One year on. My first year imaging deep space.

[Nigel G]

It's been 12 months since my first image was produced from stacking multiple images. It was M 51 with my Canon 1200D, a 150P reflector on a Star discovery Alt-Az mount.

 

I still consider myself a beginner but have a greatly improved knowledge of deep space and astrophotography.

Since April last year I have probably spent close to if not over couple of thousand £'s on bits and pieces, a new refractor, a new mount, a new camera or 2, a new guidescope, new PC, lenses and the list goes on  

I was hooked from the first view through my 8" Dob November 2015 at Orion. I only started imaging to get a bit better look at what I could see through my scope, then I soon realised that was not enough, there was more than that available from my light polluted back garden. From the start I was totally amazed at what my cheep scope and entry level DSLR could capture. I never realised these objects could be imaged from the average back garden.

I soon was self modifying my Canon 1200D which went a little bit wrong, I shorted out the main PCB when re assembling the camera. The camera was out of action. I had to go a buy the wife a new camera so I could continue imaging while I started to repair the other  

Now I just want stuff  new CCD, new mount , couple of new scopes, back garden observatory   They will all come in good time.

With a ton of help from many kind people in this forum I improve little by little. If it wasn't for the No EQ DSO challenge thread I might have missed the chance completely.

I have recently bought a second hand EQ3 Pro and a new Equinox 80 ED Pro refractor with a field flattener, another small step forwards for me.

Auto guiding was a leap forward from the very first try 6 weeks ago, everything worked as it should, I could now take longer exposures, I could keep every sub, even setting up is quicker than my Alt-AZ mount once the initial positioning of the mount an polar alignment was done.

With every bit of new equipment comes new challenges, I love a challenge and to try and solve problems.

My images are a long way from CCD and observatory images but they please me no end. I have posted my 10 favourite first year images from both Alt-AZ and guided EQ3, reflector and refractor scopes, modified and non modified cameras.

I always look forward to the next clear night, sometimes its a long time coming with cloud cover being the norm.

I don't know why but I seem to choose expensive hobby's. Sailing is my other.

If only a tracking mount for a yacht at sea existed it would be a perfect world  

Thanks for looking

Nige.

 

 

 

[iwols]

what a great year some superb images there,ide be more than happy

[alacant]

Love the mosaic. Nice to get away from the single rectangle presentation; inspiring. Clear skies and thanks for posting.

[ollypenrice]

It really is about enjoyment.

I have to say that once I'm out there collecting good data, life's a peach!

Olly

[happy-kat]

It's your attention to detail and getting every ounce of opportunity out of what you have is inspiring and being open to change and adapt. Always a good read seeing where you are at.

[vitruvian]

Great post. Great motivation too. Can I ask what software you use?

[carastro]

Hi Nigel, I have met you at several Kelling Star parties but didn't realise you were new to imaging.   You've done great in your first year, a lovely presentation.  Hope you are going to start a website to keep a permanent record of it all.  

Carole 

[Nigel G]

1 hour ago, vitruvian said:

Great post. Great motivation too. Can I ask what software you use?

Thank you.

I use Canon EOS utility for capturing, PHD2 for guiding, Deep Sky Stacker for stacking. Startools for processing and Photoshop for polishing off.

I have tried other processing software, all have different features which work better than others but always go back to StarTools which I know best.

44 minutes ago, carastro said:

Hi Nigel, I have met you at several Kelling Star parties but didn't realise you were new to imaging.   You've done great in your first year, a lovely presentation.  Hope you are going to start a website to keep a permanent record of it all.  

Carole 

Hi Carole, thanks, That must be another Nigel  I haven't been to a star party yet. There is another Nigel on here who also has the clangers as a profile picture  

I have only a FB page at the moment but will setup a blog soon on my website.

 

 

Thank you all for your kind words.

Nigel.

[carastro]

Hmmm, I was sure he was Nigel G.  

Oh well. good luck anyway.

Carole 

[carastro]

Yup, the person I was thinking of is Nigel G but on another forum, his photo is there, so I presumed you were one and the same person.  

Carole