When everything works...

[Macavity]

Remote controlled VIDEO astronomy? Hah - Like shooting fish in a barrel! LOL

But I get few "bragging rights" these days, and it's taken a while to get here.

My little f/50mm video finder with £60 "mini camera" has proved invaluable in

doing a first star EQMod setup from the comfort of my (laughingly) lounge!

If anyone wants to copy my video finder, it's based on a Sony "Exview" device...

http://www.cameras-cctv.com/mini-cam/CB-29BSHRX-B36A-BW-Low-light-Sony-EXVIEW

Plus a reasonably priced CCTV thread 50mm f/2.5 lens from "Stock Optics".

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50mm-Board-Lens-for-CCTV-Security-Cameras-CCTV-BL-DW-50-Stock-Optics-/111123817577?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item19df7ee469

For a quick (video!) look-see, I'm mostly working with 100 frames x 2.56sec.

For galaxies, 100 frames x the maximum 10.24s setting on the Watec Cam.

The above *real time* flashing of the "blinking LED" (whatever the theory!)

Personally, I'm unable to resist a little "post processing", but first an "honest"

Snapshot: C23 - the "Outer Limits" galaxy, including my local light pollution!

Now the above (and the rest) with free rein on stacking / post processing:

Not terribly exciting but interesting? "Abel 426" (Perseus Galaxy Cluster):

An old friend - M1:

The "rather challenging" - M33:

New one for me... "Little Dumbell" planetary nebula - M76 :

Needed a little more "integration" but on my "short" setting - M77:

Finally some unashamed "Astro Bling" - A Composite "Double Cluster":

Finding "Dark Frame" subtraction decidely useful, but still a tad hard...

My "meandring snakes" (hot pixels) are now black, rather than white!

[allcart]

Nice results Chris. You may be feeling a little smug now, but just wait till the winter months when its really dark and cold. Then you will be feeling incredibly smug.    

I see nothing wrong in a bit of post processing on the final image that you want to save for posterity. Its all good.

[Martin Meredith]

Hi Chris

Congrats on your remote setup!

Some great shots there. To me, Abell 426 is both exciting and very interesting ;-) Apparently there are more than 88 galaxies in the cluster and you've captured lots of faint ones.

Martin

[Macavity]

Thanks a lot folks! Still coming down from the excitement...

To me, Abell 426 is both exciting and very interesting

Heheh. Indeed so. One learns something new every day?

I do wish Video Astronomy had been available to me about 40 years previously tho'!

To be frank, I have spent so much time looking at the SAME dozen objects...

The whole thing is still a pretty fantastic experience.

ASIDE: I am vaguely planning observing nights now. lol. (Welsh weather notwithstanding)

With no commercial interest, I am using Steve O'Meara's "Deep Sky Companion" books.

These, allowing for paper printing, have photo figures rather similar to my own results.