I GOTTA PIER!!!...oh and a new scope too!!

Well I finally got it done, I have my pier installed and to celebrate, I got a new scope to cure my aperture fever! Join me on as I explain what went well, and what went wrong as I tackled this project to improve my astrophotography. Plus I'll share my first image using the new pier and EdgeHD 8 at F/10 with the ASIAir Pro!!
iOptron Permanent Pier: www.ioptron.com/product-p/803...
iOptron CEM60 EQ Mount: www.ioptron.com/product-p/720...
Celestron EdgeHD8: www.celestron.com/products/ed...
ZWO ASI294MM Pro: astronomy-imaging-camera.com/...
ZWO ASIAir Pro: astronomy-imaging-camera.com/...
ZWO ASI174MM Mini: astronomy-imaging-camera.com/...
ZWO EAF: astronomy-imaging-camera.com/...
ZWO EFW 2": astronomy-imaging-camera.com/...
Celestron Off Axis Guider: www.celestron.com/products/of...
Tri-bahtinov mask: farpointastro.com/products/tr...
Declination counterweight: www.admaccessories.com/produc...

[@PeterClarke55]

Elementary, my Dear Watson. Hope to join the pier crew from my allotment this winter.

[@spaztech]

Congrats on the new pier and OTA Eric. Looks very sturdy.

[@peeb2896]

Man after my own heart Eric! Love the video and always look forward to seeing your images on YT! Take care...

[@Jason-qt8bm]

Very happy for you! Excellent setup and clear skies to you!

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks Jason! Clear skies!!

[@michaelfeigenbaum2415]

Excellent and very informative Eric!

[@Davennep]

Great video! Very nice pier and scope. I just finished my pier a few weeks ago. It is indeed a game changer. Have fun with the hobby and clear skies !

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks Paul!! Clear Skies!

[@Ronbo765]

That is a hell of a pier. 👍

[@earthling-fh2mg]

It was a pleasure watching and listening, Eric. I have a Meade 8 inch Sct from the 90s I have yet to use in earnest here in Scotland.

[@horaciodortona574]

Congratulations! Your setup looks amazing enjoy and thanks for sharing! 👍

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks so much!

[@guyonamotorcycle1]

Great vid! Thanks Eric. Ordered my EdgeHD 8 but every one is out of the .7 reducers... oh well. Clear skies!

[@sbd661]

Now that, was a level up! (que the Mario doing) Thanks for the vid, was one of the best I've seen on what you need to get started with SCT scopes! AND the fireworks were spectacular!

[@ScottDavies]

Terrific video Eric 👍 Very helpful

[@bloodstone2000]

Great Video! I picked up an Early 80's Celestron Super C8 last month. and you have convinced me to get a tri bahtinov mask!

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks I think it’s really useful to get collimation done, it’s inexpensive and seems to work well.

[@user-dr8ug3gs3c]

I was listening but I couldn't take my eyes off that mount, pier and scope. NICE!!!

[@christianadelatour850]

Thank u for sharing you’re pierden e and knowledge

[@AstrowithEric]

My pleasure

[@Nottsboy24]

Nice setup you have there 🔭 i have the Celestron Nexstar Evolution 9.25" 👌 greetings from the UK ☺

[@fazergazer]

I always learn something new each time I see one of your videos. Tri-Bahtinov for helping secondary alignment. It might help with the alignment of my Intes MK 67 front end secondary

[@flyboyu777]

Looks good Eric-I'm thinking of making a pier for my CEM 120 using concrete blocks glued together and filled with concrete in the holes, rebar for more strength. . . .

[@lordphilip]

The Bahtinov mask is a device used to focus small astronomical telescopes accurately. The bobs nobs are for Collimation. Collimation is the process of aligning all components in a telescope to bring light to its best focus. All telescopes need to be collimated at some point; however, it's easy to perform this task on some and a bit more involved for others

[@DSOImager]

Thumbs of for the T shirt alone :) Dang J hooks! Nice shot! The 294mm matches up real well with the Edge8. I've been running that combo for a few months and its been great! Got a few examples on my channel.

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks for the feedback, I gotta get some new shirts for future videos. The 294mm is a great camera, still getting used to mono from doing OSC for years. I’ll check out your channel, clear skies!

[@boaty1968]

Nice setup Eric , you seem to have a lot of power wires , I ran a ducting from my shed to the centre of pier and a 12v cable supplying a power box at pier base , and a usb3 cable from shed to a 12v powered usb3 hub , I have a deepskydad hub2 on ota supplying power to equipment , camera autofocuser etc , I’d be careful of a square plate you may find that being a cable snagger , personally I would have dug that concrete back out and had a circular base but hey your all up and running now 👍

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks, this is phase 1, I’m planning to build a deck/platform next year and running power from the house to the pier that will eliminate a couple cables. I was thinking of running everything off the PBB but didn’t want to over load it so I separated the power and have have the ASIAIR Pro running from one managing the camera, EAF, and dew strip and the PBB just on the mount ATM. The CAT6 cable will get adjusted run underground too. Thanks for the feedback! Clear skies!

[@KB2AT]

Hey buddy. Good to see cem60 still going strong. Trying to get back into hobby now. Got an 8” Sct. Looking for mount now

[@AstrowithEric]

That’s awesome! Welcome back! The CEM is running well, but I’m planning to replace the RA worm and gear.

[@bobbeanbags]

Great video! Congrats on the new setup! Can you use the tri-bahtinov mask to help columate hyperstar?

[@AstrowithEric]

I’m unsure on using it with hyperstar but it has much larger collimation screws vs my RASA 8 so I don’t see why it couldn’t.

[@developercm]

Very beautiful scope, mount, and pier. I would like to have a pier, but I live in WA State, and it is oftentimes raining or overcast, so I don't get to do observing regularly. Until I move to a warmer, dryer climat, I'll stick with the tripod method. I ordered an iOptron CEM70G, still waiting for it to arrive. It has a guide scope and polar scope built into the mount, and has GPS built in to help with getting it aligned with the sky. Its on back-order, so I gotta wait 14-28 days before it ships...

[@larrychristianson2244]

Just subscribed and will be checking out your other channel too. Nice setup. I'm just getting back into astronomy after a long hiatus; so much has changed since I was last active. But your setup is very close to what I have been thinking would be my setup in the spring; cem70, edge 9.25 and if the wife is willing, a pier. Do you take in your mount head and scope when they aren't in use? Or maybe there's an adequate cover (besides a roll-off, etc.)? Nice photo at the end. I'll be poring through both channels. Best wishes.

[@Dudleydogg]

I found a HD 800, Local in US ordered will have next week. Almost bought a RC then found some stock so switched gears.

[@reidchandler6486]

Try your scope and asi2600mm tipping over because of a staut cover like a 365 having just been added and wind catching it just enough even though it was outside for months before with a more pliable cover that wind would whip around.. not kidding. Luckily I have my equipment insured, and the only "piece" that took the damage was the 7 position 2" EFW, I got LUCKY lol

[@fazergazer]

Is that base 30x30x10, and does the 12” 40 deep cylinder still stabilize the top rectangular concrete plate? Anyway, I think the drilling and using epoxy might actually be more stable than traditional J-hooks! Thanks for the great video. I plan to eventually do this or something like it!

[@antoniomoratilla]

Oh, and one more question I forgot! What's the program you're using to show the focus data on the video? I've been very impressed with measures shown! Thanks a lot!

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks, I use Movavi video suite and it’s just adding some of graphics that came included. Glad you liked the video. I might do a collimation video using my other SCT as the demonstration, not a bad idea! Clear skies!

[@stephenmcarthur2250]

Nice work, I’m enjoying your very informative videos. I have a very similar setup having recently got the Celestron edge 8 HD. Quite a learning curve, and has taken me quite some time to figure out collimation. I tried the tri mask, but made it worse, obviously didn’t master the technique. Any hints would be appreciated. .

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks, check out my video on collimating with a tri-bahtinov mask. Hopefully that can help.

[@stephenmcarthur2250]

@@AstrowithEric I watched it a couple of times and wasn’t sure how to determine which screws to tighten/loosen in relation to cantering which spikes. I have an image of what it looked like if you would be so kind to comment

[@antoniomoratilla]

Hi, great video! I didn't know about tribathinov mask. Are you going to record a video showing the collimation process?

[@AstrowithEric]

Yes, soon

[@mattestabrook]

@@AstrowithEric Excellent! I have a Celestron C6 with Hyperstar. Installing the Hyperstar has thrown off my collimation and my efforts to re-collimate have failed. I can use all the help I can get!

[@PrivateGaviero]

Nice Eric, congrats on the pier (a pier will be in my future one day). Do you use a weather proof custom tarp to cover during the day or bad weather? Or, how much equipment do you bring in doing bad weather or hot days? Also, in another vid you mentioend running an ethernet cable from your ASIAir Pro into you house. Is that just plugged into a hub on your home network and does the ASIAir do DHCP? (I don't have the AA+ and if I can keep using my AAPro that will keep me happy for now). I'd love to be able to connect to my AAPro from inside my house. Thanks!

[@AstrowithEric]

Hi Robert, sorry for such a late reply. I do use a Telegizmos 365 cover for my rig. I can keep my setup covered year around and just bring it in when switching scope and imaging train. I donuse an ethernet cable that I run to a switch in my home network and it can connect via DHCP or static IP, I use a static and its nice that I can connect to the unit and simply copy my imaging sessions and calibration files right over the network to my desktop PC. I also use BlueStacks to run the ASIAir from my desktop. Hope you have a great day! Clear Skies!

[@PrivateGaviero]

@@AstrowithEric Hi Eric, Thanks for the information! I am defintely looking to run ethernet, even to just be able to sit in my house to do small final setup.

[@AstroSoundscape]

I just got this same mount Eric. Just wondered have you found the built in USB hub any use on the mount or do you tend not to use it? Cheers.

[@AstrowithEric]

It’s a great mount, but the USB hub for me is useless as I use 8 port USB 3 hub and connect my equipment to it and then to my ASIAir Plus.

[@AstroSoundscape]

@@AstrowithEric Thanks Eric I think I will be going with a separate USB 3 hub as well.

[@deeber35]

I have the Sky Watcher AZ-GTi mount in EQ mode. Can it track with a 400mm lens on a crop sensor without auto-guiding? I've had success at 300mm.

[@AstrowithEric]

I would think so but not sure since I don’t have the equipment. Give it a try, what would it hurt?

[@sbkarajan]

At the top of the aluminum pier, does the square plate come off? I think I have seen that same pier without the square thing between the pier and the mount, just nice cylinder continuously.... I see some shiny screws at the top of the round portion of the pier at 9:39... I am considering to install the garden telescope pier myself...

[@AstrowithEric]

Yes the top does come off.

[@sbkarajan]

@@AstrowithEric Great, thanks!!!

[@DavesAstrophotography]

Hi Eric, just found your channel! sub'd!

[@AstrowithEric]

Thanks Dave, ditto! Looking forward to seeing your videos. CS!

[@Dudleydogg]

How is the backlash with the Focus and running Auto focus with ASIAIR, does the mirror give you a difficult time, do you get good curves when doing auto focus, does it compensate for the old addage of turn past then go back to catch focus? Do you auto focus then lock mirror? I am asking because Im stuck between getting a RC and Edge, I feel the Crayford is more stable of a focuser than moving a mirror. this reason I have this attitude is my first Scope is the made 8' LX200 and if you sneeze the freeing mirror moves LOL.

[@AstrowithEric]

The backlash is fine, I set mine to 100 and I get good curves. With the ASIAir, it’s not recommended to do the mirror lock, that may be true if doing AF no matter what but not 100% on that but I don’t lock it. I was thinking about an RC but the collimating issues vs an SCT and just dealing w the secondary and 3 screws I feel the Edge is best for me. The Meade doesn’t come close in comparison to an Edge IMO.

[@Dudleydogg]

@@AstrowithEric My Meade is goo d learner and good for viewing, I went down the dark path of Astrophotography and it was a nightmare, I got refractor and got feet wet but want something for the smaller targets now. was going to defork the meade but that will just bring my struggles back, so was juggling the RC or the Edge 8, Just not sure how the focuser works with the mirror. I may reconsider my RC thoughts. ON the flip side you can buy RC's NOW the Edge's no longer exist. IN the US. thanks so much for the replies.

[@Dudleydogg]

@@AstrowithEric Celestron OAG I presume, thanks for the chat, I am hunting around and appreciate this info, Just bought a pair going to make my cement foot to mount on soon.

[@Dudleydogg]

How heavy is the ballast weight you have in Front 2.5 or 5 Lbs? sorry for all the questions I am setting up exact rig

[@AstrowithEric]

Here it is… www.admaccessories.com/product/dvcw-s-d-and-v-series-counterweight-with-3-threaded-rod/

[@nasanction]

What do you think of using a Telephone pole as a pier? I have a 6 foot x 12 inch section that I would like to use, as I already have it. The shed will not be attached to the pier.

[@AstrowithEric]

I have seen photos of 4x4 posts bolted together with pier plates secured on top for mounts. So IMO if the hole is dug wide enough and below the frost line, depending on the state you live in, I don’t see why it can’t work. But I’d do the best I could to secure it to avoid ground shifting. Clear Skies!

[@nasanction]

@@AstrowithEric I'm in Fl. It's all sand, no frost line just the water table, but that's 25' here. If I follow the procedures that I saw the power company using, they slap tar on it and put 20% in the sand and pack it down. How ever, I just cut a 7.5' piece and figure 3' in ground should give me the height I need after the flooring. I'll probably make a wedge mount for the top. I' think I'm gonna give it a try, If I have problems with it, I'll replace it later.

[@anata5127]

I thought you will show 14 or 16” telescope 😀

[@fazergazer]

Is that a solar panel or water heater on the roof behind you?

[@AstrowithEric]

Solar

[@georges3799]

What's your opinion regarding the Meade 8" LX90 ACF vs the EdgeHD?

[@AstrowithEric]

Given the recent transition of Meade to Orion, I'm really not sure on their future. But TBH I have never used an ACF and don't know much on the features to compare the 2 OTAs would be unfair.

[@georges3799]

@@AstrowithEric Thanks. Cheers

[@Dudleydogg]

Do you leave the Mount head on the Peir overnight and just cover?

[@AstrowithEric]

Yes I do, I have a Telegizmos 365 cover and I will cover the scope and mount and bungee cord it closed at the bottom of the cover if I’m planning to image for a few nights. If it’s going to be a cloud streak, I’ll bring the scope inside.

[@Dudleydogg]

@@AstrowithEric Scope or just the mount? My plan was to leave the mount head out. then just take scope in and out. I did buy one of those massive covers for my old Meade which will keep it dry.

[@Dudleydogg]

@@AstrowithEric telegizmos thats it Yep i bought one for my Meade then never used it. I could imaging leaving a RC out have it rain then get up and see it full of water

[@michaelasbury5473]

Do you have a video or know of a resource that shows to use a tribahtinov mask for collimation?

[@AstrowithEric]

I will work on creating a video this week. Stay tuned! Thanks!

[@michaelasbury5473]

@@AstrowithEric you are awesome!

[@AstrowithEric]

@@michaelasbury5473 video posted, hope it helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qILPp6Ktp8usj9E

[@michaelasbury5473]

@@AstrowithEric thanks! It was VERY helpful! I did have 1 question that I addressed there about telling which knob to adjust. Thanks again, you are awesome!

[@theNikonGuy]

Samurai swords are upside down mate.

[@Ronbo765]

Do you keep that scope under a tarp? What kind of climate are you in?

[@AstrowithEric]

yes, I use a Telegizmos 365 cover for my rig, I'm in the Midwest so it can get pretty cold in the winter and humid in the summer.

[@jaredrrrr5074]

Please work on cable management. Beautiful setup ruined by atrocious cable management