alan potts

I have a feeling that if one of the really good guys on site have a stab it will make mine look tame, but thanks for the kind words. Alan

Your more than welcome, it would be nice to see what can be done, I know to remove gradient in an image can boost it no end. I should point out this was a 95% selection by DSS so a it's about 12 hours, there was in fact 180 4 minute subs taken over 12 months. Alan

Some time last year I used the Borg 77ED which is about F4.3 I think. In everything I read it said back focus was 55mm, fairly standard. However I could never get the 183MC to focus and some kind member pointed out that the spacing needed to be 37mm I think it was to reach focus due the chip being set back in the camera. Now I may have this wrong but it did not work at 55mm and never looked anywhere near it. I have now mounted this with my other scopes and would like to have a play Can anyone help with some advice? Alan

I am putting the data here if I can as a tiff if anyone would like to play and show me how good the data is. my effort is I am sure poor compared to what can be done, I would just like to see if I am near decent. I don't have a way of doing gradients and this is important so bear that in mind. Not always hit the spot as you can see and some of the data is with a first quarter around though not that near. This is 180x 4min with only a darkmaster no other calibration frames. It is DSS 95% selection so a bit less than 12 hours. Autosave001 copy.tif file My effort Hope you find I did a decent job with at least the capture. Alan

Recently I have to agree with Dave above, it seems to select very faint stars and to also agree with the Op, it is a lot more fussy then it was this time last week. It updated a few days ago. I select my own star and I would say guiding is very good some night. When it's not then it is just conditions. Last night was a night of thin cloud that sadly just got thicker. Alan

Both images are very nice in my view, the others playing have improved them but processing is not easy and can often be the make or break of an image. Some I feel over saturate images which you have not done the, I even do it myself, the people that have had a play have improved your data but two images to be proud of. Alan

Superb capture Goran, one framed like this I have not seen before. I am no expert, as you well know, but I would say your processing was excellent too. Alan

Think it had more to do with the glass of rakia in hand.😉 Alan

Really superb image Dave, I like both versions, as good as any I have seen. I was back to mistakes last night, took 90mins on SH 2 154 then moved to add to my M31, started the camera with Live View running, record absolutely nothing for an hour. Alan

Great shot, can really see an eagle shape in there that I can never see in mine, love the colours too. Alan

I don't think it is poor, looks very nice from where i am sitting. Alan

I had both for a while Don, I am not sure which version of Parrcorr 1 I had, the second one I think, it was not as good on Ethos for sure. Alan

One of the 100 degree TeleVue's I choose to keep, I did find it needed the paracorr with this though in my F4.3 Dob, I personally don't see the point in paying 800 quid and then settling for coma, the trouble is the parrcorr is another 400. I did see a difference in the TeleVue parrcorr's between the new Mk2 and the old Mk 1 ( I have a feeling there was a model before what I call the Mk 1) The new current model is the only one that gave me perfect results. Great eyepiece though. Alan

Lovely shot there. I got rid of my L ehance filter as I didn't like, had I have known you could do that I may well have kept it, live and learn. Alan

I have the CEM 60 and tri-pier, very nice gear, I thought long and hard about the CEM 70 but out here any large gear is difficult to move on S/H and I would have bought it for my LX 12 inch for photography and many better than me have said don't go there, so I didn't. Looks very nice though. Alan

Stunning image, I think 55hrs is the most I have seen and my oh my can't you tell in the result. Alan

Never tried planets with a camera but I would say that was very good. Alan

Top quality work there, a stunning image and great patience I am sure. Alan

Lovely image Alan, I don't think the back ground is too dark, lets face it, it is all down to personal taste saturation and background. I often feel people over egg the saturation then find myself doing the same thing. I use 30 myself but as I don't have any graduation tool the centre is always a tad lighter, I sometimes make a grad in PS but most of the time don't Alan

Very nice captures!! Alan

It has turned out rather nice though, may try this myself. Alan

Your work is always top draw, and there are some pretty good draw makers on this site, beautiful capture. Alan

A beautiful rendition of this much loved target, very nicely done. Alan

Swift but very nice Steve!! Weather has taken a turn here. Alan

Lovely capture !!! alan