Peco4321

Here's last nights efforts, not really happy with the Flame, but still enjoyed the session. No flats used so that will be my next mission. 

Flame and a bit of Horsehead Nebula:

135 x 30 sec at ISO 800

50 x bias

Whirlpool galaxy:

65 x 20 sec ISO 1600

30 x bias. 

Thanks @Stub Mandrel, I'll try that next time. 

9 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I'm worried about pointing the scope at the sun

I did not have the camera on the scope at the time I took the flats, just the body of the camera in my hands. Also I do not look through the view finder, just pointed in the general direction. 

Here's my  latest effort, Orion Nebula and Running Man Nebula, 43 x 30sec ISO 800, plus 20 x Darks plus 20 x Bias and for the first time, plus 10 x Flats.  Now I may be opening myself up for being told I did it all wrong, but the results are the best I have got so far.  For the flats, I was just experimenting and I simply took the lens off the camera this morning, set it to AV and took 10 pictures pointing at the bright Sun - I know this is not the correct way, but I think it sort of worked, please tell my why this is wrong?

Stacked in DSS, processed in PS free version.  My next learning curve will focus on getting rid of the blown out core of Orion by layering etc.

Same night as I got the Leo Triplet, I pointed at the Owl Nebula, and don't you just love it when you get a bonus DSO, in this case M108.  I think having multiple objects in the same image makes for a great perspective.  Anyway, I have so much to learn on processing, but the basics are there and for 22 x 60 sec exposures ISO 800, plus 12 x 30 sec ISO 1600, and 30 x bias, I'm again fairly pleased.  I had polar alignment quite good that night, any tips on processing will be greatly appreciated.

Leo triplet - 27 x 30 sec ISO 1600 no darks, 30 x bias seeing not great as there seemed to be a lot of moisture in the sky and Leo rising over local town reflecting its light, but this is my 1st attempt at this so quite happy. 

So here are my efforts, all with 150p on eq3-2, canon 1100d un-modded, Enhanced motors, but I obviously have to work on polar alignment.  The usual suspects, M42, cropped to show Running Man, M81 & M82, Whirlpool Galaxy, and Double Cluster.

Here's mine from my first year in astrophotography, all with 150p on eq3-2, and canon 1100d, no tracking except the last 2 images of M42 and Bodes galaxy.  Looking forward to seeing my 2017 efforts now with tracking. 

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

I did this to my EQ3 tripod before replacing it with a stainless steel EQ5 one. You could just fit big jubilee clips round the same part of each leg and do them up nice and tight.

Sorry for my ignorance, what does that achieve?  Does it just firm it all up. 

2 hours ago, wimvb said:

and if you rotate it so the sensor lines up with the ra direction

So do you mean lining up with the scope? When I image the moon I rotate the camera to give the most pleasing aspect. I guess with lunar imaging this is ok but you're right if I want to add data to DSO imaging I need to think a bit. 

2 hours ago, wimvb said:

@Peco4321: Looks nice. Two tips from another eq3 owner;

1 if you move the camera to the opposite side, it will give you somewhat better balance (and if you rotate it so the sensor lines up with the ra direction, it will make imaging over several nights easier. Plus the possibility to reuse flats from several occasions.)

2 the weak point of this tripod/mount combo are the aluminium legs. I used the tripod at its lowest position, until I reinforced it.

Happy imaging with your setup

Great tips thanks. Will hopefully try it out tonight. 

Here's an updated picture of my set up, now with enhanced dual motors. Taken earlier tonight trying to get a bit of the moon but it was a little hazy. 

Got my motors fitted now and had a brief go the other night and this is a 30 or 45 sec single exposure ISO 400. Next time I'm going to have a go at getting more and do some stacking. Apologies for the circle, I have this facebook thing going with all my friends were I dedicate a picture of something in the universe that reminds me of them, this is for my niece who is on an Equine course at university, so I needed to show where the HH is. 

Other objects I have dedicated so far for friends:

Kanes crater on the moon for a colleague called Kane

Carolines cluster near Caseopiea for a friend called Caroline!

The running man Nebula for a friend into cross country fell running 

The fishes Mouth of Orion Nebula for 2 friends into fishing 

The Alpine region of the moon for my brother who runs his own ski holiday business 

The Ring Nebula for a friend who forgot the wedding rings at his own wedding  

Capella for family who live near Rotterdam in a place called Capella a/d Ijssel  

I find this facebook thing of mine a good way of getting some info out to people who otherwise would never know what's up there.  Maybe it's a bit self indulgent of me, but friends seem to like it ?  

Thanks laser_jock99.  They're great images of a wonderful target. Can't wait to get the motors fitted to my mount after xmas for longer exposures on this. 

Done a bit of processing now, stacked just 4 images of 10 secs, 4 darks and 10 bias, with the crude twisting I have got a reasonable image and I am very pleased.  Not Horshead but I think its the Flame Nebula, please put me right, or wrong, not bothered, just would like to know, thanks.

Bit more processing. 

I had a great session last night the sky was so clear. I tried a few methods with varying results;

Camera only on tripod wide field shots of 30 sec ISO 1600. I just can't seem to get a really sharp focus. Will check tonight and process to see what's there. 

Prime focus 8 sec ISO 6400 twisting the slo mo controls, very crude I know, but I am sure there is some faint red nebulosity there. Again I will check later. 

Thanks everyone loads of great advice as ever. I don't have an intervelometer just a cable that I can lock to keep taking shots but no gaps between them. Will just see how it goes like that for now. 

This target really excites me and I want to see what I can get with my limited set up. So I was just wondering what you think the minimum exposure time I would need and how many lights etc to end up with any kind of basic image using 150p on eq3-2, canon 1100d. I will have tracking soon. 

Watching this thread with a keen eye as getting dual motors for my eq3-2 soon. 

Brilliant thread, hopefully I'll be adding pictures once I get my motors. 

42 minutes ago, Grant_FLO said:

The forecasts look like they match to me

You've got the view set to 'Center on Midnight' which when you view before midday means in order to show the morning it actually starts by showing the second half of yesterday. 

That means in your screenshot the forecast for tonight is actually the first chunk of the second 'Monday' row of data.

I don't like the centre on midnight view for this reason and prefer the 'Start at current hour' view because it is much more intuitive to read - you might also want to install the app because this gives a much better experience on mobile devices than the cut down mobile version of the website.

Hope that helps

 

Got it!  Thanks. 

Great site but forecast does not match, here's bbc forecast for tonight and clear outside forecast, both for East Yorkshire. What forecast do you use. 

49 minutes ago, ShrewView said:

Here's a couple from the last couple of nights. The nasty orange glow goes down a bit after midnight fortunately. Caught the ISS and a couple of satellites on the second one.

.

And the andromeda Galaxy, I think??

Testing out our new tent at my brothers house tonight, middle of the country, so obviously I have had to pack my scope up with me?

No such luck here, good forecast for tomorrow night though so hopefully a few hours ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️