step_hen

Thanks, that makes sense. I've been stacking around 70-120 out of 1000 to 1500 frames with the asi662mc with gain around 230ish. I'll try upping the capture time considerably next time. 

Stunning images Neil. It was looking at your previous work that has inspired me to try lunar imaging myself. Out of those 10-12k frames, how many do you usually keep and stack? 

Hot on the heels of my first lunar images yesterday, today is my first attempt at Solar in white light 

Active region 3270. This is about 30 frames stacked from 1000 taken. 6" classical cassegrain at  F12 and Asi662mc. 

Should I have removed the IR cut filter for solar? Forgot to remove it after last night! 

Well with the moon washing out any suitable DSO target from my location on the first clear night I've had available since January, I thought I'd go along with 'can't beat it, join it' and have a go at some lunar imaging for the first time. 

I've been slowly accumulating some suitable gear over these cloudy months to put together a setup for lunar/solar/planetary imaging and yesterday downloaded Sharpcap, Autostakkert and Registax for capturing, stacking and wavelet processing respectively. 

These are best 100 frames each out of 2000 captured with Asi662mc, IR cut filter and 6" classical cassegrain at native f12. I'm very happy with these for a first go, especially as I guessed most of the settings! Advice and any pointers very welcome 

Sinus Iridum

Clavius area

Welcome to SGL David. I'm not far from you in Winchester and also on the hunt for a good dark site observing spot somewhere in the South Downs area. Happy to join any groups venturing out to Old Winchester Hill or elsewhere, once the weather clears up of course 😓🙄

Stephen 

I know the spot. There is also a field opposite the cheesefoot head carpark with part of the south downs way cutting through that I've tried before. Have you ever tried the Science Centre? Its supposedly a dark sky site but always looks heavily light polluted when I've passed by after dark 

Great report and a good read. I never thought of River Park as an observing location. I'm at the bottom of the hill in Badger Farm which is Bortle 4, maybe 5, but I struggle more getting an unimpeded view- too many tall trees on the slopes around my garden! Whereabouts is your dark sky site on the downs?

Stephen

can this FF be used with a Skywatcher 120ED F7.5?

or indeed an 80ED at F7.5, or is that just a bit too far out of the optimal range (F5.5- F6)?

Stephen

Great review John, and a very interesting scope design. Congrats on your 10,000 post!

Stephen

great work Mick! Something to try when i've finally finished the Lunar 100

Wow- cant wait to see the finished project. This looks like an angel fish, or is it just me!?

Stephen

SN7

Jaw dropping!

Thanks for the ideas folks, i'll give them a go if weather permits. Interestingly its not a cheap lens, but a Canon L series! I stopped the lens down as well. I'll try focusing on the moon/ jupiter/ streetlight then switch to manual as you suggest. Pity i dont have liveview on the 400D- it'll have to be trial and error!

Quick question- I gave this ago last night- my first proper attempt at imaging! How do you focus the camera? I switched it to manual and set it to infinity, but the resulting image shows the stars as disks rather than points of light, which i suspect means that the lens is slightly pastthe true point of focus?

Thanks