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M31 and the double cluster

Ant

By Ant
in Imaging - Deep Sky

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Ant

Ant

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Morning all,

I managed to get out last night and actually try out the ST102.

There was a layer of high thin cloud over the entire sky. Which made the sky extremely bright, even with the LP filter and the Fringe killer I could only really manage to get 2 minutes at ISO 800. Which was a shame cause I was going to go for 5 minute subs on M31 and see what happened :clouds1:

So I managed a single image of the double cluster, 132 seconds at ISO 1600 - but I then had to process quite hard to bring the sky back down to an acceptable brightness (or darkness).

I then changed the ISO down to 800 and went for M31. I took 4 x 110 second images, again with the new LP filter and the fringe killer. I've stacked them in images plus and the result is OK.

I have these images in my pocket on a CF card but I left the card reader at home and have no way of getting them onto the PC (DOH!) - hopefully get to go home at lunch time at get it.

I manually guided using an Antares 12mm illuminated EP through the 8" while imaging through the ST102.

I think that next time I may try guiding through the ST102 using a barlow, diagonal and Illuminated EP (Need to find a cheap diagonal - any one got one for sale) and imaging through the 8". Not sure if the guiding will be accurate enough this way round though.

Ant

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Ant

Ant

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it was blumming fantastic to get out again.

But with the ST102 on the back of the 8" - it take take a little longer to set up. I balanced the scope - then realised that I hadn't connected the camera! had to do it all over again.

Ant

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Jamie

Jamie

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it was blumming fantastic to get out again.

But with the ST102 on the back of the 8" - it take take a little longer to set up. I balanced the scope - then realised that I hadn't connected the camera! had to do it all over again.

Ant

Well here's one for you i was out last weekend scoping and during setup i tried to balance the scope but to no avail. Doh i then realised that i hadn't even put the counter weight shaft or weights on yet. :withstupid:

Glad to see that you got out though. Feels good don't it.

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Ant

Ant

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I haven't heard that one before Jamie. Maybe we need a section of "stupid stuff". At least it would be worth a good read...

I set everything up a few years ago and set the Toucam capturing a DSO, 30 second subs. I went in doors for about 45 minutes came back out to find that I had set the exposure run going!

Ant

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Ant

Ant

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Here we go guys, these were taken using the official "antscan" upgrade, the goto is Rubbish. but the guiding is second to none :clouds1:

The Double Cluster. This is a 132 second single frame. May have looked nicer if I has framed the object properly...

image.jpg

M31, 4 x 110 second exposures - the stars are round.

image.jpg

Trouble with "antscan" is that it gets neck ache very quickly and doesn't work well in the cold.

Ant

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daz

daz

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True, russ. But there is one strange fault. If you put the TV on and a cup of coffee next to the armchair, the antscan has a tendancy to suffer some sort of breakdown and needs to be rested for about 45 mins or so.

This is quite common in some of these older models, I understand.

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Ant

Ant

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less of the older model you git!

But I do agree the "your coffee needs re heating" error message does distract it quite a lot.

On the flip side of the coin though, the "antscan" can react well to wild animals(Cats) bumping into the mount during exposures - beleive me they don't come back.

Ant

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