Hello from Colorado, USA

Hi Robert, thanks for the compliment!   Well, to be fair, I was "in the field" for 20 years before retiring.   I was an engineering professional at the Keck Observatory working LGS AO, and subsequently became the software team lead/manager at the Large Binocular Telescope.   So my learning curve for actually taking images myself has definitely been made easier than if I had zero exposure.    I was a "visual" observer before that for many years.   I started imaging in April of this year.  Still, AP has a tough learning curve for all involved details!    I  consider the fast f/2.2 RASA and low noise CMOS OSCs somewhat akin to the old starhop/goto battles of visual observing from days past.   Pretty nice results come so quickly with the newer technology.    Thanks again for commenting and looking at my images!     I'll dribble my images and populate my public page over the next month or so.    Cheers,   Doug

Thanks Mike!   Hopefully it will retain your high praise as I get it filled in with my other images over the next month or so….  ;-)   Cheers,  Doug

Hi James, we're "lit up" with covid on the western slope….not nearly as bad as the front range though.  Good time to be imaging I guess…

Thanks Ray!   I do really like this RASA and 183 OSC combo.   AP is a challenging hobby, but when images come out (mostly) right, it's quite a thrill.  I've not struggled with tilt (yet), but I have struggled with my CGX-L mount (it has a 0.6" magnitude 21 sec period 0.2 sec duration spike that comes from the drive belt interface to the motor…ugh nothing can be done about it but buy a better mount!).   That said, I can't complain too much…I'm still getting some good shots.   I've got a lot of images already done from earlier this year but not posted yet, and many more that are "works in progress..need more data".   I'm excited to fill in the blanks in my page and get to know folks here on Astrobin.   Cheers and thanks again,   Doug

I totally concur with the "solve one problem, on to the next one" syndrome.   I think that's what makes it so rewarding....when it all comes together.   On the CGX, it's why I got the L version (also bundled).   First surprise was the PE.  I didn't expect 17+ arcsecs.   That was easy enough to address with PECTool SW, but the very fast spike of the belt/gear interface is definitely annoying; too fast for PECTool to address.   The thing is, if they solved that, the CGX-L would be a much nicer mount.   Alas, at this price point, it's only "good enough".  When I first talked with Celestron tech support, they said the spec was "round stars".   I wish I had heard that statement before I bought  ;-)   In any case, for giggles I attach a pic of the mount PE, PE corrected, and this annoying spike.    Nice chatting with you....   Cheers,   Doug