michael.h.f.wilkinson

Managed to grab 3 hours of data with the Canon EOS 550D and Samyang 135 F/2 with Optolong L-eNhance filter. Stacked the results with bias frames, darks and flats, and then used the 12h 50m H-alpha data obtained the ASI183MM-Pro, Sigma 50-100 F/1.8 mm zoom and Baader H-alpha F/2 filter as luminance channel Star colours aren't great, and I simply need more data, but I am pleased with the progress. I do feel the Samyang definitely has the better image quality, so might redo the H-alpha data with the ASI183MM-Pro

You need a lot of data. My skies aren't that good: Bortle 5-6 I would say. I do hope to set up at some dark site at some time

Lovely images of an intriguing set of galaxies. I had a go at these targets with the 6" Schmidt-Newton last year. Should try to get more data on them this year

Managed to grab some solar data for the first time in ages. Didn't manage H-alpha, as clouds started to appear. Still, quite happy with these few shots White light: Ca-K, grey scale: Ca-K, pseudo colour: Ca-K, part inverted: Ca-K, part inverted + pseudo colour: All were shot with the ASI178MM behind the APM 80mm F/6, with either the Lunt Herschel wedge and Solar Continuum filter or the Lunt B1800 Ca-K module.

I have been focusing on the Spaghetti Nebula these last nights, and grabbing loads of data with the ASI183MM-Pro and Sigma 50-100 mm F/1.8 zoom. I had attempted this tough object with the Baader H-alpha Highspeed F2 filter last year, and got 4 h 48 min of data, which gave me a decent start. I then got another 4 h of data on March 2, this year, but was a bit disapointed with the result, and was particcularly disturbed at the nasty halo around Alnath I checked next day, and I had used the wrong filter wheel, with the regular Baader H-alpha filter in place. I quickly corrected this, and grabbed a total of 8 h and 2 minutes in the last two nights, which gave me this: Much better, I would say. I then stacked this result with the first 4 h 48 min stack, to get a total stack of 12 h 50 min at F/1.8 I really should add colour to this. I am thinking of using the DSLR with L-eNhance filter and the Samyang 135 mm F/2 (for which I still need to make a good rig to mount onto the ASI183MM-Pro). Whatever the result, it shows the value of the Baader Highspeed filters.

Or at the very least exterminate gradients

You could perhaps demo this effect in Stellarium: select an object to view, and select the camera FOV view, and then simulate the motion with and without EQ mount option switched on.

Been playing around with different ways of combining the three bands I had gathered on the Monkey-Head Nebula First, HOO Next, a slightly milder version of the Hubble palette Finally, the "default" combination in APP, which I think tries to get as close to true colour as possible: Quite similar to HOO, although the red is just that more saturated due to S-II being mixed in to the red channel. Of course, I want to get more data still, as ever. Seven hours just isn't enough.

Managed to add some data to Saturday's haul for a total of about 7 hours. A Hubble palette image again Will keep experimenting with different processes

Gave the images a slight tweak again. I found I could stretch them a bit more without exploding the noise This is really the first time SHO worked at all for me. Will definitely try to get more S-II in particular (and if time allows, als on the Jellyfish).

After a 2 month wait, finally some clear skies. I got the APM 80 mm F/6 out on the Vixen Great Polaris mount, attached the ASI183MM-Pro and Tele-Vue 0.8x reducer, fought with polar alignment, got everything working, started taking some shot of the Monkey Head, found tracking was hopeless, redid polar alignment, managed to get OK 60s unguided subs, and managed to get 1 hour in H-alpha, O-III and S-II each with 2x2 binning. Stacked the lot in APP, and created HOO and SHO combinations. Some final tweaks and crops in GIMP. HOO SHO Hopefully I can double the amount of data tonight

Welcome to SGL Daf!

I have always used darks with my ASI cameras and Canon EOS DSLRs with APP. Never had any issues

It was unusually warm, and I tend to be rather cold resistant (handy attribute, in this hobby). That rooftop was pretty good, indeed. It is sad we had to sell the house when my mother passed away. I would gladly have moved there.

Just managed to spot it with my Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars. First actual observation of the year

Here is the mini-dob I built for the kids and here the Newtonian I built as a kid

The Omni eyepieces are Plössl design, so the shorter ones will have the same short eye relief and small eye lenses as the Kelners (although the image quality will be better). If you don't wear glasses while observing, this is fine. If you do need to wear glasses, the shorter Plössls are a pain to use (the Vixen-made Celestron 10 mm Plössl I bought with my scope was the first to be replaced with a long-eye-relief Vixen LV EP). Longer eye relief EPs do come at a higher cost, however. I personally would go for 9 or 10mm for planets in an F/10 scope. The 32 makes sense for DSOs.

Do you have any eyepieces already? If so, try to see how they perform first, before spending anything extra. People respond differently to different aberrations (I can't stand field curvature, for example), so it is quite difficult to give specific advice without knowing what you have, how much you (dis)like the views, and what your budget is. I am sure a couple of Ethos, Nagler, ES 92 deg, and Pentax XWs will give astounding views, but if you get the results you want with cheaper stuff, so much the better. I used Vixen Plössls and LV EPs for over a decade before switching to fancier stuff, and only started going for replacements when I noticed the limitations of the Plössls and LVs (I still have some newer SLVs which are superb for planetary viewing)

+1 for Astro Pixel Processor. Not free, but really user friendly. I never really got along with DSS, APP was a breath of fresh air to me.

I have seen Skywatcher 4.5" F=500 mm parabolic mirrors for 121 euro at Teleskop-Service https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p3458_Skywatcher-Parabolic-Mirror-114-500-mm.html Shipping to India will be an issue. Isn't there a Skywatcher dealer in India who can supply this?

Mine was a home-made 6"F/8 Newtonian (bought the mirrors rather than grinding and polishing them myself) That must be just over 42 years ago, more hair on my head, less on my chest, less weight to drag around.

Welcome to SGL, Rolfe! The C8 is a great scope. Mine is now more than 26 years old and still going strong. Two lovely shots you have posted there.

That is brilliant.

Congratulations! Brilliant image

I must say I have seen some "equipment snobbery" at times, frequently from the "all the gear and no idea" crowd, but by and large people tend to be very encouraging of those just starting out in the field. I always find it is amazing to see what some people get from very modest kit (apart from mere enjoyment). I think the EQ3 DSO Challenge thread is a case in point, loads of great images obtained with a simple mount can be found there.