ZWO ASI224 First Light EAA

[cuivenion]

Hi, went out on Tuesday night for my first EAA session in a while. All the image were taken with a Skywatcher 130PDS on a HEQ5 using my brand new ZWO ASI224. Very impressed with this little cam! All images were taken with Sharpcap Live Stacking.

Unfortunately the saved files were fainter than the actual viewed image in Sharpcap so I had to use levels in gimp to bring the saved brightness up to the as viewed levels. That was the only post process though.

First up, The Horsehead Nebula in Orion 16x30s at gain 305:

The Northern Trifid (NGC1579) in Perseus, 27x30s at gain 305:

The Fly Nebula (NGC1931) in Auriga, 15x30s, gain 305:

The Crystal Ball Nebula (NGC1514) in Taurus. 24x30s, gain 305:

The Crab Nebula (M1) in Taurus. I went for a brew and left this running. 64x30s gain 305:

The Intergalactic Wanderer (NGC2419) in Lynx. 10x30s, gain 305:

The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) in Ursa Major. This one I tried out max gain in an attempt to get the exposure times down. 28x4s and gain 600(max):

All in all a very enjoyable session. I've missed EAA and the ASI224 is great cam. I would have imaged more but the clouds rolled in. Any comments or criticisms welcome.

[hadyn42]

 Hello Cuivenion

Very nice images indeed, well done!

I have just ordered the SW 130 PDS about 30 minutes ago and look forward to using it in due course. I bought the ZWO 224mc about eight months ago and never got round to using it as yet. I think that we get the same weather as you as we are just across the pond from you?

Regards,

Hadyn - Isle of Man

[cuivenion]

Hi, Thanks. The weather is probably similar, I imagine that your skies are a bit darker though!