Gina

The moon looks clear an bright with Jupiter nearby at 5 o'clock but appearances can be deceptive.

Well, the clear night sky forecast an hour or so earlier for tonight has evaporated and there's already cloud appearing. I was just about to post that in spite of the clear night I was going to bed early but now I can go to bed without worrying about what I'm missing 😁 Anyway, this time of year is far from ideal for imaging and really what I'm doing is preparing for the darker nights.

The Ibuprofen seems to have eased the achiness but I still don't feel like doing anything. It's annoying - I want to get on with imaging - if not capturing, image processing. Seems I've either got to take things very slowly or do it on alternate days (or even with longer breaks between). I guess only progress is of interest to others and here I am moaning but it seems to help!

Same with me - been having dizzy spells. Spoke to my doctor as my BP was low and she confirmed that I should cut down on my medication. My BP was over 200 some years ago (maybe 20). I have lost weight and improved my diet. I have now stopped my BP medication and reading around 130/60. Yes, you need to reduce your pills. I'm due for my annual medical review later this week. Talk to your doctor.

I'm doing virtually nothing today - still achy though only the top half of my body now. Had to relent and take a couple of Ibuprofen.

At least plate solving should only need doing once per session. You have a slow BB connection I have a slow and deteriorating body!! Look after yourself Neil - health is everything!

ATM there's lots of clear sky forecast for tonight but I don't think it will be any good - looks like the moon is going to be shining right down the spout!! Oh well - guess I need a rest.

Good point about linking my thread :- My thread on the INDI Forum. Yes indeed. Trouble is I'm suffering for it! I thought I took it fairly easy yesterday but today I'm achy all over. OK so I went back and forth to the observatory a few times and the roof could do with looking at as it takes more force to open and close it. Or maybe it was the stress of image processing and trying to get to grips with everything after that long break. Trouble is, I'm my own worst enemy - once I get keen on something there's no stopping me. Seems I'm feeling my age. I have to learn to take things more easily. It's difficult when the number of clear night sky hours are severely limited

Had a reply from INDI Forum. I'll try online solving. At least I have 50GBps both way BB.

Couldn't get solving to work on a captured image live. Tried various things - binning 4x4, exposure 20s etc. I ended up cropping my old image to get the solved position to what I wanted. A proper fudge!! First screenshots show the original area I used to Load & Slew but to get the framing right I had to crop the original as shown in the second screenshot. Using the original crop I got the Sadr Region at the bottom of the frame with the NAN and Cygnus Loop out of sight. All this really shows is that my rough manual setting of my Park position of pointing at Polaris was a bit out. Of course, this should be corrected by capture and solve but I can't get the solve to work

Just been checking the Lights and did just about right for timing with just a few frames of the OIII set lost to daylight. Also, none lost to cloud, a few with aircraft or satellite trails.

I think that's it - should run for around 3 hours by which time it'll be light. Added alternating Ha and OIII in 5m sets (10 subs each). Time for bed.

The only little bit of nebulosity I can see in SII in in the Cygnus Loop and that would be better saved for just that DSO only. I've taken 20m of SII out of the schedule leaving 50m of SII. 40m of Ha and 25m of OIII. Deleted some wrong entries so I'll add some more Ha and OIII

I've set up a schedule lasting 4 hours which goes well into daylight (but I don't care). Don't think this imaging run is going to be very good anyway but can but see!!

Can't see any cloud but can't see many stars either. Been outside to look.

The moon is a problem, particularly with OIII even with 3nm filters.

Not far off, but can't seem to capture and re-solve. Well. it captures by doesn't solve.

Image pointing towards Polaris - park position. Going to try astrometry.

Just needs to get dark now and then I can start imaging. Going to have to keep swapping filters to stand a chance of capturing OIII and SII. Not a problem, just a matter of setting up the schedule.

Moon through cloud.

Forecast has got worse 😯

Set camera cooling to -20°C and it's made it easily with 67% cooling.

Been out, opened the roof and removed the Flats panel. Moon shining brightly but that will be well to the west of where I'm imaging by dark.

I guess a gearbox stepper motor is alright as long as there isn't too much backlash. My DIY fork mount for widefield imaging will have timing belts for the drive.

I think I've had enough of PI for now - need to save some energy for image capture tonight.