alan potts

I actually tried it last night, not a good night with a bit of haze, sort of managed the middle bit with no resemblance to your shot at all, back to the drawing board. Alan

Carole, cone error to me is when your ice-cream drops off. Alan

Very nice indeed, sound like you had the same sort of weather we got, managed 3 hours though. Alan

This really is a very cheap program and very useful, I am pleased the ZWO camera are now covered but this does so much, much of which I don't use, brilliant software. Alan

Carole, I am staggered by the accuracy of the CEM 60 working on one side of the meridian, every night bang in the same place, even after the flip it is only slight out and I haven't really done an accurate PA, which may well account for it. Most times working on one side is enough for me as I rarely do more than 3-4 hours on the scope. I know you shouldn't but I like to do a few targets each nigh and repeat the next, with our weather you can get away with it, often having multiple clear nights . As for me and cone error, I think it is best left alone. Alan

Lovely image there Ceph, one I would like to try but I need to find a shorter scope to get it all in. Alan

This may be a bit beyond me by the sounds of it. I wasn't too worried about alignment to a point as one scope will be 330mm and the other 805mm with different cameras. I think what I may do it fit the rig up and chop and change cameras from one scope to the other, balance will not be greatly affected I would have thought. I have both the 071 and 183 registered in APT so just a case of switching. On the other hand I do have two sets of gear and many laptops, so weather permitting could get the AZ EQ 6 back out and run that with a short focal length Borg, which I think is 331mm and shoot a different target. Need to get a bit stronger first as the the AZ is about 20kg and I shouldn't lift it yet, even though I am sure I can. Alan

That must have been a nice surprise to find, there's a lot happening around that star. great shot, wonder what magnitude they are, not the same as M108 for sure. Alan

Something wish to move into in the next few weeks as I get stronger after the operation, I opened up the obsey last night and got some data before high cloud and the Moon ruined it all. I would like to do a duel mount with the 805mm APO and maybe the Borg 77ll F 4.3 coupled with the 183MC. Can APT handle two cameras at the same time? If so how does one do it, or would I have to run 2 APT programs at the same time and would Dither cause a problem a problem, or would I have to stop Dither. A bit ambitious for me so lets see if you lot can walk me through it. I am using an i5 thinkpad with 4 gig of Ram but am considering putting a faster 8 gig i5 desk top outside soon. Alan

Very nice Mick, this is one that I will have to track down and have a go at though it will be OSC and no astrodons either, might well get one of those newish duel filters for the camera though. Alan

Thanks Gav, my IT mate found this and sorted the situation though with being in Hospital I had forgotten about the thread after Vlaiv had basically told me it was a waste of time using it, his knowledge much greater than mine. Many thanks in any case. alan

Can I suggest you get the atlas C-du-C and download the the SH 2 catalogue, I did this and was shocked how much there is that I never knew of, some of these targets are very large but need a lot of time to bring them out. Alan

Very nice shot Steve, must have a try at this one when I get back outside. Alan

Very nice image you have taken there, masses of interest in every corner, will be nice to see again with colour added. Alan

Great image and an amazing amount of dedication required to pull it off, very well done both of you. I took a shot of this with my OSC and got the orientation completely wrong cutting it in half, must dig out the image and see I can match up any bits, a mere 2 hours. Alan

Very nice shot, I need to get something to deal with gradients and one of the other programs other than PS seems favorite, just don't know which. Alan

Great shot, lovely nebulosity showing, one I will be trying as soon as I can get out. Alan

As good an image as I have seen of this, want to try it myself but am struggling to get it all in and can't changes scopes over at the moment after hospital, weather seems to have turned as well. Great shot and a pleasure to view. Alan

Well that appears to be a very decent result to me and I can see why you like it. Not one I can recall seeing in my short time at AP but a lovely image in every way. Alan

Not the UK obviously but I have seen pictures of a 30 inch here in Bulgaria owned I believe by an Englishman, though I don't know him and he is some distance from me. Alan

Two fine images MG, I like both of them with the first just winning the day, can't say I can see a spider though. Alan

Tend to agree with others here, one of the best I have seen, beautifully done. Alan

Another fine piece of work there, love the squirrel Goran, an see the Loch Ness monster does exist. Alan

Lovely image you have taken there. Alan

Wow, stunning such tight control of the stars, an area where i need to improve though this is by far not the only area. Those Tak scope really do punch their weight. Alan