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Unimatrix0

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  1. Captured back in March via AZ-GTI mount in AZ mode, W.Optics61 + QHY183 color cooled camera. Sharpcap Live stack. No darks, no flats, just let it run and let it stack. 187x15 seconds. That's a chimney on the bottom right corner, I kept shooting even when the chimney was already in the picture, just for fun.
  2. Ok, as I mentioned in the welcome forum, I'm not new to photography, neither actually to astronomy (observe stars/planets), and I'm fine working with some finicky software also, I work in the IT field (when they want me to). What I'm new to is, putting it all together and understand how it all works together. So it's best to say what I did last night and the problems I ran into. So EQ-6R Pro mount has a USB connection (USB A to B and I'm running it with a long extension usb cord (it has a built in signal repeater ) DSLR Camera choice , is something I kinda regret buying right now (Pentax) since it doesn't have remote live-view via USB like Canon or Nikon, so that really sucks, I really want to see test shots in my nice warm garage, and without freezing to death next to it on a 2 inch lcd screen. The guide cam is not great, although sharpcap recognizes it, it's very poor, it's one of those no-brand things that sold with cheap kits, although it sees stars with a lot of gain/brightness applied. I'll get another one later. Anyway, the problem. In SharpCap (which I paid 1 year license fee) has a really cool precise polar alignment option, which relies on plate solving sorta, and supposedly really nails the mount to a very high precision alignment or it's claims so. Question: Do I still need to go through the 3 star alignment? I thought a well polar aligned mount doesn't need other stuff, unless some internal mapping software needs coordinates, correct? My problem is, that I can't get 3 stars, even 2 stars can get challenging at my location. I know, crazy, but I have a limited open sky, due to trees and buildings, but I know what I want to observe and photograph in my limited view, just be there at the right place/time. I know, sucks, but I got a clear view to most of the things toward the South/East and South sky above my house my issue is East/West and Northwest. And somehow using the Skywatcher alignment software exclusively seem to be picking stars that are behind a building or a tree. (I'm talking about the software that comes with the hand controller). So the 3 star thing can take me a while, especially if I'm thrown some star names that I don't exactly recognize and being a "shiny star" doesn't work in my DSLR LCD or guide scope, because suddenly half all the stars are shiny and I'm afraid I'm locking onto the wrong star. So I end up slewing all over the place and wasting my time with it. And I really hate switching to an eye piece in 22 degree weather, and then I need couplers and whatnot due to the focal length is now incorrect , and I neither have a laser pointer or a TelRad and I thought I could get away with a 50mm guide scope with a guide camera. Question: -Can I just do plate solving and forget about the 2 star or 3 star alignment? Isn't that just for casual observing? The Skywatcher software is not counting on that I am already polar aligned? Isn't a precise polar alignment is enough, so I could just navigate to my target and start doing what I want ? If not, what's my next step after the mount is polar aligned and I set the EQMOD as it's "parked" there? Are there any steps I still need to take? Should I just download some plate solving software and start fiddling with that too? Thanks!
  3. Haha! I was just about to do some scoping, Weather channel said "clear" , it looks damn cloudy to me ! I'm in Northwest Connecticut.
  4. Hi everyone, My name is Frank. I'm relatively new to astrophotography, but somewhat experienced in stargazing and regular daytime photography. A little background on me. 1st telescope (long long time ago - a Russian made something.. very plastic , but on a heavy duty equatorial mount. (mid 1980s, that mount was heavy but really good by beginner standards, the refractor on it left a lot to desire). I think I used it like 3 times, I had no idea how to use an equatorial mount (no internet and forums, no cellphones) so i think it was given away (back in Europe) . 2nd time I picked up on sky observing was about 15yrs ago. I bought a Newtonian reflector for my brother's birthday on an EQ mount again, also bought a 60mm refractor on an Alt-AZ. He ended up using the refractor for a few weeks, then forgot about the whole thing. I found the telescopes a year later in the shed outside, under a tarp. I began to use the Newtonian 6" (the refractor was indeed a poor quality scope and the newtonian needed culmination done) and discovered a few things for the first time, as I learned how to use the mount and I was using a paper chart and the dial numbers. (People need to learn this really, can be so useful just to set it on the numbers, unfortunately mount manufacturers treat this as an afterthought and the dial groves/numbers are not accurate enough! ) I picked up Saturn, Andromeda, Mars, and a bunch of other objects I have never seen with my own eyes before. Meanwhile I was also doing photography long before this, starting with a 35mm film SLR I borrowed (Canon-something) from my dad's drawer. He really loved that camera and eventually he put it away to a better place where I couldn't find it, after he discovered I was making pictures of a waterfall, nearly standing below the water. 😁 I was also taking photography lessons in high school and had multimedia art class in college (photoshop skills. ) After that, for the longest time ever, I didn't care about photography, I had no experience with DSLRs beyond the point of setting it on AUTO and taking a picture on birthdays and Christmas. And that again wasn't mine, I never owned one until now. So to put it altogether, just recently (COVID times) thought about making pictures of things on the skies. I brushed off my knowledge regarding the night sky objects (kinda forgot a whole lot of things) I bought myself a DSLR (Pentax K70)- which wasn't my first choice, but I found one for sale, half the price of the Canon I really wanted. it's good for now. I recently bought a Williams Optics Z61 scope and my latest purchase (I'm out of money!!) is an EQ 6R Pro. By the way, I still haven't imaged with this combo. I wanted to familiarize myself separately , both the camera and the mount and the scope. So all I've been doing is making all kind of pictures with my camera on regular camera tripod (the camera has an astrotracer feature- making the sensor shift inside the camera to stop star trails, which is sort of a hit/miss feature in my experience) The mount and scope - So far I only used for visual observing, since it's a new purchase there has only been a very few days without clouds at night. It's like purposely happening, that I cannot get a clear night . Anyway, see you around, Also, I got some intermediate skills with Photoshop as well, you may find me commenting on processing posts. Happy Trails, Clear skies!
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