Herzy

What's "PS"?

Would it be a good idea to get a new optical tube that isn't high focal length? Currently I can't fit some of the objects into the camera. 

47 minutes ago, The Admiral said:

I don't know what may be available for Macs, but if all else fails I guess  you could run it on a Windows boot within the Mac OS?

When you say that the alignment was only perfect 1 in 5, what was the problem with the other 4?

Again, of course, tracking errors will be exacerbated with a long FL 'scope, and although OK for visual observing they might be a challenge for imaging. You may have to image in blocks of, say, 10 minutes and re-centre between each block.

Ian

One of the 4 was off by a crazy amount, so I redid it and then the others were just off by a little, the object was at the edge of the eyepeice (my least magnification one)

Maybe I'm just doing it wrong? I'll just explain my whole procedure. 

Firstly i set up the scope, making sure it's level and aligning it via sky align. Once it's aligned I go to the object I want to image and check if it's in the FOV. If it is in the FOV, then I'll put in the camera and move to Sirius to focus the camera (that's one of the only stars my camera can see in live view). Once it's focused I go back to the object and image.

Thanks to both of you for the great information, and I am using a Nikon D3200. Unfortunately, I don't have a PC of any kind so I'm just kinda screwed here. So I think I understand that the best method for getting viable images through an alt/az mount would be stacking short exposures. I can take these short exposures, but all the stacking softwares I've ever heard all aren't Mac-compatible...

I have a few editing programs, so if anyone knows what exactly the stacking program is doing, i can possible recreate it. For example if the program is just changing the blending mode of images or something.

Last night I was able to take the scope out and I aligned it 5 consecutive times and tested the tracking for each time and only one time was it perfect. Today it's cloudy, but the first chance I get I'll try some of the methods of improving the accuracy that you mentioned above!

I thought I would add this in, the best picture I've taken of M42 (Im a newb). 

1 x 30s taken through a 90mm maksutov on an SLT mount.

I currently have a NexStar 90SLT and I just can't get these pictures because the alignment is always off causing star streaks. The mount is always level, the legs fully extended, I always use the highest power eyepeice I have to center the star, and I always make sure the stars are far apart. I don't get how you can get these amazing images with the same mount as me when I can barely get 30s exposure pictures without a trail?? 

Also, if anyone can explain what all these things are people keep saying like "bias, sub, lights, darks, etc."