assouptro

Love this! 
great composition and nebula outer shell in a rich star field 

well done!

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

 

23 hours ago, carastro said:

Exactly.  I am using the very basic Atik software that came with my cameras = Artemis.  I really love it, and together with this I never bothered to change from PHD1 to PHD2 since PHD1 does everything I need.  When software starts asking me the focal length of my scope etc and the fact that I use several different focal lengths with the various scopes I use, so I would have to keep swapping, I just back off and stick with the simple stuff.   It has always held me in good stead and the only thing that is automated (after a fashion) is my Electronic filterwheel also Atik and this works in Artemis so I can do a complete sequence continuously.  I check my focus manually before I start and check all the filters are parfocal (it is rare that they are not and I presume this is due to temperature).  

I access the laptop in the obsy from indoors via Teamviwer and if I need to change anything in PHD or Artemis (ie: stop or start imaging, change filters, do more of one filter than another), I can do this from inside the house.  I can also check for clouds by watching PHD, and can warm up the camera at the end of a run so that by the time I get back outside to put everything away the camera is normally warmed up by then.  Only thing I can't do from indoors once I am up and running is a Meridian flip and I have to go outside and do this manually.  

Carole 

All sounds fairly familiar! 
I too use Artemis and have an Atik fw and use chrome Remote Desktop to view from inside the house

I have upgraded phd though, I was initially reluctant incase I had to train guiding and input all the details of my various scopes but it just retained all that information, I also have several profiles in phd as I too have several scopes and use either an original loadstar or my Atik 314 as guide cameras depending on the set up, once the profile has been created in the phd wizard, it Is really easy to just select the right one for the setup I’m using

I think that the latest phd with multi star guiding is an improvement. 
 

I always have to refocus when changing filters even though they are parfocal (astrodon) with most of my scopes, I’m guessing that’s because they aren’t triplets? so if I have to change filters during a session, I have to stay up!

I purchased a license for SG pro (sequence generator pro) about 3 years ago, but never got around to learning how to use it as Artemis “just works!” 

One additional thing I have introduced to the Artemis workflow is a script for dithering, I found the software and instructions on the phd forum and it works and has improved my imaging so much I would always choose to dither now, I had to do this due to a couple of column defects in my 460 that were difficult to process out but the script has some really weird quirks that would just stop the connection to the camera and phd, I’ve worked out I have to have the computer screen with phd “on top” when it’s dithering as if I am looking at Artemis at that point it would just lock up and I’d have to quit Artemis and phd, then start them up again! 
 

I have just taken a punt on a second hand qhy 268m from ukabs and I will have to learn new software, It worries me but you can’t stay still for too long or it gets harder to change! 
 

Thanks 

Bryan 

Beautiful Carole! 
I like the framing too! 
 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan

3 hours ago, carastro said:

Thanks but probably best if l stick with the guy who is helping me.  Much is to do with disconnection issues.   I don’t want to change  my capture software either. 
 

Carole

Great image Carole!

I was looking at this nebula a few weeks ago but haven’t quite finished my latest project 

I know what you mean with the contiguous late nights, I only have parts of my rig automated and still babysit to check focus etc 

Once you have a workflow and software familiarity it’s difficult to change something for the fear of wasting the few clear nights we have! 

what capture software do you use? 

Thanks for sharing! 
Bryan 

That’s epic for your first dso! 
I’m too embarrassed to post mine!! 
 

Well done! Watch out though, it’s really addictive and expensive!! 😎

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

On 31/08/2022 at 20:05, Shibby said:

Hmm, I have a bench supply powering all my kit. I usually have it set to 12v, should I also consider increasing that? I do occasionally have issues with the mount's guide pulses...

(Sorry, I have advice on your actual issue!)

I did a lot of research into this before I changed to 13.8v and it seemed like a good idea according to the information I gleaned from the web 

I can’t find the info to pass on to you but there are a couple of threads on this site that support my choice 

My mount does cope better with the ridiculous amount of weight I load onto it  since I changed, not a massive difference but every tweak that improves the mount, even just a little,  adds up to less lost subs! 
 

Cheers 

Bryan 

11 hours ago, newbie alert said:

Just an update for you Bryan, it's going to the atik doctors on a overseas trip...hope it's not too long or expensive( gulp) they think it could be the circuit board

Sorry for the delay in responding to this!

That’s a shame 😢

my 460 had to go abroad and was away for 4 months! 
I cannot remember what it cost but I think it was over £100 but under £200. I will have to check my bank account as the invoice is no longer available in the email? 

This was in 2020, so early pandemic and that had a direct impact on the timescale. I ended up buying the 490 second hand, from the classified, in this period as I was suffering withdrawals! 

I am sure you will get yours fixed much quicker!! 
 

I have my fingers crossed for you! 
 

kind Regards 

Bryan 

3 hours ago, newbie alert said:

I have a weird thing going on with my 460 where it was messing about, soon as it was threatened to go to the atik doctor it decided to work for around 3 months then play up again.. just tried it with another new usb lead and it's fine!

I have a similar issue with my 490! 
looks exactly the same on your screen!

I contacted Atik to send it back but haven’t got around to it yet, maybe I’ll just try another usb cable? 

Thanks again for chipping in! 
 

Bryan 

38 minutes ago, newbie alert said:

What's the amps of the power source..

Spec says 12v DC 1A

0-15A However, weirdly it is now all working again!? 
I took the backplate off the camera to check for cracked solder around the power socket in case it had been damaged by a cable flex etc 

When I put it.back together it’s all working like it should?? 
Weird? I’m not sure I’ll get to the bottom of this one, but I’m happy all is well for now 

Thanks for the input 

Bryan 

Hi Starpeople!

I read somewhere that the azeq6 mount guided better with a slightly higher voltage also the Atik 383 too so I run all my equipment of a 13.8 regulated power supply via a Pegasus Astro power box and all has been good for a couple of years 

Until last night! 
I am running my Atik 460 and last night after changing targets the camera wasn’t being recognised by my pc then I realised the camera fan wasn’t on! 
This morning I took another look and discovered the camera will switch on when using a 12v psu but completely refuses when on the 13.8 psu which it has been running from for years?? 
All 3 of my other Atik cameras still work off the 13.8 psu? 

Has anyone got any answers or advice? 
 

Many Thanks 

Bryan

Spectacular! 
You’ve managed to give it an almost 3D amount of depth and detail!

Lovely image! 
 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

18 hours ago, MartinB said:

That's a nice tulip.  The SII and OIII are quite faint so you have done a great job

Thanks Martin 

I appreciate the comment, the Oii and sii were very noisy, I don’t know if that’s due to the moon being full during or not enough integration time or even a mixture of the two? 
 

Thanks again 

Bryan 

Beautiful colours 

Creative composition 

So much to see!  Are you having this printed? 
 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan

Well done for A: transporting all that equipment half way around the world in hand luggage without forgetting, breaking, or loosing anything! 
And B: Capturing a beautiful image from a beach with all that sand so close to all that sensitive equipment!! 
This is on my bucket list, and all I can say is your efforts were rewarded! 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

I agree with others it would be better to hold back on the noise reduction, it ends up giving a false “plastic” feel to what is otherwise a fantastic image 

Having said that, I haven’t seen many if any  images that show the outer shells like that! 
well done! 
 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan

Most imagers are using star reduction in their software 

It’s quite refreshing to see an image like this!

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

Great image from an DSLR! 
The second image is my favourite !

The 135 is a fantastic lens, almost negates the need for a telescope! I had a great year imaging with mine and will probably never part with it 

well done! 
Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

Beautifully done Martin!

i love the wispy Oiii shell, it’s like the crescent is wearing a negligee! 
 

Great work! 
 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

Thank you for the comment Martin 

I wish I had acquired some better data on the Trapezium to add to the mix, I ran out of time due to neighbours trees and cloud. It’s always good to have a goal for “next time” should you be lucky enough to be around for another year! 
 

Thanks again 

Bryan 

5 hours ago, callisto said:

Never a wrong/right time to post astro photos,

Love it 👍

 

Mark.

Thank you Mark

Appreciate that 🙂

Hi stargazers 

I know it’s the wrong time of year but I didn’t post this at the time as I never considered it finished or good enough but looking at it with rested eyes I quite like it 

I had just acquired an Atik 383l+ and was trying it out during a full moon on M42 

I was surprised by the amount of twisting structure between M42 and M43 

I completely blew out the trapezium and was going to attempt to get a few more shorter subs for that but the weather etc prevented me from getting more data so I never posted it 

Anyway 

here it is, it’s a mixture of lrgbsho 

Thanks for looking 😊

Bryan 

Hi Peter That’s very impressive 

Can I ask, is it your remote rig or one you have rented time on?

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

You don’t see many images of this nebula 

Nice work 

Thanks for sharing 

Bryan 

26 minutes ago, mackiedlm said:

very nice - I dont often see such close-up of this object.

 

Thanks for the comment 

I still have my 12” sct connected to my mount from galaxy season and I thought I’d do some up close and personal work on some smaller nebula before swapping to a wide field rig

I have one more object that I’m working on and I’d like to get some cleaner sii on this one to justify the time spent on it 

Thanks 

Bryan 

Beautiful image Phil 

Can you tell me what camera and scope/lens was involved and the length of your subs? 
 

I hope you get chance to add to this 😊

Thanks for sharing

Bryan