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My Equipment

2023-10-03-0347_4-CO-L-Jup

Planetary Imaging

Optics: Celestron 8 OTA + 2.5x Tele Vue PowerMate (seeing permitting)

Focuser: Celestron Focus Motor

Finder Scope: Explore Scientific 8×50 Non-Illuminated Finder Scope

Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI224MC

Filters: ZWO IR Cut filter or Astronomik ProPlanet 642 BP (IR-Pass)

Mount: Celestron AVX or CG-5, Celestron Vibration Suppression Pads

Polar Scope: QHY PoleMaster or laser pointer for raw polar alignment

Software: FireCapture, AutoStakkert! (AS!3), Registax, GIMP

Deep Sky Imaging

For my deep sky imaging sessions I have different configurations, telescopes and cameras, depending on the target I am imaging.

Scope 1: Explore Scientific APO ED80CF + ZWO ASI533MC PRO

Imaging Telescope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF APO triplet (with SkyWatcher field flattener if connected to my Nikon D5300 DSLR)

Focuser: ZWO EAF

Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser

Guide Camera: ZWO ASI224MC + ZWO IR CUT filter

Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10ºC) or Nikon D5300 DSLR

Filters: Optolong L-Pro (multi-bandpass and light pollution filter), Optolong L-eXtreme (dual bandpass: O3 7nm+Ha 7nm)

Mount: Celestron AVX or CG-5, Celestron Vibration Suppression Pads

Polar Scope: QHY PoleMaster and NINA Three Point Polar Alignment method

Software: NINA, PixInsight or Deep Sky Stacker / ASI Studio Deep Sky Stacking, GIMP

Notes: for a portable setup, when combined with my ED80 refractor telescope DSLR camera I am also using a SkyWatcher Az-GTi mount (in EQ Mode) instead of my Celestron Cg-5 mount.

PC: Mini-PC, Win10 Pro via RDP or ZWO ASIAIR Plus.

M16 (2023-07-07)
M13 (2023-05-30)

Scope 2: C8 SCT + f/6.3 Reducer + ZWO ASI533MC PRO

Imaging Telescope: Celestron 8 OTA + Celestron f/6.3 Reducer Corrector

Focuser: Celestron Focus Motor

Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser

Guide Camera: ZWO ASI224MC + ZWO IR CUT filter

Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10ºC) or Nikon D5300 DSLR

Filters: Optolong L-Pro (multi-bandpass and light pollution filter), Optolong L-eXtreme (dual bandpass: O3 7nm+Ha 7nm)

Mount: Celestron AVX or CG-5, Celestron Vibration Suppression Pads

Polar Scope: QHY PoleMaster and NINA Three Point Polar Alignment method

Software: NINA, PixInsight, Deep Sky Stacker / ASI Studio Deep Sky Stacking, GIMP

PC: Mini-PC, Win10 Pro via RDP