Getting back into imaging after a long break

[Gina]

Sky clear in area of interest and have a sub.  Polaris was showing in centre of field with mount parked.  Unparked mount and plate solved sample Cygnus image and slewed to target.

Here's the full image.  This is with just rough focussing.

 

Edited August 26, 2019 by Gina

[Gina]

Running autofocus.  Already vastly better than the 55nn lens - HFR of 1.65 px.

[Gina]

Oh dear - cloud.

[Gina]

Using ROI to crop the image before download to reduce data.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Gina

[Gina]

[Gina]

Think it'll stand more exposure.

[Gina]

120s.

[Gina]

The picture is coming and going!

[Gina]

Latest image...

[Gina]

Got 25 120s Ha subs and thought I'd try OIII.  Should have refocused really but it doesn't look too bad.

[Gina]

Tried SII 240s exposure and stretched in GIMP.  Quite faint but definitely there.  This is showing promise.  Tracking is adequate at up to 4m.

[Gina]

[Gina]

Picture has disappeared so I think I'll call it a night.

[Gina]

Some stars out but also patches of cloud so I guess there was a patch where I was trying to image.  All closed up and shut down now.

Goodnight all.  Anyone still at it - good luck.

[Gina]

I did right to close up rather than leave everything running in the hope of gaps in the clouds - a fine drizzle this morning and everything is wet.

[Gina]

CO has a pretty grim forecast for the next week.  And now the drizzle has turned to moderate rain...

Edited August 27, 2019 by Gina

[DaveS]

No rain here yet, but the clouds are building. Hopefully the sky will get a wash and blow dry.

[Gina]

Checked the subs I got last night and the OIII and SII ones are all reasonable while about half the Ha ones are alright, the rest have cloud.

[Gina]

BBC News forecast rain this afternoon, clearing up and producing a fine night with clear skies.  That looks unlikely ATM with steady moderate rain but CO agrees, so we shall see!!

[DaveS]

Yours is looking quite a bit better than mine, I've only got 3 hours green, but orange from about 10 o/c so maybe.

Sunday is looking quite a bit better, but not making any plans this far ahead.

[Gina]

CO forecasts seem to change by the hour!

[DaveS]

Raining now.

 

Edit: CO is still saying three hours of green tonight.

Edited August 28, 2019 by DaveS

[Gina]

Stopped raining here and yes, CO still showing several hours of green.

[wimvb]

On 27/08/2019 at 00:58, Gina said:

100x5 mins, 8+ hrs, that seems mildly optimistic. How long is your astro darkness each night, Gina? We only have about 2 - 3 hrs, but I'm still building my obsy, so no AP yet.

Otherwise, nice to see you imaging again, Gina. That can become a cracking cygnus wide field, even with less than 8 hrs per filter. 

[Gina]

Ah well, I didn't expect to get 100x5m subs - that was just a spot of daftness.  I knew I had to close up before going to bed as rain was forecast - and we got it!   Astro darkness is now 4-5 hours.

Edited August 28, 2019 by Gina