ZWO AM3 + PD200 Pier extension, First light!

In this video I cover my first impression of the ZWO AM3 and the PD200 Pier extension. I used the tripod from my AVX. I also share my first completed image taken with this set up.
Gear:
Askar 65PHQ
ZWO AM3
ZWO ASI294MM
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There are also affiliate links. If you make any purchases using the links below, I get a small commission.
High Point Scientific
www.highpointscientific.com/?...
AM3 mount head only: www.highpointscientific.com/z...
PD200 Pier Extension: www.highpointscientific.com/z...
RC-Astro:
BlurXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/bxt...
NoiseXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/nxt...
StarXTerminator: www.rc-astro.com/software/sxt...
#astrophotography
#pixinsight
#zwo

[@ClearAmbientSkies]

I have several 'top drawers' all over the house. I need to consolidate. Great video James! I enjoyed it.

[@DSOImager]

lol, Thanks Jason!

[@woody5109]

Great video, also, great looking dioramas 👍

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Woody! The scale models give me something to do when its cloudy :)

[@AZ4Runner]

so know you have a record in the video of where you placed the post. just gotta remember to go back to the video if you can't find the post. Good catch on the mount setting. Valuable information for future AM3 & AM5 users. Like the greens! CS

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Jason! I wouldn't be the first time I've used my videos for personal reference. lol

[@bossef1968]

Hi James, I got the same scope and same mount + 60mm guiding scope and asi120mm cam. I use the TC40 tripod with a 20 pounds dumbbell in the basket. I was able to take it out 2 times until now. First night, I achieved 0.35 to 0.60 with the default asiair plus guiding setting for Calibration step and Max DEC-RA duration. Exposure time was 2 sec. with RA @60 and DEC @80. The second night was freaking cool (-20c) with average seeing, and I was more around 0.85-0.95.

[@DSOImager]

Your numbers look pretty good. Thanks for sharing Francis.

[@MazzifLOL]

I've always wondered about using my 294mm in Bin1. I was nervous about the lower full well and QE rating (on paper) but your result looks pretty compelling. Looking forward to the full processing video on that.

[@DSOImager]

I think the concerns about full well are overstated. The subs on these shots were 10 mins subs at gain 120. I probably could have increased the exposure/gain a bit and still not max the well depth.

[@MazzifLOL]

Intriguing! Thanks for the feedback.@@DSOImager

[@Si-fp2ij]

Hi James After watching this clip, I tried setting my ASI air plus guide camera settings to 0.5sec exposures on approx 35gain (it’s a ZWO120 mini) as I had been struggling to get below 1 arc min with my guiding on my new AM5 I’m happy to report tonight it’s been between 0.40 - 0.7 all night RA 55% and Dec 70% aggression I also took your advice and put a little counterweight on even though it’s says it shouldn’t need it for my Askar 120 APO So thanks for the tip!

[@DSOImager]

That's awesome Si, I'm glad this info helped :)

[@Si-fp2ij]

@@DSOImager It was so great to see 0.40 guiding James when I was struggling to get anything under 1.00 Many thanks

[@MrDirtyRod]

AM5 aggression settings at 70% and 1 second exposures with a 50mm guide scope and a 290mm, on a Redcat71 and I average .5”-.6” sometimes lower with great seeing. Guided with out of the box settings for months with about the same RMS so the default settings were fine for me too.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you are getting very solid results.

[@actudoran]

nice new toy! enjoy it James! keep us updated on the settings for it will be relevant. same scope same camera for guiding 😅 Cuiv the lazy geek found an appreciable improvement from just movin to the new sensors out there for guiding... don't know if that helps ... but it might be worth giving it a try with a newer sensor type for guiding ...

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Alex! Looks like we might get a couple clear nights this weekend... with the full moon out, if I'm smart I would focus on tuning my rigs (I need to check collimation on my edge too). Problem is, I'm not smart.. so we'll see, lol.

[@actudoran]

@@DSOImager I don't believe that for a second ! but I've been there ... I know what's it like to try new things and also the race against time for imagining as the night goes by ... the collimation on my C11 was a non issue and it's solid as far as I can tell... haven't pulled the trigger on any Barlow yet ... APM had a few interesting choices... it's been weird from a weather point of view clear daytime and foggy at night ... so yup ... been a while since I got to enjoy my toys ... hopefully I remember how it's done when the time comes ;)

[@AnomalousAstro]

Hi James - I had the same 'below the horizon' problem with my AM5 last summer. Like you I'm not fully in the ZWO system; mount, 2600mc, and an asiair that I use as a usb/power source only. IIRC my solution was to use the convoluted mount firmware update through my phone 👎but it did solve the problem. Sorry I don't have any current PHD logs as I've been using my HD8 on a CEM70 during the scant clear nights over the last several months. The few sessions I was using the AM5 (pushing a Williams Optics GT81) I was getting

[@DSOImager]

They should add a note to the instruction sheet about this. I did lose a night of imaging over this issue. I bet the edge 8 runs well on that cem70. CS!

[@mikegdroid]

Still waiting for an opportunity to use my AM3 that I recently acquired. Have you considered using a mono cam for your guide scope? You're giving up a lot of pixels with that color cam. Looks like you're doing pretty well either way.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Mike. You raise a good point on the osc guide cam. It is something to consider. Hope you get clear skies soon.

[@frederickroberts6523]

Hi there! I wanted to let you know that I watched your video and found it very informative. I noticed that the AM3 mount is currently on sale, and I'm interested to know your thoughts on this mount and what payload capacity you would recommend. I'm planning to start with EAA and do some light astrophotography after many years of just visual observing. I recently bought an S50 and am no longer interested in visual observing. I want to keep my setup as light as possible, so maybe a refractor or a 6" SCT. I'm eagerly waiting for your thoughts on the AM3 mount. Thanks!

[@DSOImager]

Hi Frederick! I think the AM3 is a great little mount and is perfect for smaller refactors. I think it's totally doable up to a ~4" refractor. As far as a 6" SCT goes.. it can handle the weight no problem but I don't know if it will guide well enough at longer focal lengths. Maybe it can but I've only used a 65mm refractor with mine. An AM5 might be a better choice for the extra capacity.

[@LogansAstro]

Great video James. My AM5 has been guiding between 0.39 and 0.66 total RMS error which you can see on my last video (excluding the settling time). I've been guiding with 1 sec exposures and I've just checked my settings and the RA aggression is 60% and Dec aggression 100%. However, these are settings are in the guiding of the ASIAIRPro so not sure if they are exactly equivalent to PHD2 running on a PC. Interesting about the location of the mount at initial start - I have only used the AM5 with the ASIAIR and an iPad so I guess that's why I didn't have this issue. However, i have been finding the wifi connections to both the ASIAIRPro and ASIAIRPlus extremely frustrating and erratic so was thinking of moving back to the Intel NUC and NINA for my AM5 rig. But now I'm wondering if I use the Intel NUC and NINA and move the rig to a new location, will I always need to connect the AM5 to my phone first to update the Longtitude and latitude positions of the rig 🤔

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Logan. That is an interesting question. Well, I guess if you're running on the NUC and travel with the rig.. and it has this problem... connect it to your phone real quick. :)

[@paskoh]

Question about connecting the AVX. does the central rod/screw connect with the plate or is the whole too big? Thanks

[@DSOImager]

The central rod that goes through the accessory trey and screws into the bottom of the AVX mount also screws into the zwo plate/adapter.

[@paskoh]

@@DSOImager Thank you. I was hoping this is the case. I have an AVX mount and have ordered an AM5 and PE200 so great to know. Cheers

[@John_Hudson_922]

From what i've seen (just my anecdotal observations) people who have this great success also seem to be fully baked into ZWO. Aka they are using the ASIAIR, etc. So, maybe thats part of it?

[@DSOImager]

It could be if the asiair knows what settings are best. Mechanically I wouldn't expect any difference.

[@woody5109]

I have ZWO everything, sitting on an EQ6r pro, I’ve never gotten below 2 arc seconds, ever?

[@John_Hudson_922]

@@woody5109 i mean including an AM3 or AM5 mount

[@ron2913]

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, your initial problem plate solving has to do with the incorrect longitude that was entered. +120 degrees is in the eastern hemisphere and it sounds like you are in the western hemisphere. You should have entered -120 degrees.

[@DSOImager]

You're right. I may have mispoke in the video about what I entered... I set this up a month ago. I'm now thinking it wouldn't let me change it even though it looks like a field that could be edited. The longitude of my backyard is -97. Just now, out of curiosity, I plugged the coordinates shown into google maps, and it's a point on the outskirts of Suzhou, which is where ZWO says their headquarters is located :)