Mandy D

Impressive!

I recall seeing on the web, the following text quoted as verbatim as I can recall: "Where does the Moon go when it is not in our sky? Nobody knows!" Have you seen references to Nibiru near the Sun when they have lens flare in photographs? They think they have discovered a huge new planet that scientists are unaware of. "And don't tell me it's lens flare, because this is different!"

@John_D That was a single image. I had numerous problems that prevented a stack, last night, despite the lovely clear skies and high Moon. For some reason the D800 decided to switch itself to auto-ISO mode, which is a mode that I never select. It's done this a few times, now and I have no idea why or how. I ended up throwing half the images away due to over-exposure. On some it went up to ISO-1600, despite being set to ISO-100. Then, AS!3 failed to stack the images properly, something it seems to do more and more recently, so I took the best image as identified by PIPP and proceeded to process that in GIMP to get the best result I could. I'm hoping to have another go at the Moon, tonight. I hope you get clear skies, soon, but looking at your location, I guess you don't do too well with the weather.

I dragged the 200P out for the first time in weeks, tonight and grabbed a few shots of the Moon. Then I turned the telescope to Jupiter and grabbed a quick image of it in the twilight. I really didn't expect to capture any moons, but I got all four Gallilean ones- G, E, I, C from top to bottom.

I set up the 200P and Nikon D800, just after 6 p.m. but the Moon clouded over before I could get a single image, or even focus the telescope! I couldn't be bothered to bring it in, so I left until about 21:45, at which point the Moon was visible, desp[ite clouds moving across it, so I set the camera up again and started grabbing frames. At 22:06, I got a single frame that was almost worth processing, but having no idea I'd got it at the time, I carried on for another couple of minutes until the Moon was covered by impenetrable cloud and no prospect of clearing any time soon, so I packed up. I couldn't get anything to stack, so I processed the single frame in GIMP, converting to B&W, dropping out the blue channel entirely, applying sharpening, adjusting curves and almost have an acceptable image. Given the appalling conditions, I'm quite happy with my first Moon image in more than a month.

Right now, mine would be a Skywatcher 190MN.

@Cornelius Varley Oh, OK. I couldn't see that. Then, it must be so.

Not at 7 p.m. in the UK. I have 7:31 for my location in the middle of the UK, today. I think we need the OP's location, first.

@Xilman Ahh, good to see correct use of SI units for the critical dimensions of your telescopes. Keep up the good work.

I've not heard that term in years! I really must read the books, again.

My rings are threaded on both sides, so I plan to add a second dovetail, then clamp things to that with a Vixen clamp. Alternatively, get a piece of aluminium bar and drill to suit.

@PatrickO In addition to @vlaiv's comment on tracking, I would add that it can be advantageous to not track or to allow the Moon to drift through the FOV. If you have any dirt or defects on the sensor, these will automatically and magically disappear when you stack your images, since the stacking software will not see them as features to be stacked. I have a dark mark on the sensor of my camera and it never causes a problem if I am stacking.

Part of the southern hemisphere of the Moon near the terminator at 81% waxing phase. This is a stack of 18 images at 2.4 m focal length with the Nikon D800. Processing in AS!3 and GIMP.

Nice captures. I was having similar problems tonight with the clouds and lost the northern regions completely, but did OK in the south.

Daft question: but, have you checked that the locking screw on the sie of the focuser is not too tight?

Reprocessed version of Earthshine. Gaussian blur applied to mask the noise.

@Mr Spock Thanks! I can't wait to get some images with the Herschel wedge. I've had a look visually, but cannot get focus with a DSLR, so I need to set up the ASI 178MM.

Wow! I managed to see the Sun today and for long enough to grab sufficient images to make a half-decent stack. Skywatcher 200P Thousand Oaks solar filter Nikon D800 f/5.9, 1/500s, ISO-100 Processed in AS!3 and GIMP

Slightly noisy image of the night side of the Moon bathed in earthshine. No stacking done, as I wanted the clouds to feature. Skywatcher 200P Nikon D800 f/5.9, ½s, ISO-1600 Processed in GIMP

@Richard N The name of this forum has always irked me, so I agree with you. Whenever engaging with the public, I never use such terms and stick to astronomy, astronomer, etc. I have been referred to as an astrologer on numerous occasions and even asked if I would cast someone's horoscope. I think I would have based it around the seventh planet, if I'd been bothered to humour them.

@pie_in_the_sky I use this: https://uk.benroeu.com/benro-gd3wh-3-way-geared-head/ You can set it to any angle and it locks. Micro-adjustment is easy and there is a fast adjustment, too. Shop around as they are much cheaper from dealers than direct.

I suppose if it were a truss tube, it would be relatively easy! 🤣

@Carbon Brush I'm glad it's not just me that feels this way. There is, of course, the NEC in Birmingham, which would be better for you and myself along with a host of other members of this forum.

Well, I think that confirms it, nicely. Well done.

I prefer the snow in the second image, but the sky looks ever so slightly over-cooked, but not to the point of ruining the image. Both are excellent. Well done!