Welcome to OctansLab

OctansLab – The beginning

Discover the treasures of the night sky and learn how to capture and process lunar, planetary, wide field and deep sky objects. OctansLab is based in South East Queensland, Australia and images with a range of telescopes including a William Optics GT71 refractor, a William Optics GTF102mm refractor and Celestron RASA8 all mounted on an Ioptron CEM40 controlled via an ZWO ASIair.

Updated 3D printed bracket for Orion 50mm guidescope

Improving the Orion 50mm guide scope adapterOne of the benefits of working in CAD software and then fabricating a functioning part using 3D printing is the ability to iterate and improve a design relatively quickly and easily. I first had the idea to move...

3D printed bracket for Polemaster to Avalon Instruments M Zero

PoleMaster bracket part deux.This is an updated bracket to attach the PoleMaster polar alignment camera to the Avalon Instruments M Zero mount. The plan is to attach the 3D printed bracket to the bottom arm where the RA counter weights sit. Obviously this...

Changing the guide scope on the Avalon Instruments M Zero mount

New guide scope for the M-Zero mountI am looking to do longer exposures with the RASA8 using the IDAS NB1 Nebula Booster filter (up to 120 seconds). The plan is to use it in conjunction with the CEM40 mount with the Orion 50mm scope for guiding. Up till...

Configuring the M Zero mount for the Borg55FL

The Borg55FL on the Avalon Instruments M Zero mountHorizon to horizon imaging is possible when using the short focal length Borg refractor Configuring the M Zero mount for the Borg55FL Spacer rings for back focus The tilt adjuster ...

First light for the Borg55FL

Borg55FL first light with the ASI183MMWith the coming of the storm season in Brisbane plus a very busy work schedule there has been little opportunity to get the newly acquired Borg55FL under the night sky to do astrophotography. However, an unexpected...

Configuring the M Zero mount for the RASA8

The RASA8 on M Zero mount Using a drone battery with 3D print for counter weight Counterweight and guide scope setup RASA8 with clear optical filter RASA8 with optical filter removed RASA8 optical window removed IDAS RASA8 filter...

Configuring the M Zero mount for the William Optics GTF102mm f6.9 refractor

Testing the William Optics GTF102 on the M Zero mount The Avalon Instruments M- Zero mount can be configured to take a variety of telescopes by moving/flipping the L-shaped bracket that almost looks like a boomerang. To take the somewhat heavy GTF102mm...

3D printing for astronomy: ASI294MC PRO camera to Star Adventurer adapter

Wide field astrophotography One area of astrophotography I really enjoy is wide field imaging. I started off doing wide field astrophotography with my micro four thirds cameras, the Olympus OMD-EM5, progressed to the EM1.2 and then the Panasonic GH5-S....

3D printing for astronomy: Attach a PoleMaster to Avalon Instruments M-Zero mount

Fabricate a PoleMaster to M-Zero adapterThe PoleMaster is a dedicated polar alignment device/camera from QHYCCD. I have been using it since it first came out and is one of the best astrophotography purchases I have made. Ease of use and polar alignment...

Virgo galaxy region wide field, Canon FD 50mm f1.4 & ASI183MM Pro

All you need is some time and patience, a cloudless night, a $50 vintage lens, a simple tracking mount and a camera. Sounds simple enough but not always achievable. The biggest variable, the weather finally played ball last night so I had the change to try out some...