arrived on time! I was lucky to enjoy a September clear sky in the Pacific Northwest (a real oddity) and take it out for a spin. Here are a couple of pictures:

 

 

A few thoughts:

 

1. It barely balances with the Zenithstar 61 and Panasonic Lumix G9 with F61 flatener. No way to add even a scope. My plan is to replace the G9 with a Canon Rebel T3i, which might help a little (100 grams). 

2. Wow! It's really difficult to position a telescope using the RA and DEC adjustment. Considering that the 4/3 sensor turns the Z61 into a 720mm lens, I couldn't find Andromeda. Again, I'm hoping that the APS-C wider sensor in the T3i will help, but I will probably need to get more familiar with positioning an equatorial mount with no GoTo capabilities. Challenge accepted!

3. The good news is that I was able to capture Vega and its surroundings (see picture above) with a 60 second exposure and minimum trails. Aligning the SGP with polaris is not as easy as I thought, and already ordered the 90 degree viewer plus the 3D printed adapter (thanks for the tip!)

 

All in all, very happy with this setup. Portability comes with a price, but I think it's worth it.

 

Thanks everyone for your tips and guidance.

 

 

 

[mbphoto]

@StarCyclist

If you rotate the thingy that holds the counterweight and the camera, you can shorten the "arm" that the camera sits on.

My D810 with 15-30/2.8 balances nicely on a light ballhead and a second, smaller camera (Fuji X-T10 with 12/2 Samyang) on a large ballhead on the longer side.

 

I'll also get a finder scope for my camera... especially, since live view in my Nikon is pitch black with the clearest of skies.. only the very brightest of stars show up.

 

This was a single exposure.. You can see how clear the sky was.. still, I had to focus on the lights from the tunnel, because, even with the 2.8 lens, I wasn't able to see many stars...

 

 

Edit:

Your image shows significant field curvature towards the corners, starting at about 1/3 out from the center.

Is that what you need those expensive flatteners for?

I guess, this will get even worse with the larger sensor, due to the larger crop of the fov?

Edited by mbphoto, 30 September 2018 - 03:45 AM.

[SHFT]

Unless you wanted to replace the G9 for daily use, why not try a CCD? They weigh next to nothing and can produce even better results.

You do need a laptop though which impacts the portability of course.

 

I use a red dot finder (like a rifle rdf) in my camera hotshoe, as long as the object is no to far a way from a visible constellation it is not that hard and of course practice makes perfect!

 

I had a couple of sessions in the last days, to bad it was a full moon. Went out anyway, I imaged Caldwell 10 (mistook it for the double cluster ), pleiades was to close to the moon so a rather wasted effort, no nebulosity to be seen. While imaging Andromeda my camera battery died so no darks or bias frames. Decent result though.

 

I learned a lot in the past couple of days my only issue I still have, is the **** DEC, two of the screws loosened during the session, as a result I to setup everything again. Might try the ballhead method as mentioned in this thread.

[Neicul]

Your image shows significant field curvature towards the corners, starting at about 1/3 out from the center.

Is that what you need those expensive flatteners for?

I guess, this will get even worse with the larger sensor, due to the larger crop of the fov?

Exactly.

[StarCyclist]

Exactly.

 

@StarCyclist

If you rotate the thingy that holds the counterweight and the camera, you can shorten the "arm" that the camera sits on.

My D810 with 15-30/2.8 balances nicely on a light ballhead and a second, smaller camera (Fuji X-T10 with 12/2 Samyang) on a large ballhead on the longer side.

 

I'll also get a finder scope for my camera... especially, since live view in my Nikon is pitch black with the clearest of skies.. only the very brightest of stars show up.

 

This was a single exposure.. You can see how clear the sky was.. still, I had to focus on the lights from the tunnel, because, even with the 2.8 lens, I wasn't able to see many stars...

 

 

Edit:

Your image shows significant field curvature towards the corners, starting at about 1/3 out from the center.

Is that what you need those expensive flatteners for?

I guess, this will get even worse with the larger sensor, due to the larger crop of the fov?

I am using the expensive flattener for the Z61... Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if it would be even worse without it. 

 

Thanks for the tip using the other side of the RA arm (or whatever is called). Looking at the picture of my setup, I can clearly see how that would help. Hopefully I will be able to use a scope then.

[StarCyclist]

Unless you wanted to replace the G9 for daily use, why not try a CCD? They weigh next to nothing and can produce even better results.

You do need a laptop though which impacts the portability of course.

Yes, I don't want to have to carry my laptop around... Thanks for the tip, though. I will consider it.

[Neicul]

I am using the expensive flattener for the Z61... Not sure if I'm doing something wrong or if it would be even worse without it. 

 

Thanks for the tip using the other side of the RA arm (or whatever is called). Looking at the picture of my setup, I can clearly see how that would help. Hopefully I will be able to use a scope then.

You might not be using the correct adapter then.
If you have a custom adapter from the telescope to your camera, the distance between the sensor and the flattener might be off, which in turn causes a distorted image.
The adapter William Optics sells is (according to William himself) the perfect distance.

Edited by Neicul, 30 September 2018 - 10:25 AM.

[lucutes]

For DSLRs use the custom WO adapter. For Astronomy camera use the standard 55mm spacing behind the field flatner.  

[StarCyclist]

You might not be using the correct adapter then.
If you have a custom adapter from the telescope to your camera, the distance between the sensor and the flattener might be off, which in turn causes a distorted image.
The adapter William Optics sells is (according to William himself) the perfect distance.

That's what it is... I had to use a 42 to 48mm adapter for the 4/3 camera. The T3i is arriving next week... Ordering the WO adapter for Canon now.

[lucutes]

Here's one from a few weeks ago using SGP and Z61. 

Camera: ASi071MC-Pro
Telescope: Williams Optics Z61, (FL360mm)
Aperture: f5.9
Mount: iOptron SkyGuiderPro
Stack: 40x60sec
Gain: 130 Offset: 50
Camera Temp: -15°C
OAT: 4°C
Darks: 50
Bias: 50
Processing: PixInsight, LR .

 

https://flic.kr/p/2bszrkf