u/42069051

My first astrofotography setup is finally ready! Just waiting for the guidescope and camera to make it complete but I’m already gonna try it out on the first clear night I get because I’m so hyped. I’m also saving up for a better telescope like an APO,ED doublet/triplet/petzval or whatever to upgrade the lens. Also considering on buying an CLS/UHC filter because I live in a bortle 6 region.

Equipment:

- Canon 500D EOS (unmodded)
- Sigma DC 18-200mm (f/3.5-6.3) lens
- some cheap bahtinov mask, dew heater and dovetail from amazon
- ACK-E5 Battery dummy for Canon EOS
- Svbony 905C Guiding cam
- Svbony SV165 Guidescope
- 3D printed hot shoe for adapting my guidescope

DIY V4X17 strainwave GoTo mount with harmonic gears.

Equipment for mount:

- 48mm Nema17 (DEC)
- 64mm Nema17 (RA)
- 2x ZXS17 harmonic drive gezr
- Belt reduction with GT2 Pulleys
- Fysect E4 controller with OnStepX firmware

Extra info:
NINA for controlling the mount
Stellarium for finding objects
ASTAP for plate solving with H18 star catalog
PHD2 for guiding

My first astrofotography setup is finally ready! Just waiting for the guidescope and camera to make it complete but I’m already gonna try it out on the first clear night I get because I’m so hyped. I’m also saving up for a better telescope like an APO,ED doublet/triplet/petzval or whatever to upgrade the lens. Also considering on buying an CLS/UHC filter because I live in a bortle 6 region.

Equipment:

- Canon 500D EOS (unmodded)
- Sigma DC 18-200mm (f/3.5-6.3) lens
- some cheap bahtinov mask, dew heater and dovetail from amazon
- ACK-E5 Battery dummy for Canon EOS
- Svbony 905C Guiding cam
- Svbony SV165 Guidescope
- 3D printed hot shoe for adapting my guidescope

DIY V4X17 strainwave GoTo mount with harmonic gears.

Equipment for mount:

- 48mm Nema17 (DEC)
- 64mm Nema17 (RA)
- 2x ZXS17 harmonic drive gezr
- Belt reduction with GT2 Pulleys
- Fysect E4 controller with OnStepX firmware

Extra info:
NINA for controlling the mount
Stellarium for finding objects
ASTAP for plate solving with H18 star catalog
PHD2 for guiding

Hello everyone,

I was recently able to use a Unistellar eVscope 1 from my granddad and shot some nice pictures which I later processed the RAW files (and the darkframemean file) in Siril, GraXpert, and GIMP. Now that I have to return it, I won’t be able to use the device anymore. However, it really sparked my interest in astrophotography, and I would like to continue taking pictures of DSOs.

Currently, I have a Canon 500D (15.1MP) mounted with a 3D-printed dovetail on a Sky-Watcher EQ3-2 mount. The setup includes a tracking system, a polar alignment tool, an RA-motor, and an intervalometer, but no GoTo system. Does this seem like a reasonable setup to start with? I am considering removing the internal filter from my camera to better capture nebulae. I have the standard 18-55mm kit lens and a Sigma DC 18-200mm lens (f/3.5 - f/6.3).

As a student, I am working with a fairly limited budget, so I’m looking for the most cost-effective ways to improve my results. I am definitely willing to invest in small, impactful upgrades over time. If you have any suggestions on what my very first purchase should be to get the most 'bang for my buck' with this specific setup, I would love to hear them!

I live in a Bortle 6-7 region. Since targets like the Milky Way core, Andromeda, and the Orion Nebula are currently too low to see from my location, which other objects would you recommend for this setup (I live in belgium)? Furthermore, I’ve read about using N.I.N.A. for better focusing and framing. Is this something that would be useful in my manual situation, or is it not worth the effort? Finally, what is the best way to take my flat, bias, and dark frames with this specific DSLR and lens combo?

All help is welcome, as I’ve just started with "real" astrophotography.

Thanks in advance!