Warning: I picked a cheap mount over a GoTo for my first deep sky rig

Chose a manual EQ mount to save $800, but tracking the Orion Nebula for 3 minutes was way harder than I expected. Anyone have tips for manual tracking without star trails?

2 comments

2 Comments

johnfoster9d ago

Oh man, I feel this so hard. I did the exact same thing last year, thought I'd be smart and save the cash. Trying to nudge that slow-motion control for my first long exposure on Andromeda was a total nightmare, my arm was cramping up after ten minutes. What finally helped me was just practicing on a really bright star first with a wide lens, just getting the feel of how tiny the movements need to be. It's still a huge pain, but you do get a little better at it.

the_val9d ago

Wait, you got a THREE minute shot manually? That's wild, I can barely keep it together for 30 seconds. @johnfoster is right about practicing on a bright star, it's the only way. The tiny movements you need are insane, like barely breathing on the knob. My hand always shakes and ruins it. Honestly, this whole thread is making me rethink my life choices and just save up for the GoTo.