M45 - Guiding Test

[Grant]

Had my first ever go at guiding tonight - I brought a qhy5 earlier in the week, I've set it up two nights before tonight and each time, just as I set it up its clouded over!

Tonight I got it all setup and imaging on M45, managed 4 subs of 5 minutes at ISO1600 before it clouded over again! So apologies for the noise in this image, I need to get at least 20 subs at 5 minutes with darks as well but its nice to know I can start getting the longer subs, the longest I'd managed before was around 90 seconds....

(click to enlarge)

Looking forward to a full nights imaging with the guiding all setup! Silly weather

Cheers,

Grant

[GazOC]

Looks like you've got it cracked mate.

[Jamie]

Nailed by the looks of things...

Must give it a try myself one day night.

[CELESCOPE]

nice one Grant, you got loads of the ole blue stuff there mate , and guiding looks good as well, no stopping you now then ,

Rog

[MikeD]

Congrats on the image and the guiding milestone.

Mike.

[cygnusx1]

Nicely done G, opens all sorts of possibilities at 5 mins subs as opposed to 90s!

Waiting for my side by side plate from Ian King so I can guide too!

[centroid]

The guiding is 'spot on' there Grant, which now opens up some real possibilties for your imaging.

You'll be trying to out do Rog now, with his 30 min subs

I assume that you were using PHD, a great piece of 'freebie' software, that's just so simple and effective.

Dave

[Ant]

Nice Image mate.

5 minute subs :shock: I really need to get myself a PRO mount.

You're going to have some great fun over the winter!!!!

Ant

[Grant]

Thanks everyone!

It was using PHD, what a fantastic piece of software! Really easy to use, the QHY5 makes it easy to with the ST4 port. After reading the nightmares people have had with guiding, I was relieved that it all seemed to come together, I think the QHY5 is a big part of that - a great bit of kit!

One question though - now I'm guiding, is it still worth doing the pec training?

[centroid]

One question though - now I'm guiding, is it still worth doing the pec training?

That depends on the mount Grant, from what I've read here on the forum, PEC training with EQ mounts, is not a straight forward affair.

With the LX mount, it is very worthwhile doing, as it then leaves the guiding software very little work to do.

Dave

[markcol]

Nice image Grant, looks like the guiding's well sorted. I've been thinking about the QHY5 myself so I'm glad to hear it's pretty straightforward with PHD.

Cheers

Mark

[MartinB]

Sorted! Onwards and upwards Grant. Nice M45 as well

[steppenwolf]

Nothing wrong with the guiding then and a nice colourful M45 as well!