So far, equipment integration and set up are working smoothly. The Paramount MyT and TSX have greatly eased my frustration with polar alignment, and the camera add on for TSX makes the whole package just work…no fussing around…just imaging! For those questioning polar alignment without a polar scope with this mount, just get over it…it works! I like having all the mount control, camera control, and focus control under one roof. The fact that most of the setup and alignment can be done prior to astronomical twilight ensures no wasted imaging time! This run included testing of my new Feather Touch focuser using the Focuser Boss II Hub with HSM option. The through the mount cable run options of the MyT keep everything nice and tidy; more importantly, it keeps everything out of the way.
Now if the mount only included light pollution and atmosphere control options! Nonetheless, I needed data to start practicing the art of astrophotography and beggars can’t be choosers. Light gradients were prevalent in the subframes, and flat fields were not optimized. In spite of all this, I think I still pulled out a decent image of one of my favorite globular clusters. This image was my first go with PixInsight (which is a bit of a learning curve) and I need to find a way of dealing with blooms (the bright vertical bands seen on the brighter stars). Otherwise, I am very pleased with how things are moving forward, and I’m looking forward to getting to a dark sky site!
Globular Cluster M13
M13 Globular reprocessed with PixInsight and PS CS4
Hey Don…hoping to get back to CSP as well! I’ve always enjoyed visual, and still find time to put my eyeball to the eyepiece. At my previous 2500 mm fl, I rarely used higher than a 10mm eyepiece (Delos), with a sweet spot being 17mm (Nagler). Unless you have the best skies around, I would recommend not buying the 13mm or 10mm Ethos, and using the savings for that Paramount! My two cents anyways…clear skies!
Hi Kevin I saw your video posting on installing the wifi on a Paramount and that’s how I found your site. I was your tent neighbor at the 2015 Star Party at Chiefland Fl. I had the Losmandy G11 with the C11 Celestron. Since then I have moved on more toward visual observing and may at a later date save up for a Paramount MX Mount, since now I have upgraded the OTA to the large Celestron C14 with 3 counterweights on my bar. I am at near maximum for the mount on the G11, but with careful balance it is slewing nicely. I am using the Ethos eyepieces and getting amazing views with the 21mm using a Maxbright 2 inch diagnol. I’ll be getting the Ethos 17,13 and 10 to give me some high quality 100 degree views at 3900mm F11. I hope to see you again at another star party.
I am remote imaging with Deep Sky West using their Paramount Mty Mount with a QSI683 ccd camera on a Takahashi 106-ED Scope.