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Everything posted by ngwillym
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What software do you use ?
ngwillym replied to powerlord's topic in Imaging - Image Processing, Help and Techniques
this must be DS surevey. AS!3 for planetary/lunar/solar stacking, Registax or Astrosurface for other processing. imPPG for Solar processing -
Diminishing returns over time?
ngwillym replied to rnobleeddy's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
I've found that real limiting factor (in the UK at least) for imaging quality is seeing. Yes, you may have a scope/camera combination that can do sub arc second resolution, but with average UK seeing in the 2-4 arc sec range - or even worse early in the evening- its a matter of finding those very very few nights where the equipment can perform anywhere near its best. Alternatively, find a specific area to concentrate on - e.g. planetaries, colliding galaxies or even planetary. Clear skies (We can only hope) Neil -
Something unpleasant has happened to my C11.....
ngwillym replied to ngwillym's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
All, thanks for the advice.. Secondary was removed and re-seated on its pivot and the collimation screws levelled up. A quick daytime collimation, followed by a star collimation has it looking much better - not perfect, the seeing wasn't really up to it - but I now have a doughnut to work on. There's a forecast for mist/fog over next couple of days, so hopefully the seeing will be much steadier Happy days Neil -
Something unpleasant has happened to my C11.....
ngwillym replied to ngwillym's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Thanks Peter - I wasn't sure if it was just collimation error or something preventing the main mirror racking in and out. I did a daylight collimation using thus approach - Daylight Collimation (robincasady.com) and it looked pretty good - hence me suspecting something more that just a dodgy secondary. As it the Hyperstar version, its not too difficult to remove the secondary for a check-out. Neil -
Something unpleasant has happened to my C11.....
ngwillym replied to ngwillym's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Thanks @dweller - I'd thought of that too - used a flashlight to check all around the perimeter of the main mirror- but can't see anything untoward. Ahhhhh, but something else does just occur to me - it might be a protruding fixing screw from the electric focuser - I'll check tomorrow -
It spent most of last year stored in a large plastic case in my dome (which has a frost protection heater and dehumdifier) as the planets were too low at my site to do any meaningful observing. I decided to re-mount it and do some lunar work. BUT on trying to check the collimation - things didn't look right. I've attached 3 pics - one from inside focus, one at best focus and one outside focus. (images taken on 18th Feb - seeing wasn't brilliant but even so I would have hoped for a much better star profile that what I got) anyone have any ideas what's causing this - any attempt to adjust only moves the star image around the field (mirror flop) but does not improve the star profile. . The C11 has an aftermarket electric focuser attached, (Pegasus Focuscube) but otherwise is unmodded. Help 🙂
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Help needed! What is this artefact on my image?
ngwillym replied to AlanP_'s topic in Getting Started With Imaging
Agree with Aramcheck - out of focus and well out of collimation. What target were you aiming at? If its any sort of nebula it's unlikely you'll see much if anything at all in a live view - especially if the focus is only just slightly off. And the odd stars you're seeing might just be hot pixels. First sort out the ocllimation, then the focus. Neil -
Logitech C270 webcam to Astrocam.
ngwillym replied to Chaz2b's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
Nice one. That takes me back to when I did the same thing with a Philips Toucam - quite a few years ago now -
From Setup - > ~Display -> finder Rectangle and then just double click on the 0.00 under 'rotation' for your chosen rectangle and experiment with numbers between 0 and 180 until it looks the same as your FOV
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Alternative polar alignment question
ngwillym replied to Marvin Jenkins's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Drift alignment:- Accurate Polar Alignment with Your Telescope - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope (skyandtelescope.org) -
Stay Home. Save Lives. Explore the Universe.
ngwillym replied to FLO's topic in Sponsor Announcements and Offers
I hope you've got a good stock of the cloud gun -
N.I.N.A images are not showing colour ( with ASI 071 MC Pro camera)
ngwillym replied to Gan's topic in Discussions - Software
According to the NINA manual " If an OSC camera is used, the raw bayered data is saved" - I'm guessing you'll need to debayer the saved image? -
2.1mm breakout box??? is there one
ngwillym replied to iwols's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
do you need an actual box or splitter cable - plenty of those on ebay - 4, 6 or 8 way. Neil -
C14 Corrector in bad shape! Pls help!!!
ngwillym replied to Kodo65's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Or there's this guy Telescope Repair - SC Telescopes.com service repair. Did a great job on reviving my15 year old Celestron C11 -
Yeay. A reason to open the dome - as NEOWISE was below my tree line, so its not been used for days/weeks
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HI again Karen, I live just outside Marchwood. And the apps are good but a while ago I put together a little presentation to help beginners navigate their way around the night sky - I've attached it here - it may be of some use. Now all we need are some clear skies. Regards Neil NightSkyBeginners.pdf
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Thunder & lightning here in my bit of the New Forest
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Temperature fluctuation with ASI 1600mm Pro
ngwillym replied to b36lbx's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
I'm lucky in that I have a dome, so I just leave the kit capturing darks at the end of an observing session (or sometimes do it the following morning when ambient temp is low) Neil -
Temperature fluctuation with ASI 1600mm Pro
ngwillym replied to b36lbx's topic in Getting Started With Imaging
That fluctuation may have been caused by the cam having to work flat out to maintain the temp - what ambient were you working at, bearing in mind at best it can get to 35-40 below ambient? Regards Neil -
How do you turn a SER file into a master dark frame?
ngwillym replied to Ags's topic in Imaging - Tips, Tricks and Techniques
+1 for autostakkert