shropshire lad

I use a 1mw laser for polar alignment but only switch it on when I'm close to polaris ....... but I check the skies before I switch it on and listen out for any aircraft or helicopters .

It's only on for a couple of seconds.

Nicely done, and yes I can see the small galaxy

7 minutes ago, Albastars said:

Thanks everyone for your comments.  Appreciated.

Clear skies forecast for tonight!

What part of the country are you in?

Yep you got to be pleased with that one ... nicely done.

Hello Dave and welcome to the forum

3 hours ago, Clarkey said:

Definitely 4 hours as a minimum. If you have not already done it, have you thought about M106? It is a bit brighter and larger than M109 so might be better.

Yes I have done M106 , and that's quite close to 109 ...

Well isn't that typical .... a clear night coming up and the moon spoils the party ...... 😆

tomorrow night to image ... question is this.

Using AZ-GTI in EQ mode ... Canon 80D and 500mm (sigma 150-600) bortle 7

a. 4 hours imaging M109

b. 4 hours imaging M100

c. 2 hours on each.

What would you do ??

1 hour ago, StuartT said:

I was watching a nice youtube video about imaging M31 and stacking with a DSLR. The guy said something which surprised me. He said that noise decreases with increasing ISO. This is the opposite to what I always understood - that the higher the ISO, the more grainy your image.

Can anyone explain this for me?

Can you put a link to the video please.

Yep ... that's a cracking image ...... well done.

Nice and sharp and good crater detail ... good one.

Still learning this Astro stuff but enjoying it, even though it's very frustrating at times...... any how this from last night.

Whispy cloud again and the moon close by didn't help to capture this.

75 x 40 sec images ... 18 darks ... iso200 ... f8 ... 400mm (150-600mm lens) AZ-GTI in EQ mode 

.

29 minutes ago, globular said:

Cloudy here currently but I'm hopeful for later....

Will Hesiodus A still be viewable then?

Me too 

Can you tell us what equipment was used and your settings please

Which firmware are you running?

All captured in the last few months.

.

Paul

Thank you David, I have a good view to the south and NO view to the west, north and east not too bad.

Any ideas on which would be easier to image with my Canon 80D ( not modded) and sigma 150-600mm on my AZ-GTI in EQ mode.

I'm in Bortle sky 6

Image so far of the Orion Nebula, still getting used to using EQ mode on my AZ-GTI.

Also first try using Star Tools (just purchased yesterday)

Canon 80D ... Sigma 150-600mm @ 400mm .... iso 800 .... f8 

75 x 40sec lights

28 darks

18 bias.

SkyWatcher AZ-GTI in EQ mode.

Bortle sky 6/7

.CC always welcome (I have a lot to learn.)

Green means quite clear, look under each green to see %  0= clear .. 100 means total cloud

25 minutes ago, Dave Hartwick said:

How do you read the Clear Outside app? Please help 

Thanks. 

three greens for tonight London area 9 10 and 11 oclock

23 hours ago, el_hop87 said:

Alacant- I cannot thank you enough!!! This video is wonderful and I have now followed every step. I have the trial version of StarTools so was not able to properly save my image, but managed to screen shot the attached. 

I will definitely purchase StarTools as I find it easier to do the first part of processing following DSS, in here and then move on to photoshop/lightroom for final edits. 

THANK YOU so much again, really is invaluable help and hopefully i'll be able to follow this framework going forward with other images. 

Can you tell me what video you watched please .

9 minutes ago, Pixies said:

Virgo is appearing in the evening sky (it's there now - but later in the night).

Lot's of galaxies in that region (plus Leo), and best viewed during spring before summer comes - when there's a distinct lack of dark skies in which to properly observe them.

9 minutes ago, dannybgoode said:

Simply a lot of galaxies come into view for imaging at this time of year

Thanks for the replies ..... can you tell me which galaxies (names or catalogue numbers) to look out for may be starting with the easiest to image.

Thanks Paul

Can someone tell me why it's Galaxy season coming, what's the reasoning behind this please.

Thanks Craig I'll look into those.