Well it's nothing much but it is my first with the ST-7XME, so here's to many more improvements on this yardstick.
SBIG 7XME through a Celestron 102 achromatic using a green filter (couldn't get it to focus yet on the 80ED). Track and Accumulate 60 shots @ 8 sec each, autodarked. A quick and dirty curves and levels in PS. No autoguiding, just relied on the track an accumulate which is why there is a lot of correlation noise (well noise in genereal ) in the image from too short exposures and a poorly aligned and running mount (EQ4 with dual motors. The RA is running a bit slow for some reason) We'll se how it goes on a well aligned mount and with longer exposures.
Boy there is a leaning curve and half on this sucker
Geez Paul, you can tell there is going to be heaps of great detail in there!!!! Yep, fuzzy at the moment, but it is soooo close to looking spectacular!
Why won't the ED80 focus? Not enough 'In' or 'Out' travel on the focuser?
Not enough out focus Ken. I've taken the standard Crayford off and put on a WO 10:1 which has a shorter profile, but I think I've got it sussed now
I'll use a Meade 6.3 FR which should do the trick. I did it with the Celestron tonight and it worked a treat. (I just couldn't be bothered swapping scopes over as I was only doing a practice focusing run)
Boy there is a leaning curve and half on this sucker
Yeah, ya not wrong, certainly not for the faint hearted Took me a while when I first got mine. There's a lot to get a grasp of, no doubt about it. Enjoy it though, I love using my ST7, just wish the chip was 10 times the size for the same price
Btw, good first shot... track and accumulate, I never did try that...
I was going to suggest the same as I did with Leon. Use a 2" Barlow tube (unscrew the barlow lens and use the tube as an extender). He still has mine and is using it, so it must be working OK
to be honest I didn't even think about that. Though even if I had I probably wouldn't have used it. I like to be able to screw everything on I can and not rely on too many compression/"holding on by one screw" connections as possible
Here's the final one for the night.
64 shots @ 10 sec, Track & Accumulate and a touchup in PS
The slab will be after the tax return.
I'm psyching myself up for doing the deep narrow hole, that has to be dug and boxed off before the concrete is poured.
Bake out the dessicant plug and you'll get even better images.
It looks a little like you've got some condensation on either the filters or the inside of the camera. If it's the filters there's not a lot you can do except move to a less humid environment. But if it's on the window of the camera, then the dessicant plug needs a trip to the oven.
Would the desicant plug need baking so soon after getting it. I've only had it a few weeks. I think it is more likely the poor quality refractor and the very short exposure and the less than perfect mount I was using.
It depends on what has happened to it in the meantime. Has it sat around somewhere for a while? Did you buy it first or second hand?
It just looks like the cam is in focus, but there's a film over the window. It has happened to me on a few times now, mainly the filters fogging up on wet nights though. The problem is that by the time you've got it pulled apart to see the filters they can dry out.
Try a bright star nearby to focus on, see if it has a halo.
Also I can easily get focus on my ED80 with an ST7, and now an ST10. I have a CFW inline though, I assume you've got one? Also you can put a 2" diagonal in if you need more length. I get horrible coma with a 6.3 reducer and the ED80 (even worse with an f5 Optec).
Brand new and it has been in it's case with the only time out being the couple of times I've used it. I was using the Meade 6.3 FR so that may be it, along with a very achromatic achromat. I can't get mine to focus with the ed80 cos I dont have the standard focuser on it. I might look at getting a good quality diagonal, but I'm not keen on shooting through a diagonal.
I'm trying again tonight with the 8"SCT and the 6.3 FR and I'll see how they turn out tonight.
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My first ever SBIG shot
Took me a while when I first got mine. There's a lot to get a grasp of, no doubt about it. Enjoy it though, I love using my ST7, just wish the chip was 10 times the size for the same price 
to be honest I didn't even think about that. Though even if I had I probably wouldn't have used it. I like to be able to screw everything on I can and not rely on too many compression/"holding on by one screw" connections as possible 
