Steve, By chance, do you have an empty filter? If not, removeone filter, as a possible optical cause, and see if one or both problems goaway. Joe

I am trying to decide on a tripod for the GTO Mach1. I likethe Eagle Pier, but I like the price of the Berlebach Planet Tripod better. This will be for primarily a portable imaging setup(may leave up

Steve, That is a very astute observation on those“ring-nebula-like” reflections in your Cone Nebula image. They do seem toradiate on lines from the center of frame. That makes me wonder how

Honestly I'm not sure. Take all this with a grain of salt because I'm no expert, but I've dealt with all of this before and this is just based on my experience. I think that Steve has two separate

Line up the optical train better and the reflections will join the main image. S

Hello Alan. The LiFePO4 battery I was looking at is 15 amp hours. The Maximum Continuous Discharge Current is 30 amps. I understand that the dew heaters will be kicking on and off, but my thinking

I believe from the images that I see that the reflections are close to the camera, somewhere inside the small parts that connect the camera to the main scope. You will need to remove the camera and

At that point then maybe I should reconsider the Astro Don filters although I have both the LRGB and NB sets. Steve

Thanks Ron, It looks like a good source for this material. Is this similar to flocking paper? Steve

I was hoping to see a reply from you Roland. Yes, I’ve done that too. The dovetail rails that are installed on the ota have plates that are threaded that the bolt screws into from the dovetail side.

So, Steve and Joel, does it makes sense that they're caused by scatter off of something in the light path between the flattener and the chip and the flattener is directing the scattered light back

Peter, At this point I only have AP 2.7” extension tubes, the Pyxis 3” rotator, and STL-11002 with the integrated FW8 as the imaging train. Steve

Steve Yes, at five years they would be the newer versions. Kent

Kent, Both filters and camera are about 5 years old. I think these are the newer series. Steve

I can’t do that with this filter wheel as it’s part of the camera. I have thought of removing the carousel though just to see. Steve

Yes, these reflections are only seen with the flattener on. I Image Linked the images in TheSky X and found none just out of the FOVi but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming from further away.

You are welcome Ray. I can imagine how hard you work to keep up and support all of your software. I did want to correct one thing. My spread was not 0.5 arc seconds. I had the pixel read out on

If you do have an internal reflection problem, these guys sell super-black anti-reflection coatings. They can either be applied as a thin film that you can buy in sheets, or a troublesome part can be

Forget about blackening the edges of filters, these are never in the optical path. Best to remove the camera, point the scope to a brightly lit wall, and LOOK with your eyeball up the optical train.

Best way to resolve the reflection issue is process of elimination starting with just the camera. If no reflections are shown, then add one piece of equipment (FW, then OAG, etc.) at a time until