Things to learn along the way

[BrendanC]

Hi all,

I thought it would be interesting to make a list of all the things I've had to learn along the way over the past two years or so, starting with scratching my head figuring out how to put my first scope and mount together (Sky-Watcher 130P Synscan) and now producing images I'm pleased with on a consistent basis.

So, I just jotted them all down, sorted them A-Z, and here they are - no attempt to categorise, it's a mix of techniques, hardware, software etc. This is without even considering mono shooting, filters, and all that jazz.

Align mount
APT
ASCOM drivers for DSLR
Assemble scope and mount
Attach camera to laptop
Attach camera to scope
Attach guide camera
Attach guide scope 
Attach mount to laptop
Bahtinov masks
Calibration
Collimation
Coma
Control everything from laptop
Control remotely
Dithering
Drizzling
DSS
EQMOD
Exposure times
Focusing
Guiding
Image formats CR2 and FITS
ISO
Mount handset
Magnitudes
Mosaics
PHD2
Photoshop
Planning sessions
Plate solving
Polar align
RA/Dec and Alt/Az
Registax
Sharcap
StarTools
Stellarium
'The sky'
Topaz DeNoise
Using camera
Visual - star alignment, finder scope alignment, eyepieces/barlows
What to do when things go wrong!

[tomato]

Great list.

Noting your location, I think you can add a key W word, namely  Weather Watching!

[Ags]

L for Lens Cap (Remember to Remove)

[Astro Noodles]

D for Dew Heater. 🙂

[Tiny Clanger]

E for entice the cat in with treats, or my feline despot will either sit on the fence or shed or pergola, basically anywhere high I might want to point the 'scope. Or she will nip three doors down and trip their zillion watt outdoor light, blinding me for several minutes. Or she will trip me up in the dark.

"What do you mean, I'm in the way ?"

[Tomatobro]

C is for counterweights.......remember to fit them