My adventures from Jan 24th

[Eriktim82]

My first time posting here. I used a Orion xt10 goto, SCB-200 with IR filter removed and 2 fans, and a 0.5x focal reducer. The temperature was just below freezing out side.

[DoctorD]

Hi

Welcome to our group - excellent results, looks like you have some pretty dark skies, your Horsehead is amazing for an 8.5s image.

Clear skies

Paul

[Eriktim82]

Thank you. The place where I go is mostly in the blue on the light pollution map.

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[nytecam]

Welcome to the forum (sorry I forgot to yesterday). Excellent results and very smooth :-) Some exposure details would be welcome :-)

[Nibor]

Welcome to the VA group forum!!

Looking forward to more great images - and ,yes, - exposure details are welcome!!

Keep up the good work!!

[Eriktim82]

Ok.

For IC 434, M 42, NGC 2024, and M 82 (M 81 only had 7 frames)

Exposure - 64 frames x 8.5s using batch capture in WxAstroCapture, so 9 minutes worth of exposure.

AGC - low

ssnr - half way

ssdr - halfway

Adjusted brightness and contrast using WxAstroCapture before capturing

Processing

Converted 64 frames avi to bmp

Stacked using Deep Sky Stacker

Gradient, levels, and curves adjusted using Photoshop.

Hopefully that's everything. Let me know if i forgot anything.

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[Eriktim82]

I forgot

I captured 64 x 8.5s of dark frames and stack them along with the lights in DSS

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[nytecam]

Many thanks for the info on your technique - much appreciate.  Keep up the good work

[Paul81]

Welcome to the group and great work on the captures - looks like the xt10 is tracking very well - I always wondered how the tracking dobs would work out for video astronomy but looks like it works just fine!

Looking forward to seeing the results of your future sessions!

[Eriktim82]

It does a good job. The goto part does a good job if you have a have a wide fov, but with the fov of the camera you have to hunt for it sometimes.

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[Paul81]

I also find with the Az-Eq6 the goto is not always accurate enough for the small sensor at the 1.2m focal length. I normally goto a nearby star, centre it I'm the camera image using 10ms exposures then do a PAE align via the mount handset then goto to the target. That normally puts it pretty much bang on and tends to also track well!

For visual I still like to sometimes star hop (albeit using the handset) and just let the mount carry on tracking when I have found the target.

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[Eriktim82]

Good advice. I totally forgot about the PAE alignment feature that my scope has. What kind of scope do you use Paul?

I got my 10" f4.7 dob down to roughly f3.2 using a focal reducer.

[Paul81]

I use a 10" F4.8 reflector. What focal reducer do you have? I'd be interested in getting one myself as speed is the key for video astronomy!

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[Nibor]

Many thanks for the info - I really must get my 10" reflector set up with my video cam and have a go myself!!

It must be very satisfying to get such good results from a relatively modest camera.

Out of interest have you considered listing your equipment in your signature??

[Eriktim82]

I use as a 2" c-mount adapter from Scopestuff.com

http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_c2bf.htm - link to the 2" c-mount.

1.25" GSO 0.5x FR from agenaastro.com

http://agenaastro.com/gso-1-25-0-5x-focal-reducer.html - link to the FR

In the future I will upgrade my FR so something with better quality, but the GSO works good for now.

The important part is with the 2" c-mount adapter is there is also 1.25" threads and I screw on the FR to that. With that setup the FR actually works as a 0.67x FR.

[geminijk]

I have the same came, but you get excellent results!  Way to go. 

John

[Eriktim82]

Thank you geminijk. I've had my camera for almost a year now and it has taken some time getting use to it and messing around with it. The main thing I've done is just experiment with the settings.

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