As others have mentioned, the best way to improve the balance is to move the guide scope to the front of the dovetail where the balance weight is now. As a rule of thumb, the guide scope focal length only needs to be 1/10 of the focal length of the main telescope, assuming the same pixel size for the guide cam and the imaging camera. Even with your current ZWO 120MM, the ZWO mini guide scope should work. If you upgraded to the ASI 290MM, which has smaller pixels, the situation would be even better. I can highly recommend the Baader Stronghold Tangent Assembly, which will attach directly to the telescope dovetail. Then you can eliminate the tube rings. A perfect guide scope to use with this is the William Optics Slide-base Uniguide Scope, which has a better dovetail than the ZWO mini.
Hi Tim, Wicked sense of humor! Great video as always. One thing I regularly see is that people are overly critical of their own work - believe people when they say you are better than you give yourself credit for.
Tim - great work. All very well done. I know an RC scope can be a nightmare to deal with. I look forward to what you are doing in 10 years. You do an excellent job with your productions. Joe
Hi! Great videos. I've been learning a lot from your videos. If you use a tri-bahtinov mask you will be able to detect and pinpoint astigmatism, because of the different point of focus of tangential light. I also have an RC6 from TS, and it was a PIA when I messed up the collimation, but after some struggles it's now better than when I received it and now I know how to get it right :) :)
Get rid of the dovetail weight and get and mount another dovetail on another side of the scope. Then spread rings of the guidescope further apart and move it to the position where the system will be balanced. Much more stable and more flex proof. Also the cable on the autoguider hanging like that can also have effect on autoguiding. Anyways, great video and great photograph.
Tim so glad you could get in this spectacular target. its a fun one. If only it was closer (larger) and did not need such a long FL. By way of feedback, I think your audio for the voice over needs to come up a little more and the music dialed back. I know I make this mistake too often as well. By the way how serious are you about fixing your balance issue? Ever consider a side by side rail? I could make you one if you are willing to wait a few months as I have to machine it yet.
Hi Tim. Thanks for tour great video! Just noted you are not happy with the guide scope installation on the side of the RC. I had that problem too and solved it by installing the guide scope on a second dovetail bar that I bought from TS. I can show you a photo if you want! Keep up the good work and clear skies
You can put you Guidescope on the position of your additional counterweight under your scope. I did it this way and then i switched to Off axis guiding with my RC6. Regards Andreas
Hi Tim, nice video! M51 looked amazing! I have a solution for your secondary scope counter weight problem. I applied this solution to my system, which is very similar to yours, and it works great (it's cheap too!). You need to make your own counter weights for the left side. I did mine with door hinges, a strong tape to stick several of them (depending on the weight you need), , and velcro to attach them to the scope, wherever you wanna put them. I first calculated the secondary scope + camera total weight with a simple balance, the rest was easy! I think I did made 2, 250gr, and 2, 500 gr weights. I swap them whenever I need to change the focal length (I use OAG, or hyperstar systems with my Celestron Edge 8 HD). I have a set of pics from both system configurations in my cellphone, just to remember where to put the weights, cable management, etc. Both systems are perfectly balanced this way! 😁 Hope it helps!
Thanks Tim! I'd sure love a video of the adjustment of the tilt adapter! Boring but I can't find any decent vids on it. Great image by the way!!!! Happy for you!
@@AstroAddict Hey I'm counting on you pal!!! Seriously, I wonder if that is why there aren't many videos on it. I really struggled with it. Never got it corrected and ended up just cropping. LOL
You managed to get a great image in the end Tim. I might look at a similar size scope which my HEq5 can handle this looks like a sweet spot for weight. Nice video.👍
Great video Tim. Interesting idea with L-Pro and L-extreme filters for RGB and Ha. Thanks for the tip ;-) I would fix the guide scope on the Vixen rail under the Main Scope.... probably the additional counter weight would not be needed anymore (replaced by the guide scope and guide camera ). Also another benefit would be that giude scope is closer to RA axis, so maybe less counterweight will be needed .
Could you not fit an extra dovetail across the top of the main scope to mount your guiding setup on? Also, one of my scopes is a Vixen VC200L astrograph. I used to focus with a bahtinov mask, but I was told by another owner to forget the mask and focus using the spider vanes of the secondary mirror holder. Due to the way the secondary is mounted in these types of astrograph, it gives it a slightly different focal point to where you place the bahtinov mask. The mask is quite a bit in front of the secondary mirror. I didn't believe it at first, but pixel-peeping revealed it to be true. Clear skies.
Very well done. I'm using ASIair pro but having a tough time. Stacking and processing my fits data. Like the ease of ASIair. But programs like Sharp Cap. Have it all right there. What was your workflow on the Whirlpool Galaxy?
Do you have much trouble guiding with the rc6 on the HEQ5? I usually get around 0.8 arc/s RMS on an average night here with a small 4kg payload. I've been looking at the rc6/rc8 for a while with the same mount you have, but have been holding off because of the increased weight.
The guiding was good enough. But I had to sacrifice some time in dithering, so I guess that the mount was at it's limit. Not a single trailed exposure tho!
Hi Tim, May i please know what Camera did you use to shoot the video? This is like one of your best video i could say its ultra crisp!!!! Well done and keep It up, I would love to do a colab with you & Dylan if possible i also have an astro channel. Let me know where i can DM yourself..... :)
great image well done. I have been thinking of getting an RC for a while. Would you talk me out of it? Currently have a 714mm refractor that I can reduce to around 570. The low speed of the RC puts me off a bit but keen on a longer focal length for smaller DSO. It's a choice between and RC and something like a SW Quattro.
Very cool! I just got an Orion 130mm reflector and I've been wanting to see this for myself but haven't even been able to find it in the sky (Idk if I can even see it with my scope or not) but I'm still trying! ^^
Hey, what mount are you using? An eq mount with goto or an alt-z mount? Also is the place you're looking from light polluted? Galaxies are very hard to see since they are very dim. I have a 254mm telescope and still can't see it from the city so idk if you will be able to see it but definitely worth trying it!
Hi there, have you concidered putting the guide scope in place of the dovtail counter weight. This will distribute the weight evenly from left to right...
Fantastic picture! Regarding the guidescope: I assume, your telescope doesn't have extra holes on the top? How about some double-sided heavy duty acrylic foam tape (and maybe some duct tape)? I use it for basically everything in my household. It doesn't always look pretty, but it works a charm. Haven't tried on my telescopes yet though.
Amazing, good thing you do this, because with my Skyguider pro and 600mm... Thanks for sharing. Btw, 4 nights of imaging, and how many nights for video editing? :D Clear Skies, Cheers
Great work and beautiful image, Tim! You inspired me to get into this never ending journey! I have the same setup (except for scope) as yours, struggling at the weight and balancing. One question: how do you fix your ASIAIR at the side of mount? Screws?
What a great result Tim! In time, with enough exposures you may be able to get something comparable to my sketch.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
There is no comparison to your humor Dylan..........
When that Bahtinov pattern appeared, I said "Nailed it!" loud enough to wake the dog.
Loved the video Tim! Wonderfully put together, I really appreciate the amount of effort it takes 👍
Just one word....Superb!
Nice going Tim! What a beautiful final image and appreciate your editing efforts in making this video.
My pleasure!
Stunning image Tim!
But that cinematography is Oscar material!
Superb video and shot of the whirlpool....
Amazing photo!! Can't wait to see what else you do with that RC telescope!
Fantastic Job Tim!
As others have mentioned, the best way to improve the balance is to move the guide scope to the front of the dovetail where the balance weight is now. As a rule of thumb, the guide scope focal length only needs to be 1/10 of the focal length of the main telescope, assuming the same pixel size for the guide cam and the imaging camera. Even with your current ZWO 120MM, the ZWO mini guide scope should work. If you upgraded to the ASI 290MM, which has smaller pixels, the situation would be even better. I can highly recommend the Baader Stronghold Tangent Assembly, which will attach directly to the telescope dovetail. Then you can eliminate the tube rings. A perfect guide scope to use with this is the William Optics Slide-base Uniguide Scope, which has a better dovetail than the ZWO mini.
Grear video, great story, great sync of music and video during the part of final image reveal. And awesome shot of course! Congrats with cool M51!
Awesome. Looks great.
super cool image way to go, RC telescopes are really good once you learn them.
LMAOOO 4:20 cracked me up. wonderful video timmmmm
Wow great job Tim
Oh Tim! Your video is fantastic and so is your image of this beauty ;-) Really great!
Clear skies!!
That M51 sketch... XD I'm dead.
Superb image Tim. I'm sure you will be posting many more great DSO images using that setup.
Cheers from 🇨🇦
Hi Tim, Wicked sense of humor! Great video as always. One thing I regularly see is that people are overly critical of their own work - believe people when they say you are better than you give yourself credit for.
great vid Tim! laughed my backside off at Dylan O'Donnell's "M51" sketch!! Thanks Tim! ( and Dylan! lol ) Wes, Liverpool, UK.
LOVE the dramatic beginning of the video AND LOVE the music you put in the background! Makes for an awesome video!
Glad you liked it!
Great shot, well done 👍
Tim - great work. All very well done. I know an RC scope can be a nightmare to deal with. I look forward to what you are doing in 10 years. You do an excellent job with your productions. Joe
Well done !
BTW...that second bar also helped to balance the whole thing a lot better without having to use a counterbalance at the telescope side.
Cheers
SICK!!
Beautiful picture, great effort, distinguished young man
Great post! I would be interested in seeing a post on how you adjusted the tilt.
Superb!!
Thanks!
Great picture! Your channel is growing like never before
If you add a finderscope to the other side it will balance out the scope from the guide scope, just add a bracket
Those bracket slots are wierd. Not a standard system
Wow..... literally out of this world
Great production on this video Tim. Great image as well with nicely balanced colours and surrounding dust clouds.
Glad you enjoyed it
Excellent image Tim.
Now that was a dramatic reveal.
Great stuff Tim! Fantastic images and great advice getting there!
Pretty Awesome. Thanks for sharing :) Clear Skies
great image !!!
Great video mate! Thank you for all the information you share!!
Nice RC scope and fabulous image Tim!
Amazing picture, very nicely done.
Thank you very much!
Excellent Video!! Nice RC scope !! I also Like The Information about M51, Beautiful Shot🔭🌠
Glad you enjoyed!
That’s an amazing image!!! Well done mate 💪💪👏👏. Great new scope, impressive that the loyal heq5 can manage all of this...
Yes, did not think it was possible either!
Hi! Great videos. I've been learning a lot from your videos. If you use a tri-bahtinov mask you will be able to detect and pinpoint astigmatism, because of the different point of focus of tangential light. I also have an RC6 from TS, and it was a PIA when I messed up the collimation, but after some struggles it's now better than when I received it and now I know how to get it right :) :)
Best video yet! Music was amazing!
Yay! Thank you!
:))))end of the video was more dramatic then end of the endgame,your end i got goosbumps
THX to the Max!
Get rid of the dovetail weight and get and mount another dovetail on another side of the scope. Then spread rings of the guidescope further apart and move it to the position where the system will be balanced. Much more stable and more flex proof. Also the cable on the autoguider hanging like that can also have effect on autoguiding. Anyways, great video and great photograph.
G’day Tim
Absolutely amazing mate!!
Well done
Tim so glad you could get in this spectacular target. its a fun one. If only it was closer (larger) and did not need such a long FL.
By way of feedback, I think your audio for the voice over needs to come up a little more and the music dialed back. I know I make this mistake too often as well.
By the way how serious are you about fixing your balance issue? Ever consider a side by side rail? I could make you one if you are willing to wait a few months as I have to machine it yet.
I always try to get the music/voice balance better. Still working on it
Good Video, looks like Astrobackyard is your Inspiration to make Videos.
Yes, thanks
Oooooo. Quite good! Nice job. Fantastic. To solve your Guidescope offset you’re probably best off with tube rings.
Maybe, let's see
Excellent work!!
Charles Messier didn't discovered all the objects in his catalog... Nice video!
Wow wonderful!
Hi Tim. Thanks for tour great video!
Just noted you are not happy with the guide scope installation on the side of the RC. I had that problem too and solved it by installing the guide scope on a second dovetail bar that I bought from TS.
I can show you a photo if you want!
Keep up the good work and clear skies
Yes, show me, sounds convenient!
@@AstroAddict Hi Tim, I have a few photos to show you how I did it on my RC6. How do you want me to send you those?
I have one photo of my RC6 rig on telescopius.com/profile/paulof in case you want to check it over there.
You can put you Guidescope on the position of your additional counterweight under your scope. I did it this way and then i switched to Off axis guiding with my RC6.
Regards
Andreas
I tried, but it's not that easy
This is just so epic ... :))
Very nice, but you should really give the details on the guiding with asiair pro and calibration.
Again nice !! Final image, keep up the post!
As someone who is interested nice photo tim
Hi Tim, nice video! M51 looked amazing! I have a solution for your secondary scope counter weight problem. I applied this solution to my system, which is very similar to yours, and it works great (it's cheap too!).
You need to make your own counter weights for the left side. I did mine with door hinges, a strong tape to stick several of them (depending on the weight you need), , and velcro to attach them to the scope, wherever you wanna put them.
I first calculated the secondary scope + camera total weight with a simple balance, the rest was easy!
I think I did made 2, 250gr, and 2, 500 gr weights. I swap them whenever I need to change the focal length (I use OAG, or hyperstar systems with my Celestron Edge 8 HD).
I have a set of pics from both system configurations in my cellphone, just to remember where to put the weights, cable management, etc.
Both systems are perfectly balanced this way! 😁
Hope it helps!
I will look into it!
Awesome job Tim! 👏
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks Tim! I'd sure love a video of the adjustment of the tilt adapter! Boring but I can't find any decent vids on it. Great image by the way!!!! Happy for you!
I did not get the tilt adapter adjusted very well. You should not listen to me :O
@@AstroAddict Hey I'm counting on you pal!!! Seriously, I wonder if that is why there aren't many videos on it. I really struggled with it. Never got it corrected and ended up just cropping. LOL
Wikipedia descriptions can be written by anyone, that’s why quoting wiki isn’t accepted in schools, any school.
Excellent work!!!!....2 THUMBS UP!!!!
You managed to get a great image in the end Tim. I might look at a similar size scope which my HEq5 can handle this looks like a sweet spot for weight. Nice video.👍
Have fun!
Great video Tim. Interesting idea with L-Pro and L-extreme filters for RGB and Ha. Thanks for the tip ;-)
I would fix the guide scope on the Vixen rail under the Main Scope.... probably the additional counter weight would not be needed anymore (replaced by the guide scope and guide camera ). Also another benefit would be that giude scope is closer to RA axis, so maybe less counterweight will be needed .
I tried, but it's not that easy... now there is TOO much weight on there :D
@Astroaddict Another great video Tim. Fantastic picture. Can I ask what Head torch you use, seems really good 👍. Cheers John.
Is it possible to replace the dovetail rail with a longer one, so that a weight would not be required to balance the scope?
Could you not fit an extra dovetail across the top of the main scope to mount your guiding setup on? Also, one of my scopes is a Vixen VC200L astrograph. I used to focus with a bahtinov mask, but I was told by another owner to forget the mask and focus using the spider vanes of the secondary mirror holder. Due to the way the secondary is mounted in these types of astrograph, it gives it a slightly different focal point to where you place the bahtinov mask. The mask is quite a bit in front of the secondary mirror. I didn't believe it at first, but pixel-peeping revealed it to be true. Clear skies.
I can't fit anything to the top, there are no places for screws. And i will look into the focusing issue, thanks!
Wow, what a great photo! The colors and details are top level. What was your single and total exposure times.
Nice work Tim, keep it up.
Thanks, will do!
Good job Tim!! 👌
Thank you! Cheers!
imagine how good it would look if it were in focus
Just kidding im just jealous of how good it is ,, Awesome
imagine how good it would look if i left a nice reply
which i did ;)
Nice pictures at the end of the video 👍👍👍
I am waiting for clear skies to get M51 with my ASI2600mc Pro with C11 at 1.734mm focal length....well done Tim!
Have fun!
Good seeing myself here
Dylan and visual pepelaugh. Instantly knew it was a joke once those two words were put into the same sentence.
Hi. I mounted my guidescope on the rail underneath my scope. Lowers the moi and solves the balance issue.
Looks like the final image is not totaly focused. Perhaps should use zwo EAF. Nice job
OMG !
Congrats for the great image. Loved the video. Great job! (Much better than Dylan’s drawing!). Have you considered downsizing your guide scope?
I don't think it will be enough if i downsize it
Hi Tim, do you still use the RC 6 ? i want it to buy but what about collimating, is it easy? Thanks for nice video
A video about that is in the making, should be up in the next few days!
@@AstroAddict Thanks Tim
Fantastic shot!! Hope my RC6 can produce the same results
I'm sure it can!
Tim, What filter was used exactly in front of the the ASI 294 MC pro?
Very well done. I'm using ASIair pro but having a tough time. Stacking and processing my fits data. Like the ease of ASIair. But programs like Sharp Cap. Have it all right there. What was your workflow on the Whirlpool Galaxy?
Stacking with APP, and processing with PixInsight
Using L-Extreme with osc, nice touch
Yes, and it works! :D
Yup, that image roughly looks like the sketch!
Do you have much trouble guiding with the rc6 on the HEQ5?
I usually get around 0.8 arc/s RMS on an average night here with a small 4kg payload.
I've been looking at the rc6/rc8 for a while with the same mount you have, but have been holding off because of the increased weight.
The guiding was good enough. But I had to sacrifice some time in dithering, so I guess that the mount was at it's limit. Not a single trailed exposure tho!
Hi Tim, May i please know what Camera did you use to shoot the video? This is like one of your best video i could say its ultra crisp!!!! Well done and keep It up, I would love to do a colab with you & Dylan if possible i also have an astro channel. Let me know where i can DM yourself..... :)
Canon 6DMKII, with a Samyang 50mm f/1.4 in the night
Nice job man!
Thank you! Cheers!
No words.
great image well done. I have been thinking of getting an RC for a while. Would you talk me out of it? Currently have a 714mm refractor that I can reduce to around 570. The low speed of the RC puts me off a bit but keen on a longer focal length for smaller DSO. It's a choice between and RC and something like a SW Quattro.
I would not talk you out of it, but you have to be ready to face bigger challenges than before
Very cool! I just got an Orion 130mm reflector and I've been wanting to see this for myself but haven't even been able to find it in the sky (Idk if I can even see it with my scope or not) but I'm still trying! ^^
Hey, what mount are you using? An eq mount with goto or an alt-z mount? Also is the place you're looking from light polluted? Galaxies are very hard to see since they are very dim. I have a 254mm telescope and still can't see it from the city so idk if you will be able to see it but definitely worth trying it!
I know this is an older video now. I am just wondering what backspacing you used from the focuser? Would it be the standard 55mm to the camera?
I don't really pay attention to that. I slap adapter on until it works
Hi there, have you concidered putting the guide scope in place of the dovtail counter weight. This will distribute the weight evenly from left to right...
I tried, but it's not that simple. Now that part is too heavy...
@@AstroAddict thats a shame, well good luck then.
@@AstroAddict thats a shame, well good luck then.
Fantastic picture!
Regarding the guidescope: I assume, your telescope doesn't have extra holes on the top?
How about some double-sided heavy duty acrylic foam tape (and maybe some duct tape)? I use it for basically everything in my household. It doesn't always look pretty, but it works a charm. Haven't tried on my telescopes yet though.
I am not very good with home made stuff. I'd rather get something proper, which i know will work
Amazing, good thing you do this, because with my Skyguider pro and 600mm...
Thanks for sharing.
Btw, 4 nights of imaging, and how many nights for video editing? :D
Clear Skies, Cheers
About two nights of editing
Very very nice! Reading the image data you have shared. Did you stack filters on top of one another?
I added the red channel of the L-Extreme as an Ha layer to the RGB
@2:28 Do you really say: "I wonder if there is an object Charles Messier did not discover!"?
Hi Tim great shots
I was just wondering if what would you suggest between a 8inch rc and a 8inch sct?
I am looking for a all rounder scope
From my experience so far, I would go for a sct
@@AstroAddict ok Tim,
but I see some very good results with the 6/8 inch rc (in your video)
so why did you opt for a 8inch sct?
Great work and beautiful image, Tim! You inspired me to get into this never ending journey! I have the same setup (except for scope) as yours, struggling at the weight and balancing. One question: how do you fix your ASIAIR at the side of mount? Screws?
Velcro Fastener