Jeff, great video. Im about to start building a simlar set up, hoping to use the Star Watcher Star Adventure as I tavel a lot on planes, what area of the NW are you in? I'm in SW Washington.
That red dovetail that you mounted the scope on is cool.Can you tell me please how is it called and it's dimensions?I also have a Redcat 51 and I want to mount the Asiair Plus on a dovetail like that.Thanks.
I pretty much have the same rig as you. I see you have a dovetail plate that the AsiAir Pro and EAF is mounted to under the scope. I have ordered the EAF mount from Deep Sky Dad. Where can I get the same dovetail plate you have?
Instead of cutting the dew sr]trap cables I stow them down the centre of the WO mounting plate, they are connected to the ASIAIR Pro with the ZWO Y-Cable. This uses one 12v socket for both heaters and makes cable management really easy 👍🏻
Your two videos are great. I am a beginner with almost the same set up minus the EFW and I opted for the Ioptron SmartEQ Plus portable GOTO mount. A video showing how each component plugs into one another would be helpful to newbies. Thanx
I am impressed. I think I will copy what you have as my first rig. It looks to be forgiving enough for us rank amateurs to start our astrophotography hobby with and to actually get good results. Thank you. I look forward to more videos.
Love this. I was about to do that mistake. Starting visual and loving the 8SE, but if I want to "save" by using it for AP I will be frustrated. The only thing I will do differently is I will probably start with a OSC rather than an MM camera. I don't want to add to that complexity early on. I will progress to MM with narrow band filters later once I get the hang of this. I am also getting a couple of updates. Getting a ZWO AM5 because it is just so much lighter and works very well with the ASIAIR plus. As to refractors, still looking to see which one I should get.
Nice. I have a very similar setup, even the scope cover. My telescope is a larger refactor, which definitely pushes the limits of the CEM25, but I am still just able to stay under an arc second. I’ll have to look into that heater rod you have, because moisture build up has been my big concern with leaving everything setup outside. Thanks for the tour!
Hi! I'm completely new to the field but I want to thank you for the very helpful video you made. I just wondered, is this a RedCat51 or a RedCat71? Thanks in advance, best wishes.
All told how much did the whole system cost you? $3K? I just sold my Celestron Nexstar 5SE for the same reason you sold your scope. I've been looking at the RedCet and some of it's competition but also considering a Celestron 6" OTA and mounting that on a HEQ5 or 6. Looking at iOptron too. I was thinking of adding a camera to the front of the scope because it's so fast.
Hi Jeff great video. I am just getting rig together very similar to yours. I use an asi533 color camera and a Astrogear focusser kit instead of the deepskydad kit becauses it uses direct gearing integration instead of belt. Im in cleveland where are winters are cold and i worry about belt changes in the cold. Can you please tell me or send me a link to the heating ring you use on your camera… i have not heard of that, nor i have i heard about the gun heater, again a link for that would be great. Thanks for the video’s.. frank
Hi, what back focus are you using? I see that the redcat is about halfway in its travel . I have a Asi533 and having problems with my spacing. WO says 59.7 mm but yours looks shorter than that . Thanks for your time. Looking forward to seeing some more videos. Clear skies from Nova Scotia.
The back focus for this scope is stated like this: "The lens assembly can be moved within the telescope body over 33mm by rotating the focusing collar in the front. The distance from the base of the M48 male thread on the Redcat to the chip plane should be 59.7mm with the lens cell completely retracted (at the 0mm position; see image below). With the lens cell fully extended to 33mm, the chip-to-thread distance must at least be 59.7 - 33 = 26.7mm. In other words, the thread-to-chip distance can be anywhere between 26.7mm and 59.7mm to reach focus." As I read it, the maximum distance is (59.7mm with the lens cell completely retracted). With 33mm of travel for a minimum (59.7 - 33 = 26.7mm) 26.7mm. I may be wrong but the optimum back focus would be between 59.7 and 26.7 or 43.2mm which would give you 16.5mm of focus in each direction.
I believe it's a 3" strap for the Redcat and a 2" for the guidescope. The guidescope strap doesn't need to be that long, but I'm just using one I had for another telescope.
Subscribed ,great video and explanation for beguinners (like me) ,and my question is ,do you have a video explaining where each cable goes , you see i have my equipment connected sometimes gets detected by pc and sometimes not , i've seen different types of connections , meaning wireless (asiair)and wired (with apt, n.i.n.a , ect,thank you so much
Thank you for this video Jeff! I’ve the same exact setup, just starting out Astrophotography. Could you make a video on how to use focuser and focus the guidescope? I seem to not understand that part.
All you need is to install a concrete pad to put the scope on, or smaller pads under the feet to avoid any heat waves coming from a large pad and causing distortion. Maybe put a thick pipe filled with sand or concrete and skip the tripod. And the final touch a shed with a sliding roof or a dome so you don't have to worry about someone stealing your gear. At least that's my dream setup
I control everything via the ASIair app in my iPad. It's an integrated system that controls focusing, guiding, polar alignment, plate solving, power, and image acquisition. It can also do live stacking. For processing I recently switched from DSS to Astro Pixel Processor, which seems to be much better. The light pollution removal tool is like magic. For final processing I use Photoshop.
Great looking setup. I'm still waiting on a few more parts to complete my redcat setup. Can you please provide what the accessory/mounting rail (red anodized) you have everything mounted on? Thanks
It's the William Optics Long Version Vixen Dovetail. I ordered mine from High Point Scientific. www.highpointscientific.com/william-optics-long-version-vixen-style-dovetail-plate-red-m-pv-lii
Nice setup! I recently acquired the ASIAir PRO and I've been trying the plate solving with my CEM25P (like yours) I can't get it to work! Is your functioning OK? Thank you, Andrew.
I don't know if it makes a difference, but your 1600MM is on the wrong side of the EFW - according to ZWO instructions. But, if your photos look fine, then it must be okay I guess ;-)
It was the T3R4. I chose it after reading a number of reviews from people who leave their telescope set up under them 24X7 in all weather. I've noticed that during the summer the cover works great and I just leave the telescope set up all the time. We get extremely wet winters here in the Pacific Northwest, however, and when the rains started I noticed the telescope getting wet despite having a gun safe heater running under the cover. So I'm not leaving the telescope up 24X7 until late spring most likely.
You may think this is awful. But this was my first try at DSO with a 6SE from my suburban light polluted driveway. I said "holy shit!". First try. Orion Nebula1 (3).png
As a beginner, looking to start AP, you have given me a great starting point. Well done.
Jeff, great video. Im about to start building a simlar set up, hoping to use the Star Watcher Star Adventure as I tavel a lot on planes, what area of the NW are you in? I'm in SW Washington.
Great video and an awesome rig! Thanks for sharing!
What's that dovetail plate? It seems to fit the ASI Air nicely without DeepSkyDad's attachment plate.
That red dovetail that you mounted the scope on is cool.Can you tell me please how is it called and it's dimensions?I also have a Redcat 51 and I want to mount the Asiair Plus on a dovetail like that.Thanks.
Great setup and great video, good voice!
Glad you liked it!
I pretty much have the same rig as you. I see you have a dovetail plate that the AsiAir Pro and EAF is mounted to under the scope. I have ordered the EAF mount from Deep Sky Dad. Where can I get the same dovetail plate you have?
Instead of cutting the dew sr]trap cables I stow them down the centre of the WO mounting plate, they are connected to the ASIAIR Pro with the ZWO Y-Cable. This uses one 12v socket for both heaters and makes cable management really easy 👍🏻
Great setup... thanks for the recent advice on mounting plates 👍🏻
Your two videos are great. I am a beginner with almost the same set up minus the EFW and I opted for the Ioptron SmartEQ Plus portable GOTO mount. A video showing how each component plugs into one another would be helpful to newbies. Thanx
Thank you. I will note that and maybe make a video about the cabling in the future.
@@JeffHeinenCFI Thanx. that would be great.
I am impressed. I think I will copy what you have as my first rig. It looks to be forgiving enough for us rank amateurs to start our astrophotography hobby with and to actually get good results. Thank you. I look forward to more videos.
Love this. I was about to do that mistake. Starting visual and loving the 8SE, but if I want to "save" by using it for AP I will be frustrated. The only thing I will do differently is I will probably start with a OSC rather than an MM camera. I don't want to add to that complexity early on. I will progress to MM with narrow band filters later once I get the hang of this. I am also getting a couple of updates. Getting a ZWO AM5 because it is just so much lighter and works very well with the ASIAIR plus. As to refractors, still looking to see which one I should get.
Nice. I have a very similar setup, even the scope cover. My telescope is a larger refactor, which definitely pushes the limits of the CEM25, but I am still just able to stay under an arc second. I’ll have to look into that heater rod you have, because moisture build up has been my big concern with leaving everything setup outside. Thanks for the tour!
So far the rod seems to be working, but we haven't had very wet weather since I got it.
Hi! I'm completely new to the field but I want to thank you for the very helpful video you made. I just wondered, is this a RedCat51 or a RedCat71? Thanks in advance, best wishes.
very nice set up. thanks for sharing.
All told how much did the whole system cost you? $3K?
I just sold my Celestron Nexstar 5SE for the same reason you sold your scope. I've been looking at the RedCet and some of it's competition but also considering a Celestron 6" OTA and mounting that on a HEQ5 or 6. Looking at iOptron too. I was thinking of adding a camera to the front of the scope because it's so fast.
Have you noticed any issue's with guiding, mainly RA with your scope high up off the mount and dovetail plate? Thank you..
Hi Jeff great video. I am just getting rig together very similar to yours. I use an asi533 color camera and a Astrogear focusser kit instead of the deepskydad kit becauses it uses direct gearing integration instead of belt. Im in cleveland where are winters are cold and i worry about belt changes in the cold. Can you please tell me or send me a link to the heating ring you use on your camera… i have not heard of that, nor i have i heard about the gun heater, again a link for that would be great. Thanks for the video’s.. frank
I have pretty much the exact setup minus the filter wheel and mount. What brand and size are the two dew heater straps on the RedCat and 120mm mini?
Hi, what back focus are you using? I see that the redcat is about halfway in its travel . I have a Asi533 and having problems with my spacing. WO says 59.7 mm but yours looks shorter than that . Thanks for your time. Looking forward to seeing some more videos.
Clear skies from Nova Scotia.
I'm using one 16.5mm spacer between the Redcat and the filter wheel. The camera is attached directly to the filter wheel.
The back focus for this scope is stated like this:
"The lens assembly can be moved within the telescope body over 33mm by rotating the focusing collar in the front. The distance from the base of the M48 male thread on the Redcat to the chip plane should be 59.7mm with the lens cell completely retracted (at the 0mm position; see image below). With the lens cell fully extended to 33mm, the chip-to-thread distance must at least be 59.7 - 33 = 26.7mm. In other words, the thread-to-chip distance can be anywhere between 26.7mm and 59.7mm to reach focus."
As I read it, the maximum distance is (59.7mm with the lens cell completely retracted). With 33mm of travel for a minimum (59.7 - 33 = 26.7mm) 26.7mm. I may be wrong but the optimum back focus would be between 59.7 and 26.7 or 43.2mm which would give you 16.5mm of focus in each direction.
Thank you for creating this video. My redcat will be arriving soon, what size dew heaters do you use for the guidescope and the redcat?
I believe it's a 3" strap for the Redcat and a 2" for the guidescope. The guidescope strap doesn't need to be that long, but I'm just using one I had for another telescope.
What range are you getting on your ASI air wi fi
Where did you purchase the right angle power cords and do you know the wire gage size?
Subscribed ,great video and explanation for beguinners (like me) ,and my question is ,do you have a video explaining where each cable goes , you see i have my equipment connected sometimes gets detected by pc and sometimes not , i've seen different types of connections , meaning wireless (asiair)and wired (with apt, n.i.n.a , ect,thank you so much
Thank you for this video Jeff! I’ve the same exact setup, just starting out Astrophotography. Could you make a video on how to use focuser and focus the guidescope? I seem to not understand that part.
Very good video and helpful to us beginners 👍😉
How's your vignetting? I have my filter wheel flipped around the other way and I believe it allows the camera to sit closer to the filters.
All you need is to install a concrete pad to put the scope on, or smaller pads under the feet to avoid any heat waves coming from a large pad and causing distortion. Maybe put a thick pipe filled with sand or concrete and skip the tripod. And the final touch a shed with a sliding roof or a dome so you don't have to worry about someone stealing your gear. At least that's my dream setup
Thanks for the tour. What software do you use to control your setup, and also process your images?
I control everything via the ASIair app in my iPad. It's an integrated system that controls focusing, guiding, polar alignment, plate solving, power, and image acquisition. It can also do live stacking. For processing I recently switched from DSS to Astro Pixel Processor, which seems to be much better. The light pollution removal tool is like magic. For final processing I use Photoshop.
Great looking setup. I'm still waiting on a few more parts to complete my redcat setup. Can you please provide what the accessory/mounting rail (red anodized) you have everything mounted on? Thanks
It's the William Optics Long Version Vixen Dovetail. I ordered mine from High Point Scientific. www.highpointscientific.com/william-optics-long-version-vixen-style-dovetail-plate-red-m-pv-lii
@@northwestastronomer6886 Thank you!
Nice setup! I recently acquired the ASIAir PRO and I've been trying the plate solving with my CEM25P (like yours) I can't get it to work! Is your functioning OK?
Thank you, Andrew.
I am curious if the other cable is needed for this to work as well
Been there done that! I got better Results After 15 years of not doing anything with a 135 mm prime lens and a DSLR on a tracker.
Do you have any issue getting at the dec release? Seems pretty tight under the dovetail, considering this mount for a similar setup.
I haven’t had any problem, and I’ve got pretty big hands :)
I don't know if it makes a difference, but your 1600MM is on the wrong side of the EFW - according to ZWO instructions. But, if your photos look fine, then it must be okay I guess ;-)
It is the wrong side, the EFW is designed to integrate closely with the 1600mm Pro... my rig is almost identical to this.
Which Telegizmos 365 series cover did you get? Also why was the 365 model your first choice? Thanks a lot!
It was the T3R4. I chose it after reading a number of reviews from people who leave their telescope set up under them 24X7 in all weather. I've noticed that during the summer the cover works great and I just leave the telescope set up all the time. We get extremely wet winters here in the Pacific Northwest, however, and when the rains started I noticed the telescope getting wet despite having a gun safe heater running under the cover. So I'm not leaving the telescope up 24X7 until late spring most likely.
Nice setup! Imagine the complete color coordination if you had the CEM40 Mount. 😀
Believe me, I seriously considered that! But I was aiming for utmost portability.
Remember....Your "awful" is someone else's "holy shit!' And it's always a balance between cost and expectations.
Thanks for sharing. I had the chance to view a rocket launch in 2018. Memorable experience. I shared a pretty cool montage of the trip to my page.
Love the setup. Can you tell me how you mounted the Asiair pro to the WO dovetail plate?
Yes, it's just a 1/4 20 bolt passed through the slot in the rail.
@@JeffHeinenCFI does the dovetail or ASIAIR Pro come with the bolts or do they have to be purchased separately?
@@chrisnowland5909 You have to supply your own. I happened to have a large box of 1/4 20 bolts and I just trimmed one to the right length.
What dovetail is that?
It’s the William Optics long dovetail: williamoptics.com/all-new-long-version-vixen-style-dovetail-plate
@@JeffHeinenCFI Thank you
Good Morning...was is your contact info if you don't mind.
i work in I.T. you cable management is driving me crazy AF :D
You may think this is awful. But this was my first try at DSO with a 6SE from my suburban light polluted driveway. I said "holy shit!". First try. Orion Nebula1 (3).png
The image didn’t post apparently. I’m not sure that you can paste images in the chat.