First time trying tracking (M31, M45)

[portedGoblin]

I got my NEQ6 last week and after some fumbling around I got it sorted yesterday and got these two images. Even though they are noisy and half butchered in processing I'm proud of them!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 70-300mm @ 200mm, f/6.3, ISO 1600

30x30"

-17° C

Better quality here

http://www.astrobin....s/portedgoblin/

[ArmyAirForce]

I would be very happy with these images as first attempts at these targets. I am interested how you man manage to set up and operate at -17° C !!

[Gina]

Great result

[fatwoul]

Agreed. Nothing to be ashamed of in either of these, made more impressive by the fact you've only had the mount a week.

[portedGoblin]

I would be very happy with these images as first attempts at these targets. I am interested how you man manage to set up and operate at -17° C !!

Longjohns man, longjohns.

No seriously, I have not done anything special about the gear. It all seems to be able to take this cold and the rest is just to dress warmly. I've only been out a few hours though, then clouds come. For a whole night of imaging I think I may need to think about some protection.

Thanks for the comments! I am very happy with these, though I struggle with the amount of stars I get. I want to make a starmask for them so that I can stretch the galaxy without the stars, but the starmask tool in PixInsight seem to struggle when there are this many stars. I can't seem to get the correct settings anyway.

[VigdisVZ]

Did my M45 during a -20c night. It's doable with good clothing, but it wasn't fun driving home since my car's internal heater couldn't cope.

Glad to see your NEQ-6 seems to be working portedGoblin! Your images are looking really good!