ASI120MC-S with a flattener??

[LaughingBeagles]

Hi All,

Going to have a crack at using my ASI120MC-S tonight for the first time (I'll give Mars a go).

I'm fine with taking deep sky images with my Atik383L+ and understand the principle of using the Stellarvue 0.8 reducer/flattener.

My sense is that I should attach the reducer to the ASI120MC-S as an alternative to using a 2 x Barlow.

Would that be right? Go with the reducer rather than the Barlow?

Advice, suggestions, feedback gratefully received and thankfully applied :)

Pete

[Merlin66]

Pete,
For planetary you certainly don't need the reducer.
I'd say a barlow will be needed to give you the plate scale for imaging.
Probably a x3 or x4???

[LaughingBeagles]

Thanks for the reply Ken and great advice.

I only have a 2" 2 x Barlow dang it. I'm thinking then that won't do the trick?

EDIT: By the way, the Pres of my Astronomy Society is working on talking me into having a crack at spectrography :)

Pete

[Merlin66]

Try with the gear you have to start with.....
I'd recommend FireCapture for your camera (I use it from my ASI 174 and ASI 1600)

You're always welcome over on the spectroscopy side!!!
It's a great way of adding some science to our hobby and allows us to experience a completely different way of looking at (and understanding) the objects we observe.

[LaughingBeagles]

Will give it a go mate. I've grabbed a fairly decent Firecapture youtube tut' which has taken a bit of the mystery out of it for me (so different to SGP!!).

Thanks again Ken, and I'll prob give spectroscopy a go at some stage I'm thinking.

Pete