How to improve images

[cafuego]

I'm now able to control my telescope via the ASIAir app to select and slew to targets and I can manually focus the setup using a bahtinov mask. So, where to go from here?

What I have now is a Meade LX 200 on its fork mount and a 294 OSC camera.

My fairly vague plans are to get an EQ mount to use instead of the fork mount, so I can actually guide and take exposures of more than 30 seconds.

The tracking on the Meade mount is not stunning, so even at 30 seconds I end up having to throw away half (or more) of all subs.

Would it be helpful to invest in an Ir/Uv cut filter to keep the star size in check when I'm not shooting with my Ha/[OIII] filter? Should I see about an auto-focuser to get better focus than I can do manually?

Other suggestion welcome, though what with buying a mount I don't think a mono camera and filter wheel will be in the budget for a looooong time ;-)

[xelasnave]

An EQ mount is where I would start...once you get it working things will be better I expect.

In any event for the moment try shorter exposures and just do heaps on the basis of getting the best out of what you have...you could try to polar align your current mount..if it wont fall over;) but you can aim your axis at CSP which is in effect making your fork mount an EQ...that could help if you are lucky with your pointing.


Focus...learn to do it manually..it would take me 30 minutes once to get it acceptable ...but auto focus is great.


alex

[triplej3]

hey pete


id get some pennys together and buy a mount. lots of second hand ones around. theres quite a few eq6's used for sale the eq6's perform great.

[JA]

Hi Pete,

Without spending anything you could try LOTS of shorter exposures on brighter (even not so bright) objects, preferably at as dark a location as possible.

Look at I think the name is Exaxe on Astrobin for some sample images. He uses some very short exposures and whilst I'm not necessarily advocating exposures that short, depending on your read noise, the results suggest it would be worthy of experiment.

Don't buy it ... try it.

Best
JA

[cafuego]

Thanks for the various bits of advice all.

After some agonising about the kind of mount I should invest in, a shiny new ZWO AM5 arrived in the mail today, so you can all expect me to start posting Hubble-level images in Advanced Astrophotgraphy, starting tomorrow ;)

[xelasnave]

Congratulations...I have one and I love it ( also eq6, eq5 and eq8) and it is my favourite.:D

Upon it rides a nice big Askar with EAF and OAG.

I was apprehensive about OAG but it really was a great investment..."they" say finding guide stars can be difficult but so far I have not run into that problem...and guiding at the fl of your main scope over a small scope must help...and no flex.

I have a counter shaft and counter weight on the mount which I thought was appropriate to put less pressure on the gears however they seem to be used to stop the mount tipping over..:shrug:.all I suggest is research this aspect...I still think it must help from gear aspect...

Well done.:thumbsup:

alex

[cafuego]

Ta! I'm still waiting for a losmandy plate for the SCT and EAF, but I ran it overnight with my Nikon 50mm lens on a 294MC. Polar alignment was a breeze and it has no problems at all staying on target for 5 minute exposures without guiding (at that focal length anyway :-)

From the sound it makes when it slews, I get the impression it would dislocate my shoulder if I tried to arm wrestle it.

Looking forward to using it in anger!