From: Mark Gaffney <markgaffney@me.com>

Date: September 3, 2010 8:08:01 PM MDT

To: "Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com" <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: M27


Milton, With respect to the new mount I understand that the C9.25 is pretty well at the limits of the CG-5 as far as size & I'd like to have both scopes set up ( perhaps one for northern subjects one for southern) . The CGEM would be a step up in capability anyway. I'm also right at the limits of what's possible with ImagesPlus using the iBook & Virtual PC for Mac ( impossibly slow, difficult to accomplish file sharing or even the set-up of a flash drive etc.) so some sort of Windows Notebook is probably in the offing too.


Mark.


Sent from my iPod


On 04/09/2010, at 11:42 AM, Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com> wrote:



Hi Mark;

On 3-Sep-10, at 6:48 PM, Mark Gaffney wrote:

> Hi Milton,
> They`re both great, it`s good you`ve been able to finally do some
> shooting!
> I`m wondering about whether you think buying the Baader LRGB filters
> would really be worthwhile for the Scorpion 20SOM I have..?

Why not just use the DSLR you already have? You can always go filters
later on once you get good at doing RGB imaging.

> Such an expenditure would be some way down the track.
> I`m being attracted to the Astronomics sale on the AT6RC in the next
> month. It`s only $299 but would be an additional $200 USD postage
> for me out here in Australia..
> I think this might be a real bargain..
> I`m also being convinced that the T-point add on for my The Sky X
> SAE would be a worthwhile expenditure at $249 USD considering my
> problems locating things at present..
> NGC 3372 was rather large & locate-able but NGC 6744 has so far
> defied me..

NGC 6744 Is a mag 9.2 galaxy, so it's very faint. It's also large,
which usually means it has a low surface brightness.

NGC 6946 is a similar galaxy :

http://www.outcastsoft.com/AstroImages/NGC6946_20090825_MJA.jpg

but about 1/2 the size and slightly fainter. You can see the
exposures / settings I used on the bottom of the image.

> Mind you the rain`s returned here so I haven`t re-done my polar
> alignment..

Do that first and check that your mount isn't loose. I've already
outlined what to do to test the RA/DEC backlash / slop, and it can be
done in daylight. If the mount is mechanically out of whack, no ones
software will help solve it.

> I`m also looking at upgrading my mount to a CGEM by early next year
> (to be bought in the US to save lots of money..) The CG-5 could then
> be used for one of the other telescopes..

Unless your planning on buying a bigger scope that weighs a lot more,
why do you need to upgrade?

TTYL..

Milton Aupperle