MikeODay

1 hour ago, Davey-T said:

Had a go at getting an obs'y code a while ago but couldn't figure out how to do it, ended up going round in circles as seemed to need to send data to get a code but couldn't send data without a code 

Maybe I should have another try.

Dave

Yes you do need to send a few sets of measurements for the MPC to check and make sure your measurements are within certain bounds.  Once they qualify you they issue the code.  The code to use for the qualifying sets is XXX.

11 minutes ago, Demonperformer said:

Good for you. Obviously kicked a little bit of life back into Pan-STARRS as well.

Thanks!  Although I'm pretty sure that the Pan-STARRS guys don't pay too much attention to the likes of me with my little setup - now if I find a comet one day, that might be different

Back in March I was granted an observatory code ( Q69 ) by the Minor Planet Center ( MPC ) and since then I have been spending all my available telescope time ( which due the weather has admittedly not been very much  ) to capturing images of asteroids, that the MPC is interested in recieving data for, and sending in the positions that I have determined.

Mostly I have been focused on asteroids that have not been observed/reported on during their current return to visibility.

2014 LA21 was my first after getting my code ...

Here I was the first to report astrometry for 2014 LA21 since 2016 - not like discovering a new comet I imagine but still, a small achievement and  a nice feeling

You may have noticed that I don't as yet supply any brightness data; this is because I have not figured out how I can do this reliably ( most of the asteroids I am chasing are very dim and so my 4 minute exposures tend to spread them a little making them hard to compare to nearby stars ).

I have been getting reasonably good position data though, with a "variation to average path" across the samples of sub 1 arcsec ( typically less than 0.5 and sometimes down as low 0.15 )

....

Anyway, I was just thought I would let people know what I have been up to and why you have not seem me latley over on deep sky imaging forum and also, I was wondering if there is anyone else here on Stargazerslounge doing the same thing ...

The great Barred Spiral Galaxy ( NGC 1365 ) in the constellation Fornax  ( details and access to full size image here )

A Cluster of Pearls in the Southern Skies ( NGC 3766 " The Pearl Cluster" )  ( details and access to full size image here )

A deep look at Omega Centauri ( NGC 5139 ) ( details and access to full size image here )

The Cat's Paw Nebula ( NGC 6334 ) in Scorpius ( details and access to full size image here )

...............................................

And my favourite for the year ...

Carina Nebula in HDR and full colour ( NGC 3372 ) ( details and access to full size image here )

Lovely images Geof.  Thanks for sharing.

The Great Barred Spiral Galaxy in Fornax ( NGC 1365 )   ( image details here )

The Silver Coin or Sculptor Galaxy ( NGC 253 )   ( image details here )

A Peculiar Galaxy in Centaurus, Centaurus A ( NGC 5128 )   ( image details here )

A Million Stars in the Deep South, The Omega Centauri Cluster ( NGC 5139 )   ( image details here )

( a version of this image was selected as NASA's APOD for 11th July 2017 )

The Fighting Dragons of Ara ( NGC 6188 )    ( image details here )

Tarantula Nebula ( NGC 2070 ) - Orion Optics CT12, Nikon D5300 unmodified

The Great Orion Nebula ( Messier 42 ) - Skywatcher Quattro 10", Nikon D5300 unmodified

The Wishing Well Cluster ( NGC 3532 ) - Skywatcher Quattro 10", Nikon D5300 unmodified

The Silver Coin Galaxy in Sculptor ( NGC 253 ) - Skywatcher Quattro 10", Nikon D5300 unmodified

Rosette Nebula ( NGC 2237 )

The Jewel Box ( NGC 4755 )

Lagoon Nebula ( Messier 8 )

Bright Nebula in Ara ( NGC 6188 )

Thanks for that.

I've been told that the currently available range of OAGs an 55mm back focus coma correctors won't work - even with a "zero" width mk48 adaptor

I'm looking into the RCC - although I have found a number of threads where people describle problems they have had with its sensitivity to sensor alignment / tube flex.

I hope to pick up a set of new Losmandy tube rings that are designed to work with my Orion Short-Tube 80 guide scope to hold the orion guide camera in firm alignment. I'm hoping that this will reduce my differential flex issues enough that I can live without an OAG.

Hi

I went with a Dan's pier top plate for my 12" concrete pillar  ( http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/234625-mikes-roll-away-shed-observatory/ ).

My reasons were:

1. I have no machining/mechanical skills or experience, no workshop and only basic hand tools.

2. I wanted a system that would allow me to level the top surface - I know it is not necessary in order to achieve polar alignment but since I wanted to achieve a very good alignment I thought it would be helpful if an adjustment in one axis did not impact the other (which it does if the base is not level).

3. I wanted certainty that the my design would work the first time.  Again, as I have no tools, very little knowledge and poor skills I wanted to do all that I could to de-risk the pier construction.  By purchasing a plate and bolt set and following the instructions I was able to complete the pier fist time with no issues.

Yes the plate was expensive, but for the above reasons it was value for money for me.  It might not be for you.

Cheers

Mike

Thanks. I have the mk3 and I also want to use an off axis guider at the same time. The problem is that the OAG fits between the coma corrector and the camera and this makes the coma-camera separation too large for the mk3.

It seems I will need to get a different coma corrector together with an OAG and adaptors and I was looking to see if someone has already done this. Are you saying that if I can find a mk2 it will work with an OAG and Nikon?

Cheers

Mike

Thank you for that. I have a Baader MPCC and I'm told I won't be able to get that to work with an OAG fitted to a Nikon. I think you are right - I will need a thin OAG. I'm still not sure about the coma corrector I should buy. The Baader RCC will apparently work if I can get the adaptors I will need but some threads seem to inicate that collimation and/or tube flex is a problem with the RCC.

Hi

Does anyone feel able to recommend an OAG + Coma Corrector combination that achieves the correct spacing and good reliable results when connected to a Nikon DSLR?

Cheers

Mike

New version of Eta Carinae Nebula

I managed to get the auto guider working and increased the exposure to 120sec.

120sec subs @ ISO800

Skywatcher Quattro 10" f4 Newtonian

Baader MPCC mk3 Coma Corrector

Nikon D300 unmodified

Skywatcher AZ EQ6 GT Mount

Orion auto guider on 80mm f5 guide scope

Thanks.

The skies here are not too bad. We are at around 700m altitude and 100kms from the centre of Sydney. There is a thin strip of housing and small villages/towns that follows the road as it winds up the mountains and is the main source of light pollution here. The main problem I have is the humidity is very high at the moment and and as soon it as starts to get dark we get low altitude cloud formation that starts of wispy but gradually builds to create a continuous blanket of red. Oh well at least there are moments of clarity and it should dry out later on into winter.

Two more - still unguided...

Tarantula Nebula - 80x30sec ISO800 unguided

Keyhole Nebula - 100x30sec ISO800 unguided

Skywatcher Quattro 10" f4
Skywatcher AZ EQ 6 GT
Baader MPCC Mk 3 coma corrector
Nikon D300 (unmodified)
 

Cheers

Mike

Thanks.  Still working on the processing and I hope to get the autoguider working soon but I was pleased with it as a first attempt.

Cheers

Mike

NGC 3372

Collected my new Skywatcher Quattro 10" f4 Newtonian yesterday from Bintel in Sydney. This is the first scope I've owned since the Tasco 60mm alt/az I saved up for when I was 12.

I had already collected a AZ EQ 6 last Thursday and spent the weekend understanding the mount, sorting out alignment and playing around with a camera fixed to the mount and stacking frames using free software I found on the web.

Yesterday I set up the scope and was ready for when it got dark...

I captured about 140 images but high level cloud ruined most of them.

The image below is a stack of the best 30 or so.

My main hobby is photography so I framed the image to match the others on my online gallery.

---------

Skywatcher Quattro 10" f4

Skywatcher AZ EQ 6 GT

Baader MPCC Mk 3 coma corrector

Nikon D300 (unmodified)

30x30sec ISO800 unguided