Nice processing and good results. I have the same scope and I have also captured Neptune and Pluto. They aren't very spectacular. Neptune is like Uranus but smaller. Pluto is a tiny dot!
Could I ask what eyepieces you used? I'm genuinely disappointed because this is my first telescope and I didn't know that all of the example pictures I saw online were processed with software. Anyways, I'm taking it to northern Michigan in October where there's zero light pollution and I really want to show my family Saturn and some galaxies, but I'm afraid they will be like "that's it?". Is there an eyepeice that you would recommend that might make everything "pop" or look more impressive? Thank you 👌 Edit: I've been using the included 13mm and 40mm plossl with a televue 2x Barlow. Saturn blew my mind the first time I saw it, but it's still ridiculously tiny. More than anything I really want to see galaxies.
So light pollution has zero impact on planetary views, and might actually help them somewhat in that you don’t actually want your eyes dark adapted to see the best planetary details. The biggest impacts to planetary views are atmospheric stability which varies dramatically night to night and hour to hour. If the jet stream is over head the views are usually not going to be good. The other issue is making sure the telescope is thermally stable. If the telescope is warmer than the air you get heat plumes radiating off of the lenses and such that distort the views. So, the views can often be better after the scope has been sitting outside for an hour or so. This is a bigger issue with larger telescopes. As far as eyepieces, it depends on the focal length of the telescope. It is usually hard to get a sharp view over 200x unless conditions are perfect. In an 8” SCT, a 9 to 11 mm eyepiece can work well. Televue eyepieces are amazing but very expensive. But a 9mm televue Nagler will work great. The Baader 8-24mm zoom is actually really good too and is best in the 8-10 mm range I think and so can be a nice eyepiece. There are some decent lower cost eyepieces. I’ve been happy with all the Baader eyepieces and others can be good too but again it depends on the focal length of the scope in terms of what the best option might be. Also, if you have an SCT you have to make sure the mirror is collimated properly to get a sharp view. The views of Saturn in an 8” SCT can be absolutely incredible and rival the best images when the air is stable and the telescope thermally stable.
It will look a little better visually than the raw video since you won’t have the noise and your eyes and brain and sort of do some stacking of the image over them.
The CPC will be rock solid and more enjoyable to look through because of that. However, it ways a LOT more so you will be less likely to carry it out and set up. You can take it out in pieces of course so it isn’t so bad but that does create more inertia. If you have room to keep it fully assembled and on a dolly that you can just wheel out of the garage or something then I would totally get the CPC version. I actually want to do that myself at some point. If you have to carry it around, it is harder to say which one to get. More stability is great but more weight can keep you from using it as often too.
I had seen great results with that camera on the planets with the same scope and it produces better results than the ASI 224 at any rate. There are some new ASI cameras out now that are probably better. I already have 4 or 5 though so not sure when I will get another one. They almost need a camera subscription or trade/in program since they keep coming out with new ones so often.
Steve will you be reviewing the Zwo Asiair Plus with your Celestron Evo? I am contemplating ordering one but have heard it might not play well with my Evo 8.
So, I have been wanting to get one but was concerned about that same issue so have been looking at other systems as well. I just saw the new issue of Astronomy Technology Today that came out yesterday has an article on that system as well as a few others. I’ll be reading that on a plane later today and will probably pick up at least one of them to try out here in the next week or so. I also about a Celestron motorized focuser which I was going to do a review on but since that won’t work with the asiair systems I haven’t opened the box yet. If I get an asi air I’ll get the asi motorized focuser as well to try out with it.
@@EarthtoSpaceScience I also heard that about the motorized focuser. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. I would really like a 'remote' option, but everything seems as though you have to spend hours trying to get things to work. The StellarMate seems like it may be a good option but I haven't learned enough about it.
I am trying to decide between the Celestron edge hd 8", explore scientific 102ed, or willaims optics flt91. Can anyone help with pros and cons? I would use it for Planet and Astrophotography with a EQ6 mount. BTW, this would be my first telescope, im trying to find the best all around solution..
Celestron 8” will be the best when imaging planets, the WO 91 will do best for deep sky photography of anything that isn’t small. You can remove the secondary mirror on the 8” SCT and use it as an f/2 ish reflector for imaging but that is a bit of a hassle. The 102ed will be a great do everything visual scope for less money. There is never one scope that will do everything which is why most people who get into astronomy and astrophotography end up with several scopes. So, have to decide what you want to do the most.
