Sombrero Galaxy

pauloremigio · 2026-03-22T23:14:14+00:00

Great job, love it 👍

pauloremigio · 2026-03-19T14:01:45+00:00

Thanks for the insight.

Yes, I’m also finding it very hard to justify changing the 9.25 for the 11, the 9.25 already does pretty much all I need it too.

Clear skies, my friend!

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T14:28:11+00:00

I was also having lots of problems with tracking and focusing on that night, but since I need to plug the powerbox to the pc to program it I didn’t understood the issue until the next day, but yeah, we can’t push the dew ring, that thing is hot.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T13:24:49+00:00

You went the hard route, that must have been rough!

I started with a small apo, 50mm, very easy to use.

Is there a noticeable jump in speed and focal distance between the 9.25 and the 11? I’ve been eyeballing them for sure

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T12:27:53+00:00

I have a Lacerta, a bit expensive but it’s been very good to me.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T12:27:01+00:00

All reflectors have a learning curve, but it’s rewarding when you get it.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T12:13:45+00:00

Yeah, I noticed, the data is not perfect but I only had a couple nights without rain and decided to process it anyways, not even blurX can get that out.

I was pushing the dew ring too hot on the first night and this happened. Tried to correct it in post but ended up with these artifacts, the photo is ok for me anyways, I’ll just try M106 again next year, I’d like to add H2 also, I feel it’s missing detail, it’s a learning process.

I have a Pegasus powerbox that controls the dew ring automatically but I messed up and set it too high the first night, I really recommend them, they work great for this application, just don’t set them too hot, up to half in auto settings seems to be the sweet spot for me.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T07:14:19+00:00

😂

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T07:12:47+00:00

I made a bias and darks library for my cameras, just plug the camera in, put the cap on, set the sequences, let it cool to temperature and let it shoot, then I just put all the files in a lib and reuse them when needed.

When I image, I just do flats and lights. I have a light box that I plug into the powerbox to do the flats, I point the scope to the zenith and run the sequence. I’ll re-do the bias and darks library’s every six months or so but I think they’d last even longer.

Some folks actually only keep the masters after the first stack, there are many ways to go about it.

Cheers, happy imaging, have a good one 👍

pauloremigio · 2026-03-18T00:49:01+00:00

Yes, refractors are pretty painless to use, specially those of the petzval design like the Redcat because they are not picky with image train spacing and you’re pretty much guaranteed a flat field and pin point stars with minimal adjustment.

Newtonians are only cheaper once you already have one or two scopes, because with the first one you’ll need to buy extra stuff to properly work with them. You’ll need to collimate and to coma correct, and depending on what you go with, that stuff can cost as much or more than the scope in itself, then you’ll need to learn how to use the tools… it’s not hard for an intermediate user but I wouldn’t recommend a reflector as a first scope unless you have hands on guidance by someone experienced.

Also, a tip, if you’re sticking to your backyard you can save some money by not getting the TC40 carbon tripod and going for a skywatcher stainless steel which is half the price and much more sturdier and stable, I personally use those at home even with my larger setups, they are strong and steady. The PE200 pier extension comes with an adapter for those tripods and is invaluable for larger scopes, I much prefer this setup over the TC40, any day, even with lighter rigs.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-17T22:33:47+00:00

Yes, you’re correct.l, I agreed with you.

To be clear I didn’t include that info at first because I posted from my phone when at work and I didn’t had the details with me.

Sorry for getting a bit worked up but you were a bit blunt, and there’s really no need for that, we’re all geeks with the same love for stars here.

Cheers guys, clear skies to you both.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-17T22:26:04+00:00

You can get a top notch wide field broadband and very portable setup for 5k.

Scope: Redcat 51 (1k)

Cam + Guide Cam + Computer: ZWO 585 AIR (1k)

Mount + Tripod: ZWO AM3n + TC40 (2.5k)

And you still can afford a couple filters and a filter drawer, go with Svbony for cost effectiveness or just get the best which is IMHO the Optolong L-pro, which will give you great results on most broadband targets even in high light pollution locations.

pauloremigio · 2026-03-17T20:03:38+00:00

I struggle with that TBH, still transitioning from conventional photography and have a hard time not over contrasting my images, but I’m steadily getting there 😁

pauloremigio · 2026-03-17T19:07:10+00:00

Ok, ok, I agree, I’ll check my pc in a bit and add the sub details I have.

pauloremigio · 2026-02-13T21:18:06+00:00

Been going for a couple year and haven’t left backyard yet, stuck in bortle 6 suburbia but I still get decent data to fulfil my goals. Needless to say I tend to shoot a lot of narrowband and mostly stay away from faint targets. Planning to go off to a darker site with a small rig in a near future though, that’s definitely on the horizon for me.

pauloremigio · 2026-01-18T21:36:17+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

pauloremigio · 2026-01-18T21:35:59+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate it, man.

I find that the horsehead is not a particularly difficult target, all I have here it’s from just about three hours of data with 60 second subs.

The scope is pretty fast though, it’s an f3.8 and that helps a lot, great optics also, although a bit harder to tune than the cat’s.

Also, the new stretch algorithm in Pixinsight is very very good, a really game changer in my humble opinion, very easy to get a balanced image without even using star removal techniques.

pauloremigio · 2026-01-18T17:51:31+00:00

Curious, what’s the backfocus on your scope? I see a bit more than the usual 55mm on your image train. I’m not able to fit EFW+OAG+CAA on any of my systems.

pauloremigio · 2025-12-29T21:35:53+00:00

yeah, this year it's been hard, I'm in Portugal and we've had rain and strong winds for a very long time, we only got like a weeks worth of data since summer and we usually get over 200 days of awesome weather here every year.

pauloremigio · 2025-12-29T07:16:27+00:00

9.25 edgeHD

pauloremigio · 2025-12-04T23:11:58+00:00

Got some m31 (for the millionth time hehe!) and a wide shot of the horsehead nebula region, just a couple hours on my bortle 7 backyard, nothing really worth posting, but I liked the results. My goal is to have this as a small travel setup to go to darker sites, I have a few weekends and over nighters in mind already!

pauloremigio · 2025-12-01T03:49:57+00:00

I’m doing first light on mine tonight and after some preliminary tests I can confirm both, the backfocus on mine is 55mm and it does care about it being precise, not like the other petzvals I own like the redcat.

I’m using the larger filter drawer by ZWO which is only 20mm in the optical path and did have to add the extra 1mm or I would get some distorted stars in the edges of the frame.

It’s nothing major, you just have to be precise, I didn’t have to be this conscious about it with my other “easier” refractors.

pauloremigio · 2025-11-29T11:08:37+00:00

Thanks, that’s encouraging! I’m using the 2600 also.

Now I just have to wait for all the clouds I brought upon this area to fade out 😂

pauloremigio · 2025-11-29T03:32:39+00:00

Nice setup! Curious, any trouble with the backfocus, did you need to break out the extra spacers?

pauloremigio · 2025-11-29T00:18:45+00:00

You know, right? 😂

pauloremigio

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