ManixZero

On 2/8/2017 at 10:12, CSM said:

Have a look at this to find Dark Sky sites in the Uk

http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dark-sky-discovery-sites/map.html

According to this, there are 2 Milkyway class sites within 20 minutes drive away!

If it wasn't cloudy I'd be off like a shot!

(however, this was probably compiled when my local council had a policy of turning off the street lights after midnight! - A policy they reversed after I bought a telescope! Of course!)

Cheers for e share

MZ

19 minutes ago, happy-kat said:

Use Stellarium to think about which target then find the nearest bright star to it and slew to that, focus on that star then slew to your object of interest.

This is something that I will definitely try!

Thanks

MZ 

1 minute ago, happy-kat said:

Clear night you lucky person :-) How many lights was that and of how long?

Orion is very much in the South now less ideally placed for AltAz imagiing.

To find objects of interest is your GoTo not working? Though the 32mm will be a nice additon to your 4SE.

 

Single image...still haven't got the hang of stacking yet.. 30 seconds 1600 ISO.

As for other objects.... The goto works fine - it finds M42 - however when I choose anything else there isn't anything to focus on in either the eyepiece camera! 

I will get there, I'm sure, just brand new to this so don't really know what I'm looking for or at or even what I'm doing!

Cheers

MZ

P.S.  I found a Planet!

Starry nights have been few and far between but I have had the chance to point my Nexstar 4SE+Pentax K5 combo once more at M42.

I'm still struggling with focusing and blurring, but I'm sure I'll get there!

I have now added a 32mm eyepiece to my arsenal which, I hope, will help me find other objects of interest! 

Cheers

MZ

On 2/6/2017 at 21:52, Nigel G said:

Here's what I mean, these images are cropped from 135mm lens image to compare against 150p images.

They are all similar exposure times, the 135mm lens appears to gather more.

Nige.

On 2/7/2017 at 08:26, Stub Mandrel said:

My 135mm lens is f3.5 and some are f2, I think, your scope is f5 which will be some of the difference. To be fair, I think the 135mm images look like they have been processed more aggressively too.

Wow Nige!

Definitely going to have at using my f2.8 70-200mm on DSOs - never gave it much of a thought before!

Is it best to try to piggyback the camera onto the telescope and use the goto for tracking or stick it on my std tripod and point and shoot - what did you do?

Also how much did you have to crop? - I also have a MF 135mm f2.5 lens that is smaller lighter and more suitable for the piggyback option?

I guess I will just have to wait for clear skies and give it all a go!

Cheers 

MZ

On 1/21/2017 at 00:18, ManixZero said:

This was one of the best of about 30 shots at between 10sec and 5 mins.

30 seconds ISO 400 and developed in Lightroom.

I have only been doing this for a month (viewing and imaging) but I am totally hooked.  (I have to improve my focusing technique - I know)

OK, Guys....

I have taken a couple of images through my telescope and processed them in the only way (as a photographer) I know - Lightroom - I have seen how "Stacking" seems to bring out detail but I am not sure of what the technique is?

Is it a load of images all at the same exposure? or is more of a traditional "bracketing" thing where the images are all shot at different exposure value to create a kind of HDR image.

All my attempts have failed both in Registax and DSS - I have only tried the bracketed images!

So, come on guys, what's the secret to stacking!

Cheers

MZ 

13 minutes ago, Nigel G said:

Hi ManixZero and welcome to the No EQ DSO Challenge.

A good start there  Better than my first attempts.

For focusing you can't beat a Bahtinov mask, not expensive and makes focusing a doddle.

Keep at it, try different settings ( ISO ) exposure times, Most find up to 60s is max for an Alt-AZ mount, sometimes pushing the limits up to 90 seconds.

Stacking multiple images is your next step. Deep Sky Stacker, a free download. Plenty of advice here for using DSS.

Your hooked  you won't believe the images you will get  .

Try Rosette nebula, NGC 2244. Globular and open star clusters are very rewarding. Stellarium is a good program to download, it shows you what's up there in real time.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of data for processing, example 60 photo's at 30 seconds, the more data the better the final image.

Be picky with keeping your light frames, bin any with star trails.

When stacking use flat frames and bias frames. both are easy to take and plenty of tutorials on YouTube. Recommend 50 bias frames and 30 flat frames. This helps no end with processing.

I have been imaging for only a year so no expert but I hope this helps you in some way.

Enjoy the ride and look forward to seeing your images.

Cheers

Nige.

Thanks Nige,

Stacking images is something I know I have to sort out - I have tried Registax but can't seem to get it to work.  Will try DSS next.  Flat frames Bias Frames? all new terms!

I have printed a Bahtinov mask but have yet to cut it out and try it.

I have downloaded Stellarium and will now have to hunt for NGC 2244.  

Until then here's another from tonight.................

Cheers MZ

Taken tonight - M42

I got my Nexstar 4se for Xmas and despite the advice to the contrary, can't resist hanging my Pentax K5 off the "Other Hole"

I found M42 for the first time last weekend and decided to try to take a pic tonight as it was clear.

This was one of the best of about 30 shots at between 10sec and 5 mins.

30 seconds ISO 400 and developed in Lightroom.

I have only been doing this for a month (viewing and imaging) but I am totally hooked.  (I have to improve my focusing technique - I know)

But what other targets should I be looking for? Any advice appreciated!

Cheers

MZ