I have been very busy and I only now noticed we do not have any thing to aim for in August.
Make it forgiving as the Westerly winds have arrived.
Any ideas?
alex
Good on you Alex for getting us thinking. There's a whole bunch of nice DSOs coming up now.
I like Kevin's suggestions, mainly cause I was thinking about doing the Helix anyway. Could have three different ones - a cluster, a DSO and a planet. Even though I've given up on the planets for now - completely incapable of getting anything other than fuzz.
I'm easy, anything out of the cold and wind will do...
How about an indoor target?
I'm up for anything Peter......I've just sorted my LAN so I can sit inside while I image.
Hopefully by the end of next week I'll have my remote electricals sorted as well so I can open and close the roof on the obs and turn things on from inside too.
I bet I get everything working and the wind keeps me doing 30 second.
But I hope it all works and I can sit in the car with the lappy watching utube with a monitor of what I should look at.
Alex
I like the idea of the Helix...with my colour it should look interesting☺
Alex
I feel like I'm in limbo between this forum and the deep space forum so I hope it's ok if I play too.
Each month a target is suggested that I've already started on and this month is no different. I have some subs on the Helix already and it's a great target both scientifically and visually. I can't post what I have on the other forum because Slawomir has posted a pure Ha image with 10 hours (!!) of accumulated subs. It's a great image by the way and mine pales in comparison.
At the moment the Helix Nebula is at the zenith after midnight so anyone looking to get the absolute best conditions is looking at a late night! Regardless, my vote is the Helix.
I feel like in limbo between this forum and the deep space forum so I hope it's ok if I play too.
At the moment the Helix Nebula is at the zenith after midnight so anyone looking to get the absolute best conditions is looking at a late night! Regardless, my vote is the Helix.
Kevin
I'm too scared to put anything there!
Yes, the Helix will be late, but I think there should be a wide range of how people capture and process. Should be interesting
I'm happy with any of the targets that have been suggested. They're all going be a stretch for my scope anyway but I do love a challenge. I've got Trifid and M83 on my to do list anyway. I think Helix is a beautiful target and I've always wanted to be able to get Eagle and Dumbell.
I'll get off the fence before I get splinters and leave the choice in your capable hands
Everything now works the cameras phd ascom mount sharpcap focuser filter wheel control and cartes de ceil which allows print outs which will be handy.
I should start hard files mmmm...I am switching it on powering everything and the switching it off over and ovrr and hope the computer learns something.
Only going to tape focuser in place with a home made belt before ..it should work but just to have it in place to think about things before I drill.
This is funny going from finding objects by eye and lining them up like a pool shot I can hit a spot on the screen and away you go.
It will make exploring interesting parts of the Milky Way given away in wide feilds interesting.
I hope I get a go at Helix it is probably one of the most stunning objects. Wait till you see my colour interpretation☺
Alex
No pressure Kevin if I dont produce its the fault of the gear☺
Nice image.
I will do my best I cant do better and must be content with my ability or lack thereof.
Alex
This month didn't go well. I started on the Helix, but only got one hour of it. Here is 30x 2min subs on an ASI071pro camera, with a GSO 8" F5 newt. Guiding with an ASI290MM (PHD2). Lights, darks, bias & flats taken using astrophotography tool. Processed in pixinsight.
Only got one hours as I noticed egg shaped stars at the edges of the image. So I stopped, thinking I'd sort it out and then continue. The egg shapes were going in different directions so the coma corrector was working. I spent the rest of the month sorting it out. Turns out there was a bit of tilt on the camera relative to my coma corrector (Baader MPCC mkIII). That was a lesson - took me ages to adjust it away. I've chopped the ugly edges off this pic.
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