My main setup for astrophotography

Buravchik

19262

Equipment

Jan 5th, 2025

1366

Resolution:: 720x1280 px
File size:: 170 KB

Photo description / processing

Setup based on the Levenhuk Ra72 ED refractor: - Mount SW Star Adventurer GTI - Tripod from the Celestron Nexstar 4 SE telescope mount. - 0.8x reducer-flattener William Optics vIII. - SvBony filter slider. - ZWO ASI 533 MC Pro camera. - ZWO GuideScope 30f4 guide scope. - ZWO ASI 120 MC-S guide camera. - ZWO AsiAir plus controller. - Asterion heating set with controller. - PowerWin 320 PPS power supply.

Photo versions

Updated

My main setup for astrophotography-2

Sep 4th, 2025

Updated the main setup. I now have a new mount. Most of the hassle that came with using the SW Star Adventurer GTI is gone. This is what my setup based on the Levenhuk Ra72 ED refractor looks like now: - ZWO AM-3 mount - Tripod from the Celestron Nexstar 4 SE telescope mount. - 0.8 William Optics vIII reducer-flattener. - SvBony filter slider. - ZWO ASI 533 MC Pro camera. - ZWO GuideScope 30f4 guide scope. - ZWO ASI 120 MC-S guide camera. - ZWO AsiAir plus controller. - Asterion heater set with controller. - PowerWin 320 PPS power supply.

Current photo

My main setup for astrophotography

Jan 5th, 2025

Show changes

Comments

Nickolay

My main setup for astrophotography-2from 09/04/2025

Hello, could you provide more details about the issues with the SW SA GTI?

Dec 20th, 2025

BuravchikReply to Nickolay

My main setup for astrophotography-2from 09/04/2025

It occasionally gave me trouble with guiding. But that might have been solved by calibrating the guide. Besides that, there were a couple of times when, controlled by the ASIAIR, it pointed completely away from where I told it to go. I have no idea why.

Dec 20th, 2025

NickolayReply to Buravchik

My main setup for astrophotography-2from 09/04/2025

I have this quirk with my mount where it behaves erratically at sub-zero temperatures. The issue is with performing alignment and slewing to targets, specifically with the RA axis. The declination axis moves fine. Through experimentation, I discovered it starts working normally if I remove the top cover—the one held by six screws that encloses the worm gear and gears. But as soon as I put the cover back on and lightly press it into place, it immediately glitches, grinds, and doesn't rotate properly. I still need to test all this in the field. So that's the situation. What's causing it is a mystery—maybe a bad contact somewhere—but in the summer, everything works flawlessly.

Dec 20th, 2025

BuravchikReply to Nickolay

My main setup for astrophotography-2from 09/04/2025

The only thing that comes to mind. Have you checked the worm gear mesh? I had a case where the mount was acting up after a rebuild and grease change. It turned out the worm gear on the DEC axis wasn’t pressed firmly enough against the gear. I carefully tightened it, and everything started working right away. Maybe it’s the same for you?

Dec 20th, 2025

NickolayReply to Buravchik

My main setup for astrophotography-2from 09/04/2025

I'll give it a try. I adjusted it a bit, and I'll try checking it during the movement process. Thanks for the advice.

Dec 20th, 2025