HEQ5 Pro Mount

[stevenc77]

Hi guys, can anyone tell me how they have gone with the Heq5 pro mount in regards to astrophotography. I just can't seem to get a decent exposure without trailing. I would like to know long an exposure could i expect with and without the PEC utility. I am seriously starting to think about a guide scope as i already have the reticle eyepiece, but then again why not autoguiding? What would be my best option to keep the tracking accurate enough for some longer exposures? The drift alignment using the reticle eyepiece does not seem to be giving me the results i am after. Should i spend more time doing a drift alignment or is the better option just to go for guiding? Regards Steve.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Hi Steve,

Many use HEQ5s on IIS with fantastic results.

Depending on the accuracy of your polar alignment, with the Synta mounts (EQ5 through to EQ6) you might reasonably expect up to 1 minute unguided exposure time. Above that time and trailing etc may be evident.
Good news is that these mounts respond extremely well to Autoguider commands so that your exposure times then become limited by the amount of light pollution at your site!!!
I regularly do 10min exposures with my autoguided EQ5!!
I would therefore recommend you to try autoguiding if you want to push through the 1 min barrier.
My setup is fairly basic - an 80mm achromatic scope, Phillips Toucam webcam, a Shoestring GPUSB adapter and free PHD guiding software.
Your setup beimg only limited by budget as there are many options.
All the best, good luck.
Check out my gallery link below to see my autoguided stuff!
Cheers
Doug

[stevenc77]

Thanks for the great advice Doug, just what I needed to know and great pictures!

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by stevenc77

Thanks for the great advice Doug, just what I needed to know and great pictures!

No Worries and Thanks