Well there's a first time for everything!

[Dazzyt66]

Gotta say, I'm totally enjoying a more permanent set-up in the garden now. The other night I managed to use Kstars and Ekos for the first time with my ST80 on HEQ5 - used focus module and then checked PA and then decided to do some initial captures of M81. This was 20 x 30s with bias darks and flats (20 of each). My first real attempt at doing a 'proper' image. Processed in Siril and final touches in Gimp. I gotta say, I am more than happy with this from the ST80 under Bortle 8 skies. Yeah, its a bit rough, but I wanted to just see if I could get it all working OK. I'm so buzzed! Gonna go for more images with my Mak, hopefully tonight and then probably have to work harder at my processing! 😀

Edited April 6, 2021 by Dazzyt66

[CloudMagnet]

Nicely done! I think getting the first "proper" picture is almost a bit of a relief as you can put pressure on yourself to get a result of all the time, effort and money invested.

I think you have done well not to fall into the trap of over processing the images as well, can be easy to do sometimes. As you learn the equipment and the best settings to use, this will just improve with experience and you will likely get more quaility data to work with