Jonny_H

I wasn't aware of this either until last year when I discovered it watching the Brian Cox series - The Forces of Nature. There was a short clip of it in one of the episodes.

from one of the aerial shots it looked like there were dozens of people standing outside so assume visitors at least were allowed!

I would be over the moon with that image! 😉

Agreed. Dust bunnies for sure.

As the LA has mentioned these can be removed with calibration frames, i.e. flats.

I've given processing another go.......this time with 10 x 600 sec darks.  I think i just need to learn how to post-process properly! 😆

Thats a lovely image.  Lots of detail there!

1 hour ago, almcl said:

Startools is easier to use with the defaults, but there is still a learning curve.  You can download a fully functional version (with just 'Save' disabled) that has no expiry date,

Ivo Jager its author gave a demo in Stargazine episode 41,  it's available to watch in the Stargazine section.

Thank you.

I will download it and have a play

Currently shooting my dark frames so once complete I will re-stack and process to see if I can get a better contrast.

2 hours ago, almcl said:

That's a pretty good image!  

I've run your png through StarTools and got this result.  Some processing artefacts (my fault for going too quickly) and two satellite trails but lots of detail!  The satellites will disappear if you have more images and stack with a Sigma Clip. Or you could discard the subs with them on - but with only 10, that might not be a good idea?

Pixinsight can probably do a very similar job.

Are you using a light pollution filter?

 

 

That's great. Far better than my processing attempts. Thank you.

Is StarTools easy to use compared with the likes of PI?  PI is rather complex! 

21 minutes ago, malc-c said:

It was the background of the star field.  I'm no expert when it comes to imaging, but I just had a hunch that something was "missing".  Most people seem to miss out the flats or bias images, tending to use lights and darks only.  You may find you get a lot more contrast by adding the darks...  It's a nice image and some nice round pinpoint stars so tracking was good too...

Thanks for this. 

As mentioned I am planning to capture the darks this evening and re-stack. I have a cooled camera which makes life a little easier in this regard.

1 hour ago, malc-c said:

Is this just stacked lights? - Did you take any darks or flats ?

No this was stacked with 60 flats and 60 bias also. Admittedly I didn't take any darks yesterday but plan on doing so this evening and will re-stack with darks included.

Just out of interest - why do you ask? I am fairly new to this so would like to learn from my mistakes etc....

Hi all,

I had another go at M81 last night.  I pushed the boat out and tried experimental 10 minute exposures x 10 @150 gain.

Stacked in APP and a bit of post processing in PI.  Still learning but think I am getting there slowly but surely.

Clear skies,

Jonny

Hi all,

Managed to take my first images of NGC2403 last night.

I managed to get 20x300s of lights (dithered), flats and bias.  I couldn't hold out for the darks so may capture those tonight and re-process.

My bahtinov mask turned up yesterday so had a go at focusing before shooting.  I think it is better than some of my previous shots but still need some practice to get it right. 

Anyhow - stacked in APP with a bit of light processing in PI and PS.

Clear skies

Jonny

I am trying desperately not to let any form of OCD take ahold here! 😆

Hi all,

Really random post but I just got very excited to get below 0.50" total error just now. That's a P.B. for me! 😁

I think I need to get out more....! 🙃

To get focus with my 120mm mini and 50ed guide scope set-up I have to have my guide camera sticking out of the end of the guide scope a fair bit more than I expected. Have you tried sliding the camera further back and/or screwing on the supplied spacer to the camera etc....?

Alternatively I would suggest focusing on a distant object in the daytime as suggested by knobby. You can then fine tune later in the night.

OK thank you. Sounds doable then but just a bit of additional faff.

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has used the SW 9x50 right-angled erecting finderscope as a guide scope - using a ZWO120MM mini or equivalent?

10 hours ago, Chefgage said:

Hello all. I have issues when guiding using using the asiair pro. These issues are the error values produced. I cannot get much lower than 3" error and there are other issues that come and go. Having a good read on the internet/zwo forums it seems this is a known issue when guiding using the asiair for many people. There seems lots of people are having issues when guiding using the asiair pro since it moved to the 1.5 update and beyond. Having only had mine for a relatively short period I have no experience of the guiding before the 1.5 update. 

Any one else care to share their views/experience guiding using the asiair pro? Have you had any issues with it since the last couple of updates or are you happy with how the guiding is going?

I haven't had mine for very long so I have no experience of pre either. However I haven't had any issues with guiding that I have seen.

Before I fitted the belt mod to my HEQ5 Pro I was seeing 1.15" total RMS error on average. Post belt mod I am getting 0.8-0.9" RMS error.

3 doesn't sound right though. What is your set-up? Are all the values correct in the ASIair Pro settings? E.g. scope and mount details, latitude, longitude etc....? Are you balanced correctly?

Just trying to think of a few things off the top of my head.

I will let other more experienced imagers chime in.

I had an old Netgear one lying around (purchased it about 7 years ago) which seems to be doing the trick. 

Every so often it doesn't connect on first go but i can't work out if it's the WiFi extender or the ASIAir Pro. Probably the former given its age!

Let me know how you get on with this one though!

Hi all,

Sorry to resurrect this post but for those who have replaced bearings in their HEQ5 Pro - is there any reason why you chose the rubber sealed bearings as opposed to the metal sealed lubricated-for-life ones that SKF also do?

I am curious! 🙂

Cracking image especially if it's only your third time out.

I am relatively new to AP also and would be chuffed with that if it were mine!

Fantastic result Luke and a great video! Keep them coming! 

I am hoping so.

I've not long ventured into AP (properly at least) so need all the practice I can get!

18 minutes ago, AKB said:

That's nice.  What scope?  What camera?  I find that it really helps to know when comparing images.

Tony

Thanks Tony.  My set-up is as follows:

Scope: SW 150PDS

Guide scope: SW Evoguide 50ed

Mount: belt-modded HEQ5 Pro

Imaging camera: ASI533MC Pro

Guide cam: ASI120MM mini

Computer/software: ASIAIR Pro

Thank you for the comments.

Yes the moon didn't help matters. Being fairly new to AP I am taking every opportunity I can to get some hours in.....regardless of whether the moon is out or not!

Needs must with our beautiful British weather! 😉

On 14/03/2021 at 11:51, chrisund123 said:

Well I've committed to fixing this HEQ5 one way or another - £100(!) worth of new, high quality bearings to go into it.

I keep having to remind myself of the reason why I started messing around with it in the first place - poor Dec backlash. I'm hoping that re-cutting the threads in the adjustment screw will be all that needs, but I do wonder why the thread had been stripped in the first place. Someone obviously felt the need to tighten it way more than was sensible, so I wonder if there was (is?) some underlying issue with Dec backlash...

How are you getting on with this? I've been waiting for more photo updates! 🙂