Peco4321

I'm having one of those nights, everything going wrong, neighbours left all their upstairs lights on, windy, bit of cloud now, can't find the right sd card but now trying Andromeda just with stock lens. I'll report back later

Think you're on the wrong thread friend.

Best laid plans dashed by neighbours lights. May as well not bother at all. And to top it off, I've lost an SD card with magic lantern on and it won't seem to work on other cards ?

I'm actually thinking of trying Andromeda again tonight, just canon 1100d on the eq3-2, hopefully at least 60 sec subs before moonrise at 22:10. I always struggle getting sharp focus though with stock lens 18-55mm set about 40 I think. We'll see.

I've been thinking that as well, clear tonight so will see what takes my fancy.

Whilst as astronomers we love seeing every set up under the sun, that is the whole point of this thread for night time shots, moon in background, startrails, constellations over the top of your scope, lit up by red or white light, in your garden, at a star party, in a field or on your balcony, observing with your kids, set up for imaging, the options are endless.

Look at all those cables ? What was your target that night?

That is beautiful @Nigel G, stunning. Love the technique for the tea towel warming.

Here's my attempt last night at the eastern end of the Veil Nebula, I think that's how you describe it. 50 x 45 sec ISO 800 plus darks and bias. Quite like the colour I've managed to draw out. First time at this object.

Thanks. I think it was 800, that's usually what I choose.

Final image from Saturday, Nebulosity near Cygnus, usual sort of settings and images, quite happy with this.

Another image from Saturday nights Deep Sky haul, M2, but not very happy with it, I think focus must have slipped a bit, anyway, here it is, only 15 lights plus darks and bias, 45 sec ISO 800.

Don't you just love that moment in DSS when you see the 1st image, then the improvement when levels are aligned etc, here's the difference on Saturday nights Double Cluster. 39 x 45 sec plus darks and Bias. May add flats later.

Is that my bonus galaxy. I'm thinking Stephans Quintet is top middle, have I got it wrong??

I managed Stephans Quintet, Pleiades, double Cluster, m2, and some Nebula near Denab, and only came in at 02:45 as it's my wedding anniversary today so my wife would have been a bit mad if it had been an all nighter. Sort of processed a few so far and will update later. Currently about £50 down at Beverley races!!

Great bodes @jjosefsen, here's my attempt, no where near as nice but exactly same composition. Only 20 x 60 plus darks and bias, next time will go for more data, maybe 45 sec to make it sharper. 150p eq3-2 unguided canon 1100d

It was from Friday night, super clear last night but I sacrificed it for a good nights sleep, going away today, down to Dover and then early ferry tomorrow on our hols.

Thanks Art, maybe the near full moon played a part as well.

Right, I'm now getting a bit frustrated with imaging as I can't seem to get anything like what I would expect. With 1 hour 30 mins of 45 sec exposures, darks, bias and flats, stacked in DSS and stretched in GIMP, I am still getting this lighter patch in my images and I would have expected more details in M31. I have collimated, added the eyepiece cover to the camera, checked the camera is attached nice and tight but still getting this. I am going away later today so will not be able to try any suggestions till mid August, but then I will try just camera imaging on the mount, stack those and see what results I get. Process of elimination but something is not happening for me right now. Anyway, can't wait for some nice dark skies in the Dordogne for some Milky Way widefield shots. ?

Pesky satellites.

Really clear, typical that it's so clear, on a weekend, but the moon is out. Hey ho, just laying back on a comfy chair, listening to the camera snap away (upped it to 45s as alignment was good) familiarising with the star hopping to my upcoming targets with my bins, Bodes Nebulae and double Cluster so I can compare to last years efforts. Not tonight, but soon hopefully.

That's a mighty fine Andromeda, I'm currently snapping 30s subs on this now. Moon is washing out the sky a bit though.

First time I've understood that properly, thanks.

Clear last night in East Yorkshire as well so I had a crack at some fresh data on M27, will process tonight, hopefully a final entry for the 30 sec challenge.

I was trying 30 sec exposures of Dumbbell Nebula last night for the Imaging challenge based on my success last week on this target with 45sec exposures, clouds kept drifting over and the wind got up at about 23:30 so I packed away, as soon as I closed the shed doors, the heavens opened, perfect timing but I don't think I'll have much to process. Forecast not good for the rest of the week so probably no more entries for the challenge sadly.