M13, M27, Albireo etc EQ platform 8” dob

[sorrimen]

Hi all 

Just a few of my first DSO images with a new EQ platform sold to me by @cajen2who I must thank for giving my dob the opportunity to image DSOs! 

All images apart from the final M31 are with my 8” f/6 dob on an Asterion Light EQ platform, with an asi462. Used sharpcap, DSS, Siril, photoshop. Most subs were ~2-3s, but some were 5s up to 10s (not so many as it’s hard to get good ones). 

All from a decent bottle 7 site.

M13. Focus a little soft on the second, but nice to see the different coloured stars.

M57

M27

M71

Crescent nebula. Real shot in the dark target as I’ve never gone for it visually. 

Albireo

M31. This one is just my canon 70d and 55-250 is stm at 250mm. 15s subs on the platform, around 5min total integration.

[cajen2]

Well done, mate! Glad to see the platform being put to good use, even exceeding its design specifications!

[Astronomist]

really nice images! I will have to try this when (if) I finish my eq platform project. Mine probably wont be accurate enough for 10s subs though

[cajen2]

I especially like the pic of Albireo - quite dramatic.

[sorrimen]

19 hours ago, Astronomist said:

really nice images! I will have to try this when (if) I finish my eq platform project. Mine probably wont be accurate enough for 10s subs though

I’ve found balancing and polar alignment to be very critical for good tracking. Any wind and you can forget most subs. 

10s isn’t worth it for me given how few subs I can stack.