Detailed setup page 1

My Equipment and software
Preperations and planning
Initial setup
Calibrations
Observation and photographing
Ending the session
Unpacking equipment and drying
Transfer data
Data processing
Final result

In autumn 2021 I bought a Skywatcher 200PDS Newtonian with a Heq5 equatorial mount inclusive tripods. This telescope is ideal for observing galaxies and planets. For photographing nebules I needed a smaller telescope, I chose the William Optics Zenithstar 61 II APO.

Software installation on the Laptop

Pegasus Astro- Pocket Powerbox

Software for controlling and monitoring the USB and power box that connects camera, guide camera, electric focuser, dew heater etc.

ASCOM Platform 6.6 with ASCOM drivers for hardware devices

ASCOM stands for AStronomy Common Object Model which is open software to provide a standard interface to a range of astronomy equipment including mounts, focusers and imaging devices for Microsoft Windows.

EQMOD, this is a ASCOM driver based software utility that can configure and control my Skywatcher HEQ- Equatorial mount and other Equtorial mounts.

SharpCap 4.0

I use this software primarily for polar-alignment although it can be used for many other astronomy tasks. NB.- In N.I.N.A. imaging software there is also a polar alignment tool.

PHD2 Guiding 2.6

PHD2 is telescope guiding software that simplifies the process of tracking a guide star, letting you concentrate on other aspects of deep-sky imaging or spectroscopy. Easy-to-use, “push here dummy” guiding for beginners. Sophisticated guiding and analysis tools for experienced users.

Stellarium 1.2

Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

N.I.N.A. Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy 2.2

N.I.N.A. is a open-source software astrophotography suite for deep sky imaging. This software connects all your hardware and can capture data in manual mode with single exposures or run automatically in full sequences with multiply exposures.

Firecapture 2.7.11

Firecapture is a planetary image capture software for planetary cameras.

Platesolver software/Blind solver, ASTAP, All Sky Plate Solver, PlateSolve v2 and v3 with Database and catalog

Preparations and planning

When the time has come and the night finally indicates clear weather and calm winds, you should be 100 percent ready to shoot some objects in the night sky. First of all, you should plan witch target you want to picture. I have created a list containing the most interesting targets (Galaxies, Nebula, planets, comets etc.)in advance, covering the hole year. You should also take into account if the moon is visible for that particularly night. The moon light can be extremely dominant and reduce the picture quality when shooting nearby Deep sky objects. It is possible though, to add special filters in front of the camera that blocks the wavelengths from the reflecting light of the moon and other unwanted light.

Thorough planning is more vital if you need to set your equipment up on a remote location versus in your own backyard. I use a nearby location so every time I have to set up all of my equipment. It is crucial to remember to charge the batteries needed to power the telescope mount, laptops, head lamp etc.

Also remember to #collimate the telescope if you are using a Newtonian reflector like I am. The Refractor type does not need this adjustment.

Initial setup

When arriving on the spot I find a place with the best View and if possible shielded from any wind. I also make sure that I have a clear view to my targets with no obstructions in the path. With the headlamp turned on I begin to unpack my equipment, at this point I stick to my normal workflow.

Final assembly and Calibrations

The first thing you need to do is ensure that the tripods is facing true north, I use the compass in my iPhone. When all the telescope equipment are assembled and ready, the telescope needs to be in balance on the mount, this ensure smooth movement in all axis and reduce load on the gears and motors.

My astrophotography setup in more detail page 1

Pegasus Astro- Pocket Powerbox application

Software for controlling and monitoring the USB and power box that connects camera, guide camera, electric focuser, dew heater etc.

ASCOM Platform, EQMOD and PHD2 Guiding utility

Stellarium Astronomy Software

Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

N.I.N.A. Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy

N.I.N.A. Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy 2.2 includes
Platesolver software/Blind solver, (ASTAP, All Sky Plate Solver, PlateSolve v2 and v3)with Database and catalog.

FireCapture | Planetary Image Capture

Firecapture 2.7.11 planetary image capture software for planetary cameras.

SharpCap astronomy camera capture tool

SharpCap 4.0- I use this software primarily for polar-alignment although it can be used for many other astronomy tasks. NB.- In N.I.N.A. imaging software there is also a polar alignment tool.

William Optics Zenithstar 61 II refractor

Zenithstar 61 II APO refractor(61mm diameter, 360mm focal length, f/5.9)

Adjustable field flattener and reducer

Flat61R adjustable field flattener and 0.8 reducer for the William Optics Z61 refractor

Skywatcher Explorer 200PDS newtonian telescope

Skywatcher Explorer-200PDS Newtonian reflector(200mm mm diameter, 1000mm focal length, f/5) with 2" 1:10 Crayford focuser.

Electronic Automatic Focuser

ZWO Electronic Automatic Focuser (EAF)

Baader Coma Corrector for Skywatcher 200PDS

Baader MPCC Mark III Coma Corrector

Skywatcher HEQ-5 Pro Synscan GO-TO Equatorial mount with tripods

Skywatcher HEQ-5 Pro Synscan GO-TO Equatorial mount with tripods. I have added an extra 5.1 kg counterweight to get the Skywatcher 200PDS with my equipment in balance.

Celestron Vibration Suppression pads

Tele Vue 4x Powermate 2 inch (magnifying lens)

2" Filters

IDAS NBZ Dual Band Nebula Boost Filter and AstronomikUV-IR-Block L-1

ZWO ADC Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector Mark II

ZWO ADC Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector Mark II for planetary imaging.

Lenovo X260 Laptop

Lenovo X260 Laptop running Windows 10 Pro. This laptop is not the newest and fastest computer but its small and handy which I find useful.

Collimation tool

Laser Collimation tool with 2" adapter.

lens blower

lens blower for blowing dust( lenses, filters etc.)

Headlamp

Headlamp USB rechargeable.

Powerbank USB - DC 12V / 16V / 19V 60W

Powerbank USB - DC 12V / 16V / 19V 60W(Powersupply for my Laptop)

Celestron Powertank

Celestron Powertank Lithium Pro( Power for Skywatcher HEQ-5 mount)

Canon 450D and 77D DSLR camera

Canon 450D, and 77D(Astro modified) DSLR camera with T-ring adapter.

TS-Optics Guiding Set 50 mm Guide Scope TSL50-AG

ZWO ASI485MC OSC planetary camera

ZWO ASI485MC OSC planetary camera. I have modified this camera with a cooling pack.

PegasusAstro Pocket Powerbox Advance( USB hub)

Dew heaters

Dew heaters used on guidescope and Z61 refractor.

Oklop carrying and storage bags

Carrying and storage bags from Oklop, Newtonian, mount, tripodlegs and accessories bags.

2" extension tube

2" extension tube( primarily for planetary imaging).

Bahtinov mask

Bahtinov mask for Skywatcher 200PDS

ZWO Camera ASI 120MM Mini Guidecam.

Find a nice spot!

I lay out the vibration supression pads where I want my tripod legs to be placed.

Spread out the tripod-legs.

Position the legs on the pads, this will help dampen the telescope assembly when exposed to ground vibrations and wind effect.

Align the "N" on the tripod close to true north

Align the "N" on the tripod as close to true north

I use the build-in compas app on my iPhone. By doing this, I only need to use fine adjustments on the mount when polar aligning the telescope.

Initial level adjustment of the tripod base

I always make sure the tripod is level, this gives a better polar alignment and a more precise guiding.

Adjust the tripod legs as necessary to obtain level condition

Rotate the knob-screws on the tripod legs and extend the legs accordingly.

One final check to see if level adjustment is meet

I measure in both ways/directions.

Mount the accessory tray plate

I do not tighten the plate at this point with the nut.

I then install the mount onto the tripod base

It is important to loosen the azimuth adjustment bolts to get the mont correctly seated.

Extension of the counterweight rod is done by releasing the lock knob

I the unscrew the threaded cap at the end of the rod.

Add the counterweights and tighten them

The counterweights are necessary to balance out the weight of the telescope

For my particular setup I need 3 weights

3 weights each weighing 5.1 kg is needed in my setup to balance the weight of the Skywatcher 200PDS plus my equipment on top. This extra weight properly exceed the maximum allowed weight and load, but it have worked fine for me, although I newer recommend to exceed the manufactures specifications.

At this point I install the telescope

Position the telescope mounting plate on the mounting bracket and tighten the screws. I use a index mark on the mounting plate which in this position makes the telescope plus accessory's in balance

I now install the Pegasus Astro Pocket PowerBox

I have added an extra dovetail on the SW200PDS and with two pieces of velcro tape, the Powerbox is able to stick to the surface. The dew sensor is also attached with velcro.

When the Powerbox is connected I plug in the USB-multihub

With the USB-multihub I can add more devices to the existing 4 ports.

The Guidescope now needs to be installed on the telescope

Make sure it's secured on the bracket by tightening the two screws. I also adjusted the tilt on the Guidescope mounting screws to align with the telescope axis, when aiming the telescope at a target it should correspond to the aiming of the Guidescope.

Connect the Guide-cammera to the Powerbox

I use the shortest possible cable length for better signal. I also connect the dew heaterband on the Guidescope to the power connector on the Powerbox.

I connect the auto-focuser to the Powerbox

Remove the dustcap from the focustube

Insert the the camera in the focustube and tighten it. Connect it to the Powerbox

Depending on the camera used, the distance or back-focus needs to be exact, to be able to focus the camera. I use a 2" extension tube to reach back-focus. I also put a field flattener in front of the camera with a certain length depending on the distance to the light sensor in the camera(DSLR or OSC planetary camera) This to improve the picture quality in the corners of the pictures.

Now it's time to connect the battery to the Powerbox

Connect the battery wire connector to the Powerbox

Strap on the Battery pack on the tripod leg

Connect the battery wire output connector to the battery pack.

The powercable powering the mount and Guiding cable are connected

Through the Powerbox, a 12v cable feeds the motors inside the mount. Next to the 12v port is a RJ45 connection for guiding and controlling the telescope mount from a laptop USB port. this cable goes via the Powerbox.

My Final setup looks like this

The pc/Laptop is connected to the Powerbox with the 3 m usb cable

The Laptop is connected to the Powerbox with the 3 m usb cable

I use a specific com-port on the Laptop with a baudrate of 9600. This is configured using ASCOM EQMOD setup

I need to check the balance of the telescope around both axis

For capturing large objects I use a wide-field refractor telescope

when the tripodlegs are assembled and level I add one counterweight to the rod to balance the telescope

The counterweight is securely fastened and the threaded cap is tightened.

Position the Z61 refractor mounting plate on the mounting bracket and tighten the screws

I use a smal index mark on the mounting plate which I know in this position makes the telescope plus accessory's in balance

The Powerbox is positioned to the mount

I have added Velcro tape on both sides which is a durable and quick solution.

Connect all accessories to the Powerbox as the assemble progresses

USB connections to camera, guidercam, laptop and mount controll, Power connectors to mount and dew heaters.

Extend the refractor top shield

Unscrew the lock ring and cap from the rear of the telescope

Grab the Field flatner and reducer

Remove the protection cap from the unit

Install the Flat61R adjustable field flattener

for this refractor model the Flat61R adjustable field flattener must be adjusted 1 mm.

Install the Canon T-ring adapter and remove the protective cap

Remove the protective cap and install the Canon T-ring adapter

With this T-ring adapter, the correct distance is achieved.

Or the other way around, screw on the DSLR camera with the T-ring adapter connected

In this configuration I have mounted the OSC camera

To get the exact distance to the flatner/reducer the extension tube is fitted for the ZWO ASI 485MC.

Install the Guidescope and connect the dew heater to the Powerbox

Also wrap the dew heater band onto the refractor tube

This eliminate moist build-up to the lens. Connect the wire end to the Powerbox

Remove the lens-cap before use

the Zenithstar 61 II APO refractor and mount is now assembled

the William Optics Zenithstar 61 II APO refractor and mount is now assembled

For focus adjustment a Bahtinov mask is built-in to the lens cap, just unscrew the top

The refractor is now ready for polaralignment and focus adjustment

Assembling the William Optics Z61II

Assembling the Skywatcher 200PDS

My equipment

Detailed setup page 2

Detailed setup page 1

​

Initial setup

When arriving on the spot I find a place with the best View and if possible shielded from any wind. I also make sure that I have a clear view to my targets with no obstructions in the path. With the headlamp turned on I begin to unpack my equipment, at this point I stick to my normal workflow.

Final assembly and Calibrations

My astrophotography setup in more detail page 1

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