Converting a SUPER TUNED MAK 180 to a DEEP SKY ASTROGRAPH

Can a 180mm Maksutov telescope ever be used as a Deep Sky imager???
Hold my beer and LET'S DO THIS!!!!

Please hit a like, share this video and if you just visited my Channel, please subscribe and hit the notifications bell, so that you don't miss out any videos I put out. There will be many more video content like this which will give practical useful info to help newcomers and the astro community to undertake Astro practical tuning, to let viewers get see the Astro equipment I review in detail with my own opinion and experience with the equipment I own, (Hence I am not endorsed with any sponsors to give biased unrealistic reviews).

So please everyone show your support to MP ASTRO and subscribe onto my channel, if you want to see real authentic reviews and modifications that do work and have been tested out by myself.

Links to the featured products in the video shown:

Agena website on guidescopes:

Agena website on focal reducers:

ASTRONOMY TOOLS FOV page:

Garnett Leary's channel:

RVO Optics products:

ANTARES 0.63X Focal Reducer

ANTARES 0.5x Focal Reducer

365 Astronomy products:

ALTAIR ASTRO:

FIRST LIGHT OPTICS:

MAK TO SCT ADAPTER for MAK 127:

Baader nosepiece:

MODERN ASTRONOMY:

60mm Guidescope featured on video:

ZWO 60mm Guidescope:

[Mistr_A]

the amount of work you put into your videos is to be acknowledged mate appreciate all you do for the astro community.

[egg]

WOOOW!! That is absolutely brilliant my friend!!

[ohwell]

After this video super tuning my Mak 127 Sky Watcher. This is the best thing since sliest bread. Thanks for the video the world of astronomy will remember this day forever.

[stever]

Liked and subscribed....Thank you for your efforts in helping others with astronomy like me.

[MichealQuilligan]

Well done Martin always look forward to see your video, s. They are very good for the new kids on the block stay safe .watching from ireland cheers

[TheStevecas]

Martin one thing that will always stick in my mind is Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty especially when in the dark. That is a great tip!

[GarnettLeary]

Wow Martin! As usual tons of research and information. My next move was going to be the 0.5 2” version. I’m so glad you field tested that one. As you know both Skywatcher and Orion are talking up that both the newer 150 and 200 Maks have 2” visual backs. They really should specify the internal diameter restriction. That was one of the measurements I was excited to get from you. It’s pretty standard apparently across Maksutovs. That M51 is amazing! Fantastic job. You totally put up. Thank you for the mention. It was really enlightening having conversations about this topic. One certainty is that it CAN BE DONE. We share that in common that we don’t like the word “can’t”. This is a brilliant video for folks who already have the Mak and want to do deep sky. It fills a big hole where there was previously no information. I try very hard to do the same. In the age of information there is no excuse. Fine job sir. I’ll be popping off shots with the 127 as soon as OPT quits doing stupid collaborations and April Fools jokes and gets my gear to me. Clear skies.

[BrokenPik]

Martin, where did you get your Mak 180 clamping Rings?

[GarnettLeary]

Bummer, I’ll be out to sea. I’ll definitely come watch it after I get back. Clear skies.

[whatmattersmost]

Martin we LOVE your hard work and your DIY videos my friend! Hope your hand is almost back to normal and looking forward to more MAK 180 DIY videos!!

[Astrobloke]

Hi Martin. It is tough making videos for sure but you are doing a great thing trying to help other, keep it up. I have an RC8 that I have been using for galaxy season and I was having a lot of issues with the guiding on my EQ6R Pro. What sorted it for me was to move to OAG. Takes a bit of setting up but it really fixes the guiding and now I can image 10mins + at the full 1625mm and it weighs less than a guidescope. I bought the ZWO OAG which was also cheaper than a guidescope that would give me the adequate reach.

[daddyzac]

Great video. I will use your ideas with my 6.inch GSO RC and vintage Celestron c8 scopes.

[jasonmcintosh]

I bought a guide scope identical to yours for my 180 Mak. It's made by SVBONY. I'll be doing some testing with it on my AVX mount. Thanks for blazing the trail for me! At least I know what issues to pay attention to. I'm curious to find out if a barlow will work with the guidescope...

[GalaxyArtMedia]

Nice result, 200 seconds looks like a decent time. i think is easier to use the smaller maksutov telescopes like the 127 for astrophotography since the focal length is not that long.

[michaelklemm-abraham]

Dear Martin,
It is a great scope and a great idea. I am just not sure how you got the spacing. Since you've always had that 2" adapter in place it seemed to me like the spacing would never be correct but maybe I didn't understand your calculation. Doesn't matter in the end since your result looked good.
Also, I am not the person to critique you. From you, I've learned how to tune my EQ5 mount, which lead to me also tuning my HEQ5 mount and we'll see what else will be coming.
One thing I can tell is I've got myself a 6" classic cassegrain (no SCT) with f/13 focal ratio. For this telescope, there is a 0.67 reducer available that brings it down to f/8 making it way more suitable for deep-sky photography. In this combination, I am able to shoot with an APS-C camera (Fuji X-T1) with reasonable vignetting and I never had an issue with my ASI1600MM which also is a micro 4/3 camera.

[jokisoja]

Once again, another clear, honest and bang on video... Martin I always watch your videos because they are very clear, precise and as you say are they are created on a budget with the novice in mind... There are a lot of so called vloggers out there who profess to be not what the are and some even appear to be copying from other vloggers. There was once a time when I was in touch with these such people and would ask questions about specific issues that I once had and not once did they ever get back to me with answers. I have now learned that some of these so called Elitists have sponsors and some have there own video crew so why should they answer my questions, after all I am only a novice and they cane gain shit from me so answer my questions..? You keep up with the good work pal and never be dissuaded by the elite with their false claims and sponsors KEEP IT REAL PAL.

[telemaq]

i have a mak 180 too, a stock one, last year i had the idea to mount it on my new avalon mount to test dso, and it worked insane. with a asi 1600mm, m101 was full screen, m51 looks fantastic, i was really surprise how well it worked on galaxy. lots of signal even at f15

[ericemanuelson]

Great video! Someday I'll try my hand at long exposure the Eq mount I want has been back ordered for a year now. Last I seen it'll be in stock the end of November.

[andelkoloncar]

Martin, ..will You be so kind to tell where did You get those rings for Mak tube!? I looked EVERYWHERE but I found nothing like that. Thx a lot in advance for Your answer!! Other than that AWESOME work with videos and all else ofc!!

[douglassmith]

At 1:24:06 you mention you took darks and bias at each colour filter. But darks and bias do not care about the filters (since there is no light). But taking flats through each filter is recommended (for dust, etc).