Galaxies and Nebulae

[DoctorD]

Hi

Not posted for a while, but have managed to get out a few times this year with the C8 on the HEQ5 - I've been fiddling with the reducer spacing and think I've found a better distance - still not optimal and will have to experiment some more. (Working at F3.5 to F3.4 with the C8).

Here's my selected catch with my Lodestar-C, mostly 30s exposures however M42 was 15s, some stacked using median others using mean stacking with info on the picture.

Severe gradient in some images from general Bradford Sky Glow to the east of my location.

 

 

During the cloudy nights, I've been playing with Astrometry.net and now have a working system which can  calculate the actual centre of the image and sync the scope to these coordinates - off line with no internet connection. I can set up using EQMAC with a single star alignment (usually adjusting mount by loosening the RA and DEC clutches to get the target star in the centre of my finder) the I can retire to the warmth of my study and complete the alignment indoors.

Using marks on my drive I can set up and be back in the warmth within 15 minutes, sometimes quicker - this is my idea of comfortable astronomy!

CS

 

Paul

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2016 by DoctorD
Minor update/correction

[Martin Meredith]

Nice collection of images Paul. I love the arms in NGC 2336 -- really spidery.

How easy is it to set up Astrometry on the Mac? I normally don't mind a bit of cold but it got down to -6 last night and alignment is the least fun part of the game in those temps so I might look into it.

Martin

[DoctorD]

Hi Martin

To be honest, it's a bit of a pain, I followed the instructions here:

http://astrometry.net/doc/readme.html#mac-os-x-using-homebrew

Needs X-Code then just keep running Brewdoctor until all dependancies are fixed then download the index files.

I've got a Python script that looks for the newest file in a directory then plate solves it, I tried using FITS format output from Starlight Live, however the CMYG matrix causes issues, so I have to save the current screen as a PNG then solve - if it finds a match will offer to sync your mount (assuming EQMAC with LX200 interface).

Not pretty (I'm not a SW engineer and this was my first Python script!) but works for me.

I've also looked at he version created by CloudMakers:

http://www.cloudmakers.eu/xindi/

This works well with their Software suite but I have not been able to use it with Starlight Live as it only works with FITS images

HTH

 

Paul

 

[laudropb]

Very nice set of video captures.

[stash_old]

5 hours ago, DoctorD said:

Hi Martin

To be honest, it's a bit of a pain, I followed the instructions here:

http://astrometry.net/doc/readme.html#mac-os-x-using-homebrew

Needs X-Code then just keep running Brewdoctor until all dependancies are fixed then download the index files.

I've got a Python script that looks for the newest file in a directory then plate solves it, I tried using FITS format output from Starlight Live, however the CMYG matrix causes issues, so I have to save the current screen as a PNG then solve - if it finds a match will offer to sync your mount (assuming EQMAC with LX200 interface).

Not pretty (I'm not a SW engineer and this was my first Python script!) but works for me.

I've also looked at he version created by CloudMakers:

http://www.cloudmakers.eu/xindi/

This works well with their Software suite but I have not been able to use it with Starlight Live as it only works with FITS images

HTH

 

Paul

 

Hi ,
I second the use of Astrotortilla / Astromtery.net(On windows anyway)  i can now hit a  target dead centre FOV within <30's even with a rough Polar Align and thats on an old 32bit Windows Vista laptop running Ascom/Eqcom/Stellarium or CDC /Sharpcap . Plus there is a GoTo option which uses an image to re-position your scope - great if you want to restudy an object. Note I have found that it does not always Sync with EQMOD - maybe when EQMOD thinks the error correction is too large. Note this is on Windows not Mac. I am still learning the correct settings and have found you dont need the full database (5gb) to work.

Guess some would say its a lazy man's tool but it suites me!

Staying warm get's my vote and I can still do EAA Perrrrfect !

Edited February 17, 2016 by stash_old

[Astrojedi]

Nice captures.... Looks like you had a productive viewing session.