carastro

I think you flats were too long @ 5Secs with a DSLR.  You need to see what the histogram says, and adjust the length to get the histogram about 1/3 to 1/2 way across i.e,. 1/3 well depth.

Otherwise it is a good first image, much better than I got at the beginning.

Carole 

I like the second version the best. 

You say it is not worth using filters in a Bortle 8 zone.  
 

The exact opposite is the case.  I also live in Bortle 8 and could not manage without narrowband filters.    
 

Carole

Welcome to SGL

Carole 

What gets me with socks is you never seem to be able to match them all up when they come out of the washing machine.  So do they get separated BEFORE they go in the wash, or does the Washing machine gobble them up?

My husband has a drawer of unmatching socks hoping their partners will turn up some day.  🤣

Congratulations, and well deserved.  You normally only see half of the nebulosity on this target, yours shows the whole Nebula.

Carole 

Love it. 
 

Carole

Can’t believe how much detail you have got in one shot and no tracking.  Amazing. 
 

Carole

To be honest l could slightly rotate the scope in the tube rings.  Just never remember to do that. 

I have been using the finderscope foot for donkeys years for the guide scope.  I have never had any flex with it.  Mine is in fact a converted finderscope.  I guess you need to make sure the foot fits tightly.   The only disadvantage l have found that being to one side the balance in Dec is a little lop sided, but doesn’t seem to affect guiding.   
 

Carole
 

Very nice result.

Carole 

Whjat are you using for power and is it 12V?

Nice work.  
 

Carole

Excellent, well done.

Carole 

Excellent work and results.

Carole 

That’s very nice. 
 

Carole

Wow!!

The only time I have ventured out to anywhere apart from a camping site I took another Astro chum with me.  The only reason I went then was to capture comet Neowise which was behind the houses where I live.  Normally I go to Camping sites where there are other people around, either other astronomers or sometimes Joe public.  Feels safer that way.

Carole  

OMG, these are stunning.

Carole 

Welcome, l envy your skies.  
 

Carole

Thanks Tezz.  I suspect he is too far away. 
 

Carole

Yesterday when I gathered all my collected imaging data from my two laptops of my dual rig.  I discovered I had taken 46 subs at 300secs binned x 2 when it should have been 600secs unbinned - duh!! 

Luckily I had data from previous 3 evenings and other scope, so mixed it all up.  How did I not notice, especially when I was checking everything on screen from indoors once it was up and running?

Facepalm.

Carole  

37 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

Starsense Starsense Starsense! that is the balance I have always wanted, a push to dob with an accurate no fuss no adding electronics or digital circles or any other bits and bobs. Starsense is revolutionary, a system which allows me to push to while the app on the phone flawlessly guides my hand to the target. Time and time again over the last few months it has worked, even when stars are just coming out and barely visible, it finds its position and plate solves accurately. Do I work for Celestron? no, I just know a revolutionary pointing system when I see one, I also know at least 6 people who have put the phone module on their larger dobs with equal success and satisfaction. This past summer at  large star party I found myself doing more starsense demonstrations than looking through it myself. Every time I would show one person, they would end up coming back with two more people eager to see, I heard comments like "this is amazing" time and again. There isn't a more perfect combination of a traditional push to dob with a state of the art assistance.

Wow, as primarily an imager I had heard the name banded about but not had this system explained before, what a good idea.   

I should say, that I can become very familiar with star patterns even using my goto, as some targets are dim and not discernable until after you have perhaps taken images and stacked them.  Since I don't use Platesolving, I frequently study images of the target I want to image and then check all the star patterns match.  Sometimes I have to move the mount to get the target central even though I can't see it.  

Carole 

Still noisy despite 14 1/2 hours, but that's Bortle 8 for you with the fainter stuff.

Carole 

12 hours ago, wesdon1 said:

I use a GoTo system on my HEQ5. It's just so much more convenient when it's below zero and I need to utilise as much of my outside time as possible to gather as much data on a target as possible. I live on the 3rd floor of flats, with no lift, so every session involves carrying the very heavy HEQ5 mount, the 'scope, cameras, power box, everything, down all the stairs, and have to remain outside constantly, for fear of my expensive gear being stolen or damaged! Then carry everything back up the stairs, all in one go, I hasten to add! So the GoTo systems are a God send for me personally!

Wes, Liverpool ( Bortle 7 )

Crumbs sounds a real ordeal.  Well done for persevering.

Carole