Imaging Comet Catalina with a 130PDS and DSLR

[CosmicOrangutan]

Hi Guys, 

I would like to have a go at imaging C/2013 US10 Catalina this month as it moves higher towards Polaris.

Can anyone give me some tips on imaging comets(ISO/Sub length)? This will be my first attempt as so far I have only imaged the Moon or the Messier DSO's with my 130PDS. Will I actually be able to capture anything with a DSLR or do you need a webcam? I dont have autoguiding working at the moment as PHD software is not running on Windows 10. However I can get unguided subs of between 60-90 secs with my HEQ5 mount with decent alignment. 

My final query is locating the Comet itself. I cant find a decent star chart that plots the Comets progress through each day of the month. With the weather so unpredictable or predictable depending on how you look at it, a chart would be useful so I can run out and set up quickly if we get a break in the greyness. I'm assuming the comet is not in the list of objects on the Synscan hand controller?

Any help much appreciated, 

Thanks, 

George  

[Twiggles]

if you have Stellarium installed, you can get the RA and DEC from that and then input the co-ordinates (or so i believe!). If you don't have stellarium it's well worth getting, totally free and highly regarded piece of software.

[CosmicOrangutan]

Thanks Twiggles! I was running a 2013 version of Stellarium, Doh! Just downloaded the latest version and found her with all the co-ordinates. Cool, thats tracking sorted. Now just need some imaging tips?

[Davey-T]

I've imaged it with various setups you should be able to do it OK with yours , bit of trial and error with ISO800 / 1600   30 / 60 sec's depending on local light pollution and experiment.

Easier to find it when it's close to something bright, I believe it's scheduled to pass Kembles Cascade and associated NGC object shortly so that would make a nice pic.

Dave

You can run the date forward in Stellarium to see where it's going to be

Edited February 1, 2016 by Davey-T

[goose35]

I took 60 x 1 min subs at iso 800 on my astromaster 130. I found stacking 30 of them better though as there was a fullish moon and got gradient. 

 

So 30 plus 1min subs at iso 800 will be my starting point for the next time with no moon

[rubecula]

"I dont have autoguiding working at the moment as PHD software is not running on Windows 10."

I have PHD2 running on a Windows 10 laptop and it works fine.

[CosmicOrangutan]

Thanks guys! Think its clearing up for a while later tonight so will give it a go and share the results. 

Robin, apologies what i should of said is the Starshoot Autoguider drivers are not installing correctly on Windows 10. PHD runs fine. Apparently theres a way round it by installing the driver while windows is in a different compatibility mode, trying to figure this out now......

[Davey-T]

FWIW Orion say the SSAG doesn't work in WIN10.

Dave

 

Edited February 2, 2016 by Davey-T