ZWO EAF Installation for Standard Celestron SCT and RASA 8 Focusers @AstroBlender

AstroBlender ***If possible, please watch the video completely before installing your own bracket. I cover many of the small, but important details about this bracket that you’ll want to know.***

The ZWO bracket for Celestron C8 | C9.25 and C11 | C14 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes allows for you to attach your ZWO EAF to these telescopes (and RASA 8) using their standard/stock focusers. The bracket provides a very secure connection and allows you to utilize the EAF to its maximum potential, including auto-focusing in the ASI AIR operating system.

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updated 5 years ago

ZWO EAF Installation for Standard Celestron SCT and RASA 8 Focusers

AstroBlender 2020-12-11 | ***If possible, please watch the video completely before installing your own bracket. I cover many of the small, but important details about this bracket that you’ll want to know.***

The ZWO bracket for Celestron C8 | C9.25 and C11 | C14 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes allows for you to attach your ZWO EAF to these telescopes (and RASA 8) using their standard/stock focusers. The bracket provides a very secure connection and allows you to utilize the EAF to its maximum potential, including auto-focusing in the ASI AIR operating system.

Please consider making your astronomy purchases from my AgenaAstro affiliate link below. This helps me fund the channel and allows me to produce my tutorials and unbiased reviews that you can trust.
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Celestron Advanced VX 10-Year Review!

AstroBlender 2023-06-08 | I've owned my Celestron Advanced VX for ten years now! Join me in this review video to see how well the mount has held up in that amount of time! Spoiler: It's done great, despite me dropping it on concrete!

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Link to Celestron Advanced VX: bit.ly/3MQjDrM

How Fast is the Green Comet, C/2022 E3 (ZTF)?

AstroBlender 2023-02-03 | Kepler's 2nd law states that equal areas in an orbit are swept out in equal times, meaning eccentric bodies around the Sun will move faster as they approach. Just how fast was the highly eccentric comet, C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as it made its closest approach to Earth? Find out in this short video in under a minute!

Note: I took liberties with rounding and significant figures, so the number presented is an accurate approximation, but not an exact value.

All images and video clips shown in this video were acquired by myself.

How to Mount the ZWO AM5 to a Celestron AVX Tripod

AstroBlender 2022-12-26 | In this video, I demonstrate how I mount the ZWO AM5 Harmonic mount to a heavy duty tripod, the Celestron Advanced VX tripod. To get the best results when using the AM5 with heavy loads, or long focal-length equipment, a heavy duty tripod should be used.
Disclaimer: If you choose to follow the procedures in this video, you do so at your own risk.

Supplies used:
**Beduan Stainless Steel 3/8" Thread Fully Threaded Rod 12" Length Long Threaded Screw
Link: amzn.to/3vjr8yY

**Thank you CloudyNights.com user "Broscheanu" for the suggestion to use this stainless steel threaded rod. It's much better than the zinc rod I was using previously!

Innovative Components Fluted Knob, 3/8-16 Thread Size, 1.25"L, Thru Tap, Steel
Link: bit.ly/3BXEx3p

Hillman 4-Count 3/8-in x 1-1/2-in Zinc-plated Standard Fender Washer
Link: low.es/3YOCt7T

Hillman 2-Pack Black E-ring
Link: low.es/3jszxxt

Links shortened using Bitly.

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Back-Focus 101: Celestron 8 EdgeHD SCT (no reducer)

AstroBlender 2022-12-23 | The Celestron EdgeHD design corrects for much of the aberration and field curvature inherit in the standard Schmidt-Cassegrain. To achieve this correction, the camera sensor must be placed a precise distance away from the baffle-tube lens element. For the Celestron 8" EdgeHD, this distance is 133.35mm. In this episode, of Back-Focus 101 I demonstrate some basic and "advanced" ways to get the correct back-focus spacing using this telescope. It should be noted that when using the Celestron 0.7x Reducer Lens for the 8" EdgeHD, the required back-focus spacing changes. The back-focus requirement of this telescope with the Celestron 0.7x Reducer will be shown in the next episode of Back-Focus 101.

Link to filter effect on back-focus: youtu.be/iyDECOauzew

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ZWO ASI Air Mini Review

AstroBlender 2022-11-04 | The ZWO ASI Air family continues to grow with the addition of the ZWO ASI Air Mini! In this review, I discuss the features of the mini, from what it has to what it lacks. The mini lacks USB 3 technology, thus download speeds are a bit lower, and high frame rate planetary imaging isn't really feasible. However, for deep sky photographers the ASI Air mini will excel as a cost-effective solution to controlling your imaging session from start to finish.

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ZWO AM5 Harmonic EQ/Alt-Az Mount Review

AstroBlender 2022-10-09 | The ZWO AM5 Harmonic EQ/Alt-Az Mount is packed with features and is very-well machined (one of the first things I noticed about it). The strain-wave gear system allows this small mount to carry a significant payload: 13-kg without any counterweights, and 20-kg with counterweights. The mount itself only weighs 5-kg, thus making it very portable, while able to carry heavy payloads. The mount is capable of high-performance guiding, giving astrophotographs nice, round stars, and fits a long-awaited role in the ZWO ecosystem of products. For those that wish, the mount can be changed from equatorial (EQ) mode to altitude-azimuth mode (Alt-Az), with minimal effort.

To see one method for mounting a heavy-duty tripod to the ZWO AM5, please view this video: youtu.be/jNvy1Lg1-1s

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Back-Focus 101: How Filters Affect Back-Focus

AstroBlender 2022-07-25 | In this episode of Back-Focus 101, I describe how filters change the back-focus requirement of your optical system, both visually and mathematically. Filters don't change the back-focus distance by much (in most cases), but it is critical to compensate for the change as your focal ratio decreases (or, as the "speed" of the optical system increases). In other words, it is not absolutely necessary to add the extra back-focus when using a filter at f/10, but it becomes very critical at faster focal ratios.

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NEW ZWO AM5 Mount - Unboxing & First Impressions!

AstroBlender 2022-07-22 | In this video I unpack the new ZWO AM5 Harmonic mount and get my first light! I decided to go big, and try out my Celestron C9.25 Edge for my first night out. It is very well machined, and results look promising thus far!

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ZWO ASI533MM Pro Astronomy Camera Review (Sony IMX533 Sensor)

AstroBlender 2022-05-29 | The ASI533MM Pro is a high performance CMOS astronomy camera manufactured by ZWO. The camera features the Sony IMX533 sensor which provides 3.76 micron pixel sizes and 50,000 electron well capacities. This camera has no amp-glow and the dark frames show only moderate amounts of dark current. Statistically, the ASI533 camera series is a heavy upgrade to the popular ASI183 series, and is capable of taking amazing deep sky images! In this review I discuss the specifications of this camera, compare it to the ZWO ASI183 series, and look at some of the frames I've taken.

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Donations for the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory Rebuild

AstroBlender 2022-02-26 | Please note: I am not associated with the SDSO in anyway - I am just making this video to raise awareness for donations and the rebuild project.

In June 2021, the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory (SDSO) was burned to the ground via arson. The observatory is being rebuilt and I have donated $500 to the effort. I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Celestron as well, who has also agreed to donate $500.

If you would like to donate please visit: paypal.me/sdso
In the notes please use reference code: ASUKCM

A New Filter From Optolong: L-eXtreme F2 Review

AstroBlender 2021-12-13 | Optolong received feedback from many users that the L-eXtreme was not suited for F2 telescopes and these customers desired a high-speed version of this dual narrowband filter. After doing research, Optolong came across my high speed test video, and realized that these claims are substantiated and a new filter needed to be developed. They reached out to me to test this brand new filter, the L-eXtreme F2! The transmission of this filter is much, much, better than the normal version of this filter at F2, and it provides excellent contrast!

In this video, I provide un-modified single exposures, un-modified stacked images, and processed images of several different nebulae so that you can judge the results for yourself. At the end, I compare data I took with the original L-eXtreme and L-eXtreme F2, and you can see the difference is quite noticeable. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy(ed) the review!

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IDAS NBZ UHS Review

AstroBlender 2021-12-08 | In this video I review the Ultra High-Speed version of the popular IDAS NBZ dual-narrowband filter. This filter has FWHM band-passes of 10nm in both H-alpha and O-III bands. Not only am I impressed with how much of the desired wavelengths are transmitted through this filter, but also the lack of star halos - a big plus for imaging!

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Running 3 Telescopes in One Night... A Triple Imaging Extravaganza!

AstroBlender 2021-11-28 | For the first time I decided to run 3 telescopes at once over the course of a evening in pursuit of 3 separate images. In this video, I give a brief description of the 3 imaging telescopes, mounts and equipment used to capture the objects presented. Everything went well and I acquired images of The California Nebula (RedCat51, ASI 294MC Pro), The Triangulum Galaxy (RASA 8, ASI 183MC Pro), and I captured the orbital motion of asteroid (1) Ceres over 4.17 hours (C6-N, ASI 183MM Pro).

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20,000 Subscriber Thanksgiving and the Pleiades! #shorts

AstroBlender 2021-11-27 | Thank you for 20,000 subscribers and have a happy Thanksgiving! Stay safe and clear skies.

ZWO ASI Air Tutorial: Controlling the Celestron AVX/CGEM-II/CGX/CGX-L From Start to Finish

AstroBlender 2021-10-27 | Ever wondered how to control a Celestron EQ mount from start to finish with the ZWO ASI Air? In this video, I show you how to do just that, using my procedure that took me over a year to perfect! I use this same process night in and night out for controlling my Celestron equatorial amounts to produce astrophotographs of the night sky.

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Light Gathering Power (and Pizza!) Comparison Calculator

AstroBlender 2021-10-15 | In this video, I show you how to create a calculator in Microsoft Excel for comparing the light gathering capabilities of two different telescopes, including the central obstruction areas (which all online calculators lack, from what I have seen). This can also be used in calculating the area of your pizza to see which pizza sizes will give you the most pizza!

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Easy $10 DIY Telescope Flat Panels!

AstroBlender 2021-07-31 | Are you tired of looking for a cheap, easy, and effective way to take flats? Look no further! In this video, I show how to create flat panels that cost under $5 to make and take less than 10 minutes from start to finish! What's even better is they are very effective in producing consistent flat calibration frames night after night.

Idea from: @ceramic_tsp
Execution by: @astroblender

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Back-Focus 101: The Petzval Lens ft. William Optics RedCat51

AstroBlender 2021-07-28 | In this episode of back-focus 101, I show how to obtain proper back-focus on the Petzval, using the William Optics RedCat51 as an example. This is probably the easiest system to obtain proper back-focus, as you will see in the video.

Are you interested in knowing how filters affect your back-focus? youtu.be/iyDECOauzew

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ProAstroGear: Black CAT Mount for WO RedCat51 - Installation and Review

AstroBlender 2021-05-28 | The ProAstroGear is a simple solution to mounting the ZWO EAF and ASI Air Pro on the William Optics RedCat51. It is a low-profile system, that gives you the ability to auto-focus the RedCat51. Not only does this system work with minimal backlash, but is well balanced and still allows you to use a guidescope over the center of the telescope. Aesthetically it also looks really nice, too. One of my favorite features is you do not need to use a riser, keeping the telescope closer to the dovetail.

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Link to ProAstroGear BlackCAT Mount: bit.ly/3Maac60

Total Lunar Eclipse | Supermoon | May 26th, 2021

AstroBlender 2021-05-26 | This is just a short collage of the images and videos I took this morning of the total lunar eclipse and supermoon on May 26th, 2021. It rained the night before, so the seeing conditions were not great and I decided to go with a wide-field imaging set-up, the William Optics RedCat 51, Canon EOS Rebel SL1, and Celestron Advanced VX. Be sure to check out my previous videos of total lunar eclipses on my channel, and check out my Instagram account @astroblender if you are interested in seeing more astrophotography images. I hope you were able to enjoy the eclipse!

IDAS NBZ Nebula Booster Dual-Narrowband Filter Review

AstroBlender 2021-05-09 | In this video I compare the new and improved IDAS NBZ to the previous IDAS NBX. The IDAS NBZ is only briefly reviewed in this video, because my review of the IDAS NBX still covers all the data about these filters. The difference between the two filters is the NBZ is corrected for internal reflection, reducing halos and artifacts around bright stars, otherwise the filters are the same.

Both of these filters are extremely well suited for high-speed, narrow-band, one shot color applications. I can produce a quality image with the IDAS NBZ and Celestron RASA 8 easily in an hour. I always strive to get as much data as I can get, but with the high transmission of the IDAS NBZ for both the hydrogen-alpha and oxygen-III emission lines, imaging at high speed is remarkably easy. The IDAS NBZ is my absolute favorite dual-narrowband filter on the market!

To see my IDAS NBX/NBZ review: youtu.be/Da69FLTOf6E

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Back-Focus 101: Celestron EdgeHD: C9.25, C11, and C14 Advanced Back-Focus with the Celestron OAG

AstroBlender 2021-05-02 | In this episode of Back-Focus 101, I cover advanced back-focus for the Celestron C9.25, C11 and C14 EdgeHD Telescopes. I demonstrate how to attach the Celestron Off-Axis Guider (COAG), ZWO Electronic Filter Wheel (EFW) and the ZWO 2600MM Pro, all while still maintaining the proper 146.05mm of back-focus (or 147.05mm of back-focus when using filters). I also give my tips and tricks for setting up the COAG and which guide-camera I use with the system. The key to off-axis guiding is to remember that the main imaging train, and the guide imaging train need to have the same back-focus.

If you'd like to see how filters affect your back-focus distance, please check out the following episode of Back-Focus 101: youtu.be/iyDECOauzew

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Back-Focus 101: Celestron EdgeHD: C9.25, C11, and C14 Basic Back-Focus for DSLR and CCD/CMOS Cameras

AstroBlender 2021-04-26 | In this episode of Back-Focus 101 I cover the basics for attaching a DSLR camera or CCD/CMOS style camera to either the Celestron C9.25 EdgeHD, C11 EdgeHD, and C14 EdgeHD. These three telescopes all have the same back-focus requirement of 146.05mm whether you use the Celestron 0.7x EdgeHD reducer, or not. They also all have the same 3.25" large Schmidt-Cassegrain threads on the rear-cell.

This episode just covers the basics. In the next episode of Back-Focus 101, I'll be going into an advanced imaging train for these telescopes, by installing the Celestron Off-Axis Guider, an electronic filter wheel, and monochrome camera.

If you'd like to see how filters affect your back-focus distance, please check out the following episode of Back-Focus 101: youtu.be/iyDECOauzew

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How to Install Unmounted Filters the Right (Clean!) Way

AstroBlender 2021-04-25 | Are you new to monochrome imaging/astrophotography and need assistance installing unmounted filters to your filter wheel? In this video I show the proper method to install your filters and make sure everything stays dust-free!

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Celestron RASA 8 - A Comprehensive Review

AstroBlender 2021-03-20 | Where to begin? The Celestron RASA 8 is an astrograph that allows you to produce results quickly, and with significant detail. This telescope has a focal ratio of 2, meaning you can acquire useable images in hardly anytime at all. This makes the telescope fantastic for astrophotography, and it also is a good instrument for wide-field survey research.In this review, I discuss almost everything I can think of that you may need to know about the Celestron RASA, its background and key features. See below for video links mentioned in the video:

Celestron RASA 8 Back-Focus Video: youtu.be/7-WZ5CneIE0

Cable Router for Celestron RASA and SCT+HyperStar combo: youtu.be/p-6_MfasI2E

Learn about Image Resolution and Sampling: youtu.be/Kc1721KAaCo

IDAS NBX Review: youtu.be/Da69FLTOf6E

Install a ZWO Electronic AutoFocuser: youtu.be/IJErn8xQxS4Celestron

RASA History: celestron-site-support-files.s3.amazonaws.com/support_files/RASA_White_Paper_2020_Web.pdf

2020 Astrophotography: youtu.be/womE710o9kk

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How to Minimize Diffraction Spikes in Celestron RASA and SCT/HyperStar Telescopes

AstroBlender 2021-03-19 | This video is a tutorial on how to wire your cables in the Celestron RASA or SCT+HyperStar combos to minimize diffraction spikes. In many optical systems, diffraction spikes are uniform, like in Newtonian Reflectors. In RASA or SCT/HyperStar telescopes, the wires don't produce uniform diffraction spilkes, causing stars to look a bit unnatural. Using a cable router you can correct this problem. I show how to install a cable router, as well as a few before and after images.

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15-Minute Beginners Guide to Processing the Orion Nebula in Adobe Photoshop

AstroBlender 2021-03-04 | This tutorial will show beginner astrophotographers how to quickly and efficiently process the Orion Nebula, Messier 42. This will focus on a stack of images that are all the same length (in the case of this video, 30 seconds). The core of the Orion Nebula is blown out in the vast majority of astroimages, which is just fine. Here I show a simple way to tone down the overexposed core, while retaining detail.

There are definitely more advanced processing methods. This is just a basic guide for those getting started. I'm fortunate to live in dark skies, so I don't have to do much processing of my astroimages.

To see my 2020 astrophotography video: youtu.be/womE710o9kk

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2020 Astrophotography (Celestron, WO, ES)

AstroBlender 2020-12-31 | A compilation of all the astro images I took during the year 2020. My set-up underwent many changes this year, and it is exciting to finally see it all come together. I hope you enjoy the video and have a wonderful 2021! Clear skies!

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The Great Conjunction - Saturn & Jupiter 2020

AstroBlender 2020-12-22 | Join me for a live view of Saturn and Jupiter through an 8" telescope for the Great Conjunction of 2020!

AstroBlender Live Stream

AstroBlender 2020-12-21 | ...

IDAS NBX Nebula Booster Dual-Band Filter Review

AstroBlender 2020-12-06 | The IDAS NBX Nebula Booster Filter, is a dual-narrowband (hydrogen-alpha, oxygen-III) filter designed specifically for use in fast optical systems (systems with steep light cones/high angles of incidence). In testing this filter I found it was exactly what I needed to produce sharp, detailed images using my Celestron RASA 8 at f/2. In my one-shot color camera (OSC) I’m getting tremendous results with the IDAS NBX.

The bandpass of both the hydrogen-alpha and doubly ionized oxygen (O-III) lines are both 10nm FWHM. This bandpass is narrow enough to block much of undesired light pollution, but wide enough to still allow ample light to be transmitted through the filter.

As I mentioned this filter was designed for fast-optical systems. In fast systems, the light transmitted through a filter appears to be blue-shifted, or in other words, the light passed through the filter is of a shorter wavelength then intended. IDAS solves this problem for fast systems by pre-shifting the filter. That way when you use it, the light is blue-shifted into the desired wavelength, and you see that wavelength transmitted at a high percentage.

In simulations with the filter IDAS shows a 90% transmission of the hydrogen-alpha wavelength, and a 95% transmission of the oxygen-III wavelength at f/2. Wow! That is VERY good!

Overall, I’ve been extremely impressed with this filter, and it will be my dual-band filter of choice going forward for “high-speed” imaging.

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Back-Focus 101: Celestron RASA 8

AstroBlender 2020-11-22 | The Celestron RASA 8 has very specific back-focus requirements. This video shows a few different methods of obtaining the proper back-focus using ZWO cameras that have 6.5mm of back-focus built-in, from sensor to flange. These methods will also work with other cameras with similar back-focus, as long as you meet the requirements described in the video.

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Celestron RASA 8: bit.ly/3w2q1ST

Optolong L-eXtreme Dual-Band Filter Review

AstroBlender 2020-11-01 | The Optolong L-eXtreme is an exciting addition to the one-shot color filter selection. This filter is narrowband, with a 7nm FWHM Hydrogen alpha bandpass, and a 7nm FWHM Oxygen-III (doubly ionized oxygen) band. This filter cuts through light pollution and allows imaging of emission nebula, planetary nebula and even allows for imaging galaxies with active star-forming regions.
In this review, I used my experience and data acquired with the L-eXtreme and let you judge the results for yourself. Thank you to Jim Thompson, at Abbey Road Observatory for allowing me to use his data (specifically transmission graph) for this review.

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Optolong L-eXtreme: bit.ly/33AsuHO

Optolong L-eXtreme Tested at High Speed

AstroBlender 2020-09-29 | Does the Optolong L-eXtreme allow for effective imaging at fast focal ratios? I gathered lots of data for this video to help me make a determination. I compared images taken through my Celestron f/2 RASA with my Celestron C8-SCT reduced to f/6.3 on successive evenings with the same settings and integrations to see if the L-eXtreme can handle the speeds. Detailed results and my explanation are given in the video. Can you replicate my results? See my detailed settings for each image below... let me know in the comments, if you give it a try!

Celestron RASA 8
ZWO ASI 294MC Pro
Optolong L-Extreme mounted in Starizona RASA 8 Filter Drawer
Gain: 120
Binning: 1x1
Sensor Temperature: -10 °C

NGC 6992 - Eastern Veil Nebula
120

NGC 0281 - Pacman Nebula
300"

M27 - Dumbbell Nebula
30"

IC 1396 - Elephant's Trunk Nebula
60x300"

IC 1805 - Heart Nebula
180"

Celestron C8-SCT
Celestron f/6.3 Focal Reducer
ZWO ASI 294MC Pro
Optolong L-eXtreme mounted in ZWO Filter Drawer
Backfocus set to ~105mm
Gain: 120
Binning: 1x1
Sensor Temperature: -10 °C

NGC 6992 - Eastern Veil Nebula
120"

NGC 0281 - Pacman Nebula
300"

IC 1396 - Elephant's Trunk Nebula
10x300"

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Celestron CGX/CGX-L | QHY PoleMaster Mounting Solution

AstroBlender 2020-09-27 | This is a quick video to give credit where credit is due! Cloudy Nights user 40:26 has created a neat 3D printed part that allows you to mount a QHY PoleMaster on the RA axis of your Celestron CGX or CGX-L mount while still giving you the ability to use the handle!

I have been using the ADM dovetail plate adapter with the CGX for awhile. It is not a bad adapter and for the most part does a good job, but this clever design does it a bit better! I'm a big fan of the innovation and creativity displayed in this part, and decided to share this quick video of it with you.

ZWO ASI Air Tutorial: Polar Alignment

AstroBlender 2020-09-07 | NOTE: The ASI Air software has improved substantially since this video. I now no longer manually move the RA-axis, I let the software rotate it 60 degrees for me.

In this video, I show you how to properly set-up your telescope mount to do a polar alignment using the ZWO ASI Air. What I like about this method is how accurate it is! Each time you think you have things centered, the software narrows the field of view, allowing you to increase your polar alignment accuracy even more! It usually takes me about 5 to 10 minutes to get a tight polar alignment. With autoguiding added on top of it, you should get nice, round stars in your astrophotographs. If you're a visual observer, a good polar alignment also goes a long way in getting accurate go-to slews.

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Back-Focus 101: Newtonian Reflectors with M54 Threads

AstroBlender 2020-08-30 | In this video I show two different methods to attach a camera to a Newtonian telescope. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Also discussed is the general Newtonian Reflector telescope back-focus.

Note: For DSLR camera focusing, or cameras that have significant back-focus from the sensor to the flange, if you can't obtain focus: 1) Remove any extension tubes and see if that allows you to obtain focus. 2) If you still can't obtain focus, try a low-profile focuser.

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Optolong L-eNhance Dual-Band Filter Review

AstroBlender 2020-08-23 | The Optolong L-eNhance dual-band filter is an incredible feat in optical engineering. This filter transmits the hydrogen alpha emission line at a 10nm width and also has a 24nm band that includes both the 486nm hydrogen beta emission line and the 500nm Oxygen-III line. Being able to capture hydrogen alpha and Oxygen-III in the same exposures really helps bring the detail out of deep-sky objects and leave the light pollution out! This filter also transmits over 90% of the H-Alpha, H-Beta, and O-III emission lines, which is excellent for one shot color cameras (OSCs). All in all this filter does its job very well and is popular for good reason!

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What do you Need to Connect your Celestron Telescope Mount to a Computer? (Part 2 of 2)

AstroBlender 2020-08-19 | This video is part two of two in a beginner series on how to connect your computer to your Celestron telescope mount. In this video I show you how to download and install ASCOM. I also discuss what ASCOM is and explain why it is useful. After the ASCOM download, I give a brief overview and demonstration of CPWI software that was installed in part one.

Links:

ASCOM: ascom-standards.org
CPWI and other Celestron software: software.celestron.com
Part 1 of this video: youtu.be/mDxjfGjrjHM

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What do you Need to Connect Your Celestron Telescope Mount to a Computer? (Part 1 of 2)

AstroBlender 2020-08-18 | This video is the first part of two showing you how to connect your Celestron computerized mount to your computer. Connecting your mount to your computer gives you a variety of options from controlling your telescope, controlling your accessories, and giving you the ability to update the firmware. In this video, I show you the cables you need to connect to your mount, the driver you will need, and some useful software.

Links:

Windows OS Prolific Driver: http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41
Apple MacOS Prolific Driver: http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=229&pcid=41
Celestron Software: software.celestron.com
How to Update Version 5 NexStar+ HC & Mount: youtu.be/znXYgf_l2LA
How to Update Version 6 NexStar+ HC & Mount: youtu.be/AgWMdlph7a0
Part 2 of this video: youtu.be/L7UZEKzP1Ew

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ZWO ASI Air Tutorial: Autoguiding & Dithering

AstroBlender 2020-08-13 | This video demonstrates how to autoguide and dither your mount using the ZWO ASI Air operating system. It is actually a very simple process and couldn't be much easier! Dithering your images will allow your stacking software to remove unwanted noise, and autoguiding provides your mount with tracking updates during long exposure imaging to keep your image from blurring.

I've found the ASI Air to be the ultimate tool in portable imaging acquisition. Not having to take a laptop outside with me to autoguide, dither and acquire images has been very convenient and the results speak for themselves.

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Channel Update: Major Announcements and Equipment Updates (Part 2 of 2)

AstroBlender 2020-07-18 | Part 2 of 2 of my channel updates. Welcome to AstroBlender! I'm really excited about the channel's new name, and feel it accurately describes what I do - a blend of videos! In this update I give you an update of what is going on in my life, and some updates I have in my equipment.

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Comet NEOWISE - July 10th, 2020

AstroBlender 2020-07-14 | I quickly imaged Comet NEOWISE the morning of July 10th, 2020. In my haste I forgot to cool my ASI 294 MC Pro, I was also dealing with centering and tilt issues, wind, and imaging through lots of atmosphere! (air mass)...I even forgot darks! I still got see it visually though and I'm happy I had the opportunity to acquire these images. This is a comet you don't want to miss!

Celestron 8 RASA: First Week Imaging

AstroBlender 2020-07-05 | Here is a quick compilation of the 5 images I acquired using the Celestron 8" RASA for the first week. Images were taken using the ZWO ASI 294MC Pro CCD Camera. I also used the Celestron RASA light pollution filter, which is a broadband filter that has given me great results.

For autoguiding I used the ZWO ASI 178MM with the Stellarvue 50mm Guidescope.

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Stellarvue 50mm Photographic Guidescope Review

AstroBlender 2020-06-25 | The Stellarvue 50mm Photographic Guidescope is an excellent choice for wide-field imaging systems. I've used this Guidescope on the Celestron RASA 8 (400mm f.l.) and Explore Scientific ED80CF (480mm) focal length with good results and excellent stability.

The machining on this guidescope is fantastic (as you would expect from Stellarvue) and it clamps into the Stellarvue rings and finder-shoe with ease. The helical focuser is buttery smooth and locks in well to maintain your focus night over night.

Additionally, the guidescope can also be used as a straight-through finderscope by simply adding the included 10mm extension tube.

All in all this is a great guidescope and I highly recommend it!

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Back-Focus 101: DSLR Cameras & the Celestron f/6.3 Reducer/Corrector

AstroBlender 2020-06-17 | Getting the proper back-focus for your imaging camera is a vital step in getting the best data possible out of your telescope imaging/research rig. This is a quick tutorial on how to achieve back focus using a DSLR camera. The Celestron f/6.3 focal reducer/corrector requires a back-focus distance of 105mm from the end of the reducer to the imaging sensor on your camera. The example camera in this video is a Canon SL1, but this will apply to all DSLR cameras as long as you get your focal distance to 105mm. For the typical DSLR with a sensor to flange distance of 45mm, all that is needed is a 10mm T-ring and a Schmidt-Cassegrain T-Adapter (50mm).

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ZWO ASI Air Tutorial: Operating System Back-up and Restore Using Windows

AstroBlender 2020-06-11 | Backing up the operating system on the ASI Air (or ASI Air Pro) is something you should do immediately when you first purchase this device. The operating system is contained on a micro-SD card, and you just never when the card will corrupt or fail. If the card does fail you can restore the operating system and get the ASI Air working again, if you previously backed up the OS.

This video has two parts:
Part 1 shows in detail how to back up the operating system.
Part 2 shows how to restore the operating system on a corrupt card using the back-up created in Part 1.

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Celestron RASA 8 Unboxing!

AstroBlender 2020-05-26 | A brief unboxing video of my new Celestron RASA 8!

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My Observing Set-Up and Telescopes

AstroBlender 2020-05-15 | During this hectic time in our lives, there is one place we can still go to get some peace and quiet... Our backyards! The night sky is always accessible to us and connects us in profound ways. There truly is nothing like a calm, dark evening, viewing the night sky. In this video, I share my current backyard observing deck and the gear I'm currently using. I hope you stay safe and healthy during these unprecedented times!

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