What Next?

[redmoo]

Hi All,

First time poster, long time lurker! 

So, about 2 months ago, I decided to get into the world of astronomy. Done a lot of reading about what scope to buy and ended up with a Skywatcher Skymax 127 GOTO synscan. I have had great fun with it so far, being out every clear night that I can (just in the garden, but we dont have 'too' much light pollution here).

Very soon I decided I wanted to get some photos of what I could see down the eyepiece. I bought a cheap DSLR camera and managed to acquire a mono webcam from work that was destined for the bin! 

So, fast forward a few months, and I am now checking the weather and staying up till 2am to get pictures.....yup, hooked!

I feel I have reached the limit of what my scope/stand can do. I max out at 30 second subs, and end up throwing half, if not more away due to jittery stars. I have to have a high ISO in order to get any detail, which means that the noise in the pictures is pretty bad. 

So the question is, what should I buy next. Should I go for a new mount (EQ instead of Alt-Az), a new scope with a faster speed and larger aperture, should I modify the camera to remove the IR filter or should I stick with what I am doing for now but try and get to darker skys?

So far, I have managed to get pics of M31 (just the core though, FoV is really small!), M41, M15, M57 and M27. I have tried to image M33 but got nothing but stars (probably due to the low sub time).

M42 as an example:-

So...(other than robbing a bank to fund the new hobby!) whats next!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

The usual recommendation for someone interested in DSO imaging is to buy Steve Richards' Making Every Photon Count:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

As you have found, your scope is not well suited to the demands of photographing DSOs. Planets should be well within it's capabilities though.

[bogdog]

i would suggest a better mount eq with tracking motors,alt/az will get you there ..but with a lot more hassle

nice m42 btw

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Very much depends on your budget and what you want to do. Since you already have a DSLR have you considered widefield imaging using an equatorial mount?

[redmoo]

Very much depends on your budget and what you want to do. Since you already have a DSLR have you considered widefield imaging using an equatorial mount?

I have only the DSLR body (picked up a 1100d on ebay for 100 pounds). I am however looking at widefield, and was thinking about getting a smaller scope, perhaps the ST-80 which would then double as a guide scope if I decide to go down that route.

As for budget, it all depends on what people suggest. If I will get no better results without going EQ mount, then I will start looking into them....but again, that seems like a sliding scale all in itself! I much prefer the idea of things that you can upgrade as you progress in the hobby, not have to replace...if that is possible!

[Stargazer33]

Hi, nice M42 by the way. The problem with altaz mounts is that they suffer from field rotation on long exposures, like those required to capture DSOs. Some altaz mounts will take a wedge that can be set to your latitude but I am not sure whether one is available for your mount.

Your system is fine for caturing planetary images, although you would be better off with a planetary imaging camera rather than a DSLR.

[Jokehoba]

I have only the DSLR body (picked up a 1100d on ebay for 100 pounds). I am however looking at widefield, and was thinking about getting a smaller scope, perhaps the ST-80 which would then double as a guide scope if I decide to go down that route.

As for budget, it all depends on what people suggest. If I will get no better results without going EQ mount, then I will start looking into them....but again, that seems like a sliding scale all in itself! I much prefer the idea of things that you can upgrade as you progress in the hobby, not have to replace...if that is possible!

Welcome to SGL and imaging. Your M42 image reminds me of my first shots a few years ago. Yep, I was hooked too... 

An EQ mount is a must for imaging - and the most important purchase. Widefield imaging will help you learn to hone your skills because it is much more forgiving of the tracking accuracy. (If you get a Skywatcher mount and you can use EQMOD.) Sooner or later you will want to guide to get those long exposures to go deeper...

By carefully considering want you want to achieve - and making sensible equipment choices (unlike me in the beginning!) - you can incorporate everything you purchase as you go.

Look forward to seeing more images.

John

[redmoo]

Hi, nice M42 by the way. The problem with altaz mounts is that they suffer from field rotation on long exposures, like those required to capture DSOs. Some altaz mounts will take a wedge that can be set to your latitude but I am not sure whether one is available for your mount.

Your system is fine for caturing planetary images, although you would be better off with a planetary imaging camera rather than a DSLR.

I have tried planetary with a webcam, just end up with a big ball of glowing white! How to I make the camera less sensitive or should I just buy another one? Im using a Watec WAT-902H (Like I said, it was free!). 

Sorry for all the questions, but I find it is usually a lot faster to ask people who know a lot more than I do that trying to figure everything out on my own!

[Jokehoba]

I have tried planetary with a webcam, just end up with a big ball of glowing white! How to I make the camera less sensitive or should I just buy another one? Im using a Watec WAT-902H (Like I said, it was free!). 

Sorry for all the questions, but I find it is usually a lot faster to ask people who know a lot more than I do that trying to figure everything out on my own!

You need to be able to control the gain on the camera. What capture software are you using? SharpCap and FireCapture are good free ones. 

[Scott]

Hi All,

First time poster, long time lurker! 

So, about 2 months ago, I decided to get into the world of astronomy. Done a lot of reading about what scope to buy and ended up with a Skywatcher Skymax 127 GOTO synscan. I have had great fun with it so far, being out every clear night that I can (just in the garden, but we dont have 'too' much light pollution here).

Very soon I decided I wanted to get some photos of what I could see down the eyepiece. I bought a cheap DSLR camera and managed to acquire a mono webcam from work that was destined for the bin! 

So, fast forward a few months, and I am now checking the weather and staying up till 2am to get pictures.....yup, hooked!

I feel I have reached the limit of what my scope/stand can do. I max out at 30 second subs, and end up throwing half, if not more away due to jittery stars. I have to have a high ISO in order to get any detail, which means that the noise in the pictures is pretty bad. 

So the question is, what should I buy next. Should I go for a new mount (EQ instead of Alt-Az), a new scope with a faster speed and larger aperture, should I modify the camera to remove the IR filter or should I stick with what I am doing for now but try and get to darker skys?

So far, I have managed to get pics of M31 (just the core though, FoV is really small!), M41, M15, M57 and M27. I have tried to image M33 but got nothing but stars (probably due to the low sub time).

M42 as an example:-

So...(other than robbing a bank to fund the new hobby!) whats next!

Rob two banks?

[redmoo]

You need to be able to control the gain on the camera. What capture software are you using? SharpCap and FireCapture are good free ones. 

Using Sharp Cap. I was trying to get Jupiter through the treeline, so less than ideal. I even tried putting the moon filter in line to reduce the amount of light but still overexposed the camera. Like everyone everywhere with this hobby has said, it ain't easy! 

Still, I managed to see its moons just chillin, and I could see the cloud bands through the eyepiece (which is always nice!)

Thanks for all the help guys, now just got to convince the missus that I NEED an EQ mount wish me luck!

[Zadoq]

I would recommend the "Making Every Photon Count" book. I got it before I replaced pretty much all my kit (I wish I got it earlier).

I think getting a decent mount should be high on your list of priorities. Maybe something like an EQ5 or better if you can stretch to it.

Next I'd say is the DSLR. Either get it modded or get a 2nd-hand modded one. There are plenty of modded Canon 1100D around...

[redmoo]

I would recommend the "Making Every Photon Count" book. I got it before I replaced pretty much all my kit (I wish I got it earlier).

I think getting a decent mount should be high on your list of priorities. Maybe something like an EQ5 or better if you can stretch to it.

Next I'd say is the DSLR. Either get it modded or get a 2nd-hand modded one. There are plenty of modded Canon 1100D around...

Thanks, seems to be the general consensus that the mount is the most important part. I have a Canon 1100D, unmodded though.

Again, the book is going on the Christmas list! 

One thing that was suggested to me was that while I am putting together a better rig, I should try and process data, saying that for every hour you spend imaging, you should spend 2 in front of the computer! Do people share unprocessed data or is it 'personal'. 

Adam

[Zadoq]

Thanks, seems to be the general consensus that the mount is the most important part. I have a Canon 1100D, unmodded though.

Again, the book is going on the Christmas list! 

One thing that was suggested to me was that while I am putting together a better rig, I should try and process data, saying that for every hour you spend imaging, you should spend 2 in front of the computer! Do people share unprocessed data or is it 'personal'. 

Adam

Adam,

There is a Yahoo group about post-processing of astro images captured with DSLRs.

They have labs where people can download a stacked image posted to the group for processing and posting of processed images.

It might be a good idea for you to join the group

You can find it at: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dslr_astro_image_processing/info

Cheers

Nico

[swag72]

I know that this may sound odd, but imaging is all about the mount - Your best bet would be to bet a decent EQ mount, something like an HEQ5. With this you will be future proofed a little and it will happily buzz around all night with a short refractor on and guiding, producing 30 minute subs if you want! 

The book is a good buy for sure. 

Whether you will notice an instant difference in your images when you get an EQ mount I don;t know - But you will at least have a good basis to build upon for a DSO imaging rig.

[PeterCPC]

I used to image with a CPC800 but, like you, found out that I was being limited by the mount to about 30s subs. I decided to bite the bullet and got an AVX mount and also a ED80 refractor. I can now take long exposures of DSOs but be warned - I was able to start imaging with the CPC in about 15 mins. Now it takes me about an hour to get the rig ready for imaging with the Polar alignment, guiding etc. An EQ mount is not an easy option when you have been used to using an Alt/Az mount.

Peter