Finally getting around to using my Optolong L-PRO filter to do some galaxy imaging and wouldn't you know it: a full Moon is sitting next to those galaxies. A BIG test for the L-PRO in Bortle 8 + Moon lit skies.
Man, I love the scientific approach you chose for almost every problem that occurs in astrophotography. So much value in your videos, gotta have to watch those multiple times to really extract everything you're sharing. Much appreciate, thank you.
Ive been using my celestron 8" celestar with a simple fork mount clock drive on a wedge for about a year now. With great results. Ive been very happy. But i thought i could do better...... I got a new to me ASI178 OSC camera. I made a focusing mask. And for reasons i could not understand my Jupiter images sucked. I couldnt get anything in focus. And the last straw was the stars in the Orion Nebula looked crazy. This video made me realize the problem. I meant to replace two rings with one to clean up my optical train. Get rid of the two inch eyepiece adapter and screw the camera directly to the focuser. And i had figured out that while removing the mask with my frozen numb fingers i changed the columation. The first attempt to fix that made it worse. Finally fixed the columation but the stars still looked like crap. This video made me double check my backfocus. I had replaced the two rings with the wrong single ring. I changed the rings accidentally... Set the back focus off about 10mm. So finally i have a working scope again. Thank you.
Hi Christopher. These non-Edge SCTs aren’t very picky about the back focus - almost any back focus can produce good stars closer to the center. Collimating was probably your big issue - that screws up everything across the field of view. This hobby can be a real pain! And sometimes rewarding…clear skies!
Informative as usual, James. Coming from a Redcat 51, I quickly learned how difficult it is to get an SCT image train "dialed in", particularly with an OAG.
James, only just started watching your videos and what a ton of info you have in them. I mean this in a good way but I'm totally confused but that's because you have so much detail and I've virtually zero knowledge. I know that when I go through your info step by step I will be setting myself up with fantastic knowledge that will put me in the correct direction for my future steep learning curve. Fantastic info, etc., etc., love your videos!!! 👍
@@Aero19612 James appreciate the info in your videos are typically above beginner level but it's still good to understand what the next steps would be once I get over the beginner hurdle.
Fantastic images! NGC 7331 and 891 are 2 of my all time favourites. Are you on Astrobin? I'd love to see the full resolution pics. As always a VERY interesting and thorough video. Cs
Hi James, Hmmm, I didn't know about the FFT function in PI. I must give it a workout and experiment with it. It looks rather inviting. Great final galaxy images. Were all of those at f/10? Your stars were quite round and small. I am having a bit of better luck with the EdgeHD 11 lately. Clear skies, James.
Most of the time we're dealing with star fields so the FFTRegistration script won't be of much use. If you use a Barlow with the Edge 11, maybe the FFT script would be useful for aligning Saturn or Jupiter images. But there's already good software for that. I do find it easy and effective for large-area Moonscapes. All of the images are at F10 (2312 or 2340 mm). Thanks for watching, Pat - been meaning to comment on your Graxpert video...
Interesting video James! I noticed on my Antlia triband I end up having some kind of blueish colour in the core of my pictures like a circle background. You didn’t face any of that?
Hey Mike, No. Nothing like that. I’ve been very pleased with the TriBand. Try taking some FLATs with and without the filter and then break the color images into RGB components to see if you can tell where the blue is coming from.
Hi James . Probably a stupid question but is camera tilt not a problem with Guide cameras like it is with the main imaging sensor ? Does anyone make a Guide camera with a tilt plate ? Just wondering …
Not a stupid question at all. For example, the guide cam holder with the original ZWO OAG only has one set screw to hold the guide cam. As a result, the camera can rotate back and forth about the contact point. This Celestron OAG has two set screws, but it's worth checking that the guide cam isn't tilted in the holder.
Hi Jeff. Not in this configuration - I’m at the native focal length near 2350 mm. See some recent videos for images with the Celestron focal reducer and this telescope if you’re interested. Thanks for watching!
I used the Baader 2" contrast booster for visual on my club's 16" Meade LX200 ACF for Galaxies under Bortle 4 next to 3 so I aimed North into the Bortle 3 area and man those galaxies stood out with that booster. I heard about the L-Pro filter as well and it is for photography and visual under light pollution.
@@Aero19612 Really? I like a live view. Have you heard what you can see with a night vision monocular boosting light gathering 600x on an 8" reflector? Get the white phosphor monocular if you don't want it to be green.
