Russe

Guys, how do you process your stars? Mine seem to come out fuzzy??... Tried star masks but somehow it's not quite right and sharp.

I use AstroTortilla too, but slight differences b/o movement or camera rotation already make a difference. In particular if you're stacking like 100 images...

After a long abscence I've finally managed to start with NB imaging...

Moon was up - but with Ha you get quite a good result as opposed to my previous Canon attempts... lol

Anyway, judge kindly, I somehow need to figure out how to prevent stars from bloating. As well - On the stars right hand side I can see an indentation which I think stems from the focuser tube jutting forward into the scope tube.

Anyway - now I'm waiting for clear skies to add OIII and SII.

Oh, and I've realised that by imaging several nights and adding more images you de facto are making your final image smaller, because you will never be 100% spot on with your subsequent images, hence cutting off at the edges in stacking. So I guess - looooong exposures is the way forward to increase image size... sigh... On the bright side (even though this image below is 500s exposures) I did manage to do one night of 1000s for the first time with SII. With the moon nearly full, you couldn't really see anything unfortunately. And, now all these images are stuck on a USB stick that suddenly decided to pack it in... uff

I know that Uranium has actually sawn of the ridge of the skywatcher coma corrector in order to put the whole camera setup further inside the focuser and thus reduce the length the focuser sticks into the actual tube. Would there be another coma corrector fitting the 130 pds where you wouldn't need to do that? Anyone has one?

Ooh, just recently had an issure with AT - I've tried using 2x2 binning and it really didn't work - so I went back to 1x1 binning and it found me again. What a drag sometimes...

Just had my baby out after almost a year with the new camera - and suddenly it started raining. So I hurriedly ran everything inside. Now, 30min later it's clear skies...

I'm going to sleep...

With this video I finally found out that I spent 25£ on a useless laser... it's completely out of line AND can't be colimated (lol)...

I never understood, why I get things spot on with my cheshire, but my laser was always out a mile.

If you buy a laser - test it as mentioned above by rotating it in your focuser and see if the laser spot remains in one place or describes a circle. If it does - it'll need colimating itself.

I found my new laser very helpful for adjusting the primary mirror, but I double checked with the cheshire to be sure.

Beautiful images as always Uranium235

Can't wait for Christmas now...

Oops - should've read your entire post

Its all in narrowband mate, the best LP filters possible

I dont think I could achieve this level in broadband, my local LP is just too much for any kind of serious depth (IFN etc...). But when I do use Lum, its always with the CCD CLS filter (2").

Which light pollution filter are you using?

Amazing! Which filter can you image with under full moon w/o problems? SII, OIII or Ha?

Am super excited - about to jump in at the deep end - hovering over the buy button for an ATIK 314L Plus...

Anyone here imaged with the 130pds and this ATIK CCD???

Me too - I've only got a few Jupiter videos on my hard drive. Need to find time to see what I can do with them.

Tried again with a Barlow - result: atrocious. Again. Seem to be unable to Barlow anything AND get a sharp video...

Yep - that's definitely my problem as well!

Here's a quick and dirty M3 from last night - 23x 600s and 5x180s.

I guess it depends on what you can afford and how far you want to take things. I think most wouldn't argue if I said: a used HEQ5...

But there are people here who've done nice images with smth cheaper!

Great attempt!

From what I can see on my phone: you'll need calibration frames (center brighter than edge - flats). No coma - great. Nice central detail - core not overexposed. I'm colour blind but I think your image looks magenta? I'm not sure on that though. Nice wispy detail on outer regions of M42. Ever so slightly egg shaped stars (I'm nitpicking here!).

Overall - an image to be proud of!

I've got an M74 cropped.

Ver nice image Russe of M101, you just have to mod that 450D now.

The 130pds is less of a windsail. And imaging wise, the aperture/focal length won't make a massive difference.

What is easier (see earlier), the focuser is easier to upgrade on the 150pds. But the stock focuser on the 130pds is excellent and won't need upgrading for most folks.

Another problem for the 130 PDS is: short tube - if you put camera, dew shield etc on it, then it's a bit top heavy and difficult to balance.

A little revision:

Finally had time to look at my data for M101 - the pinwheel galaxy.

Hope you like it... 49x 300s

Too fuzzy and clouds later at night. Rather do a bonfire...

130P DS Ordered from FLO along with Coma Corrector, M48 Adapter and Cheshire Collimator - To say i am excited is a complete understatement.

In the last month i have also purchased a CG5 mount and a Canon 600d - This has all stemmed from my Mrs buying me a Celestron 76EQ at Xmas. Part of me is wondering whether she might now be regretting that now?

Lol! Welcome to the club! Feel free to put up your images in this thread!!