ckp82

How did you process this image? Maybe with all these clouds I might have to start playing with the images I'm taking, here comes the slippery slope everyone talks about 😆

What set up did you use?

@TiffsAndAstro Wow the difference is amazing. Have you captured 2 extra galaxies in your photo?

@PeterC65 thanks for the recommendation. I used a lens cleaning kit which included an air blower, lens spray, lint free cloth ands a fine brush. I cleaned nearly all parts except behind the camera glass. I even took out the telescope glass to get behind them. I will definitely takes flats next time. I think the light is coming from a streetlight outside the front of my house. M82 stood out to me, even though I put m81 as the central focal point. I'd like to try easing out even more details once I get the basics down first.

Following on from my previous post m51 & pacman nebula I decided to have a go at m81 and m82. I cleaned all the glass parts along the optical train. Unfortunately, there is a few dark spots remaining. In my next session I will have to try adding flats. I also added the filter adaptor that was reccomended in my previous post. I think it works better, your thoughts are welcome. Anyway the following image is 50 x 30 secs. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the explanation. As I'm using asiair software it gives me options for lights, flats, dark and bias if I remember right. Would I just make another set of darks in the bias folder?

I'm using an Asi585mc and the asiair plus. Thanks for your reply though.

I did see the reviews were varied but I thought I'd try it

I never knew these adaptors existed. I've ordered one as I like the extender tube screwed into the focuser tube rather than the grub screw holding it. I'll have to have a play about with the different type of frames.

I've just watched a video on what calibration frames are and see that bias frames are taken with the quickest exposure possible and darks are the same as lights but nothing about the exposure time of flats. What should these be?

Thanks @PeterC65 How would I go about fixing the camera tilt? Is the only way buying a camera tilt unit? I can screw the camera and extender tube onto the end of the scope but if I add a filter I have to use a nose piece for the filter to screw into. This is then held in place place with the grub screws. Could this be the problem? I haven't a clue about flats, darks and bias yet. Is the flats where you put a white t shirt or light panel over the lens and then shoot so many shots at the same exposure? I'll give the optical train a good look over for any dust or marks. Thanks again.

I finally managed to get out last night to get reacquainted with my setup and see what I could see. I'm still new to eaa so my images aren't as good as some on here, but I'm happy with what I can see and hopefully with more experience I'll be able to tweak and ease out some more detail. I used a bahtinov mask to focus. In hindsight I think Vega was too bright to do this on as in preview mode it looked spot on but I've got some strange looking stars, maybe it's the tracking? Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how to make a better image. I think I may also have some dust or dew marks on one of the lenses which can be seen in the images? I'm waiting for my dual narrowband filter to arrive but had a go at the pacman filter anyway. I took 55 x 30 seconds images and can start to see the colour and shape come through, I'm guessing with the filter I'll see more in the same time frame? M51 was 15 x 30 seconds Equipment used were as follows: Skywatcher st80 Skywatcher azgti and wedge Asiair plus Asi585mc Svbony ir/cut filter (I heard this filter stops star bloat?) Thanks.

Thanks for the link @StevieDvd and the explanation @saac This seems too easy. Last time I tried I couldn't get it to work. I must have been using the synscan app before, it was a while ago. I'll follow your advice next time I try. Thanks.

How do I go about finding the moon using the asi air plus? It isn't as easy as typing in the moon and watching the telescope slew to it. I know the easiest way would be to do it manually. However, I don't have a star diagonal or rdf as I bought this telescope purely for eea. It is a lot harder than you would think trying to do it without these. Thanks.

I caught one not so long ago

Thanks for replying Astromuni, but I have already ordered the optolong.

Thanks for the welcome Coco

Thanks @PeterC65 I'll go with optolong then if they specialise in filters.

Thanks for your suggestion. I've had a look at the options and at the moment I'd like to keep the costs low so I've decided on either the optilong l-eNhance or the ZWO dual narrowband filter. Other than the price point (£30 cheaper), ZWO has become a brand I like and trust, having the asiair plus and Asi585mc camera. Technical charts and jargon goes over my head, so out of these 2 filters is one better than the other or are they the same quality and do they do the same job equally? Thanks again.

Thanks again @Steve in Boulder So for galaxies and reflective nebulas leave the filter off and put it on for the other nebulas if they contain H-alpha and/or 0lll signals. I don't know if I could progress to astrophotography, it's enough learning the basics of e.a.a! My camera is an osc camera.

Patience isn't my strongest point. It's something I'll have to work on I think!

Thanks for replying @Steve in Boulder So for reflective nebulas I wouldn't need a filter and for emmision nebulas I would need a dual narrowband filter. For planetary nebulas and super novas like the crab nebula for example, would I need a different type of filter all together? There seems to be a few types of nebula and alot of different filters. Thanks.

I've only ever imaged galaxies when doing e.a.a. What kind of filter would I need to pick out nebulas? The only filter I own is a svbony ir/uv cut filter. Thanks.

I've done some reading online and it seems the skywatcher mount has to much slop in it, I thought it was just me! As this is the weakest link, I think I'll look into getting the William optics wedge as my first upgrade. It's expensive but it's half the cost of the s50 and will still be a better set up overall.

I was thinking the same to be honest. I can do a small adjustment but the numbers say I've gone alot further than it should have if that makes sense?