Nigel G

Now I have turned off the camera NR everything is working just fine along with a very clear night and no dew Perfect. I dithered for the first time last night on a test of the Elephant trunk nebula. I wanted to see if its worth spending a few hours on the object with a small scope and DSLR. I have not spent much time on processing this image yet, It was easy to process I guess dithering did the job. I'm very supprised to see so much data in the image, well worth imaging even the dark dust is showing. This is 18x240s ISO800 with usual calibration frames. ED 80, EQ3 and modified 1200D. I also took a single sub on the Veil set to see that I should just about fit both East and West in the frame, so I'm looking forward to imaging them too. Cheers Nige.

Hey Bob. Thanks for that info. It turns out that my long exposure noise reduction was on auto so it would choose to reduce noise when it wanted to which would explain it starting halfway through a batch, disabling it has rectified the problem. Well done and cheers Nige.

Lovely image bob, well done. Nige.

I shall look at that. Cheers.

I'll check that out, although I haven't purposely changed any settings, but there is a chance I accidently changed a camera setting. Cheers Nige.

Good for you Frustration, there was plenty of that last night in Essex. After aligning and start tracking, everything was working well, best guiding I have seen to date, no hitches. Start imaging 4 minute subs on NGC 7000 to top up my existing, then move on to Elephant trunk. 12.15 the first image downloaded, a cracking one. Then the problem started, every image took the exposure time to download. In other words a 4 minute sub would take 4 minutes to download and the next doesn't start exposing until the download is complete. I tried a reboot which took 30 minutes to restart , recalibrate phd etc. No luck, by 2.40 I was starting to pick up skyglow from the Sun on its way. I got 16 x NGC 7000 subs, just 1 hour 4 minutes exposure in 2h 40m because of this darn problem, never had it before, doing nothing different. I checked all cables and connections and found nothing wrong, I wonder if it's the capture software causing the problem. Canon EOS utility. Might try and reinstall. Question to all- what capture software are you using and do you get any problems with it, also is it free ☺ Cheers Nige.

Thanks I have a comparison of all these images with modified and non modified, all are with the same camera. the difference being some are using Alt-Az First, NGC7000 non modified Alt-AZ & 150p, second EQ3, ED80 & modified. I don't think the rosette is particularly bright compared to NGC7000 or the Horsehead, both are more concentrated Ha I think. The moon can wash out nebula for sure, especially with a modified camera, also CLS filter is a must with local light pollution and modified DSLR's in my opinion. Both Alt-AZ & 150p second is modified cam. Rosette non modified and modified, both Alt-AZ with 210mm and 135mm lens Thanks Ian. I didn't check the forecast, no point I took a gamble looking at the coming sky patterns and decided to wait At 12am the sky was clear enough to start, a few gaps in the thin high cloud till mist started forming at 3am. Cheers. Nige.

An amazing thing happened last night, Essex had a clearish spell. That's 2 in 2 weeks, what a result. Snapping shots between thin cloud passing overhead and 1 or 2 PHD dropouts. Between 12am and 3am I managed to gather 16 x 240s subs on NGC7000 The North American nebula. The local street lights go out at 1 am so the sub's I got were good with a lot less light pollution. As usual I intend to take more sub's. But for only 1 hours exposure I'm very pleased with the result. Scope: SW 80ED pro with flattener. Camera: Modified Canon 1200D. Mount: EQ3 Pro. Guiding: Orion mini guidescope & Orion SSAIO cam. Software: PHD2, DSS, & ST 16x240s @ 800 ISO, darks, flats and bias. To be honest, the image was very easy to process to this point, I'm looking forward to adding more sub's to this image. Wishing you clear sky's. Nige.

Mine has Velcro strips inside the outer focuser tube, PTFE is very slippery stuff, good idea Nige.

Thanks ☺ I have the EQ3 Pro goto, it has had an astro technology service which is supposed to improve the performance quite a bit. Using a 50mm guide scope and my 500mm 80ED refractor I have had perfect 6 minute exposures with 100% keepers. It's my camera that is limiting longer exposures I think. With the EQ3 and lighter mounts the weight and balance are most important for AP..... 2 - 3 minutes max with my bigger 750mm reflector. M101 was quite hard to process, it needs a few more exposures, the moon had started to rise and my modded camera doesn't like moonlight. I have clipped the background as it was quite messy. More exposures with no moon will be added next available clear night ☺ Cheers Nige.

Thanks Peter. I was beginning to think I'd never see the stars again, there's been so much cloud cover over Essex. I nearly took up cloud observing as a hobby, that would surely push the clouds away I like to push limits and take on a challenge which is what this topic is all about There are some great images in this topic from everyone and I'm glad to be a part of it. Keep it up guy's. M101 is 120s subs The step from non guided to guided makes a world of difference and well worth doing. Although it does mean getting another scope and camera. The free PHD guiding software makes the process easy too. Cheers Nige.

Very nice @Art Gecko smooth with good detail. Impressive for jpg processing.

Finally a clear night, I topped up the M104 subs to 76x30 and cropped a bit less. I'm happy with it now. A bonus DSO before the moon appeared was M101 directly overhead, I took 25x120s with my Canon 1200d, 150p and guided EQ3. Both images are ISO 1600 with darks, flats and bias. DSS and ST. Nige.

Thanks guy's I think I will enter this one but will hold on for more sub's to make a cleaner image. Nige.

https://stargazerslounge.com/forum/226-imaging-challenge-3-30-second-exposures/

I had to wait between the onslaught of clouds to be able to get just 12 minutes of exposure on M104. This took 2 and a half hours to get and 30s was the exposure time in the gaps of clear sky. 24x30s with 20 dark, 20 flat and 50 bias. 150p unguided EQ3 and modified 1200D, DSS & Startools. Quite a large crop too as at 750mm focal length the galaxy is quite small. I would like to get some longer exposures on this target, hopefully the weather will play the game too. Cheers Nige.

A very nice M13 Peter. also worthy of the 30 second challenge. Nige.

That's a fine image, good detail and colour, a great 30s exposure image. Consider this for the 30s challenge. I also prefer the first image. Well done Nige.

Great image Mikey, some fine detail. Well done. Nige.

Hi Graham and welcome to the EQ3 DSO challenge. Plenty of advice here, and unfortunately plenty of clouds. we will be happy to help you on your way. Nige.

It looks bleak here in the Southeast cloud, cloud and more cloud sadly. The Elephant trunk is on my want list since my first attempt some months ago with my unmodded camera and 150p on the Star discovery mount. I think this is one I haven't shown, I can't remember how long or how many exposures. but its something to look at I checked the date, early November. I haven't had a chance to do any in weeks, whats going on with the weather - is it El nino fallout form last year ? Nige.