Imaging equipment

[Celestron4]

I have a fairly basic astrophotography setup and I have been getting some good results. I have bortle 4 skies according to the ClearOutside app. My equipment is:

Telescope: Celestron Nexstar Evolution 6 

Mount: Celestron AVX

Guidescope: Altair 60mm guidescope

Imaging camera: Canon EOS 600D (Astro modified)
Guide Camera: Altair GP-CAM 130C

Reducer: Celestron f6.3 reducer

Celestron Dew cap for 6/8 inch SCT

Software used: PHD2 (will be ASCOM connection but haven’t tried it yet due to university work and a lack of clear nights), APT (for image capture)

Is there anything I should be looking at to improve my images and/or maximise image time? 
I am looking at imaging the Horsehead Nebula/Flame Nebula and am looking at mosaics due to the large focal length of my telescope (950mm approx with the reducer). Is there anything I need to watch out for if I try mosaics?

 

 

[tomato]

I  don’t use APT so I’m not sure if it now includes a mosaic planning tool like SGP and NINA. 

However, you can do mosaics manually, just ensure you have 10-20% overlap on at least one edge of your frames, I used to do this by checking the star patterns in the FOV, but now I let the software sort it out.

[Celestron4]

I don’t think APT has mosaic capability yet. I know that SPG costs quite a lot so I may look at NINA. Does it work as an image capture software or is it purely for planning?

[tomato]

NINA is an integrated equipment control and imaging capture package, it will connect and control your equipment, Goto, platesolve etc, and will prepare and execute mosaics. A few people have switched over to it from SGP, partly attracted by the zero cost, although you can of course donate to the project.

Take a look at the EP17 YouTube video under the StarGazine section on here if you want a flavour of it.

I have found it easy to use and to date, more robust than SGP.

[ollypenrice]

The 35 panel Orion which Tom and I did was eyeballed on framing. No plate solving - so you don't need it though it's no doubt convenient. I would strongly suggest 20% overlap for a beginner. Less than that and it can get difficult.

Olly