Sharpcap Live Stack Tonight

[glend (Glen)]

After a few nights of good seeing here on the Central Coast of NSW, I have summoned the strength to set up my Skywatcher ED150 and the ASI294 for a night of Lucky Imaging (As it is known by some). Long past all the workload required for SGP, and tools of that ilk, these days Sharpcap Live Stacking scratches the imaging itch for me, and produces pretty good results.

Try it.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I haven't tried it but last time I was out I ended up with 70 separate folders and stacking took so long. My son wrote a program to go through, select the folders and stack it automatically. Then I found out the later version of Autostakkert already had the feature.
I'll still use my sons program though.

[glend (Glen)]

The idea, as I see it is to make it fast, ie short (maybe 15 seconds) subs live stacked, don't let it run longer than about 5 minutes in total. Takes longer to convert from FITS to JPG and dumb it down to attach here (the large files are much more impressive). But don't be discouraged. Make sure you press fit to window when you go to the image page here.


Do not think of this as an alternative to old school imaging (which it will never be) but as an enhancement to visual observation. You can cover alot of sky this way in a single night. And it's great for those of us that have visual impairment but want to stay in the game.


Make sure you press fit to window when you go to the image page here.

[gb44 (Glenn)]

Seems to me that you're describing the usage of a small computerised telescope, something easy to set up and control with live stacking. Maybe it will also have automatic focusing, goto function, a good catalogue and its own stacking system. Perfect for EEA. Perfect for those of us that can no longer stay up all hours or lug around a wagon load of gear.

Man things have changed over the years of our astro journeys. I still have lingering pangs of aperture fever. Does that ever go away, I wonder.

Do you still have an observatory Glen?

Cheers
GlennB

[glend (Glen)]

Yes I still have my observatory. EAA is pretty much all I do now. Looking back over my catalog there is nothing left "undone" in regards to serious imaging. I sold off my guide scope some time ago, along with all the colour and narrowband filters, wheel, cooled mono camera etc. It was fun for a long time but once I had scratched all those itches my time became more precious. Even with remote control by SGP, there was still the processing workload. I was never obsessed with processing technique, software, etc. Good enough was good enough. I have gradually drifted over to restoring old cars, and have just finished a Citroen convertible and have a nice Alfa Romeo I am doing up now - daytime pursuits.

[gb44 (Glenn)]

I sort of know how you feel. And I also have an inkling that I'd like a Triumph Vitesse to play with. But I know that if I wait long enough that feeling too will pass. I believe that there were only a few imported into OZ so I'm unlikely to even see one.

I dont have an observatory now but I'm thinking about a substitute - a box over a permanent pier...

GlennB

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I have a 64 Austin Healey Sprite I purchased many years ago already stripped right down for a full ground up restoration.
I've not had a garage to do it in so the main body minus doors, boot lid an bonnet just sits there. One day.....

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by Leo.G

I have a 64 Austin Healey Sprite I purchased many years ago already stripped right down for a full ground up restoration.
I've not had a garage to do it in so the main body minus doors, boot lid an bonnet just sits there. One day.....

One day...may never come. And parts are going to be much harder to find, if you need something. I found with my Citroen, getting a relationship with a good Euro parts specialist made things much easier.
Build a lock up garage if you have the space, and own the land. The prefab garage kits go up pretty quick. Make a start.

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Sadly I rent from the department of housing and a lock up garage isn't possible. It's not a job which can be done in the yard. The key to the little Healey's and MG Midgets is to secure the chassis rail on two straight, level solid beams, whether timber or stell before cutting into the body. Many a restored Healey and Midget have uneven door gaps where sills have been cut and welded while the car sat on it's wheels, or up on stands. The bodies basically fold.
Panels I can make such as floor and boot pans. Bolts I can purchase all of the required items from a place in Melbourne (or SA, I can't remember but I know there name, it's somewhere.
I'd like to drop the little Peugot engine in, it's lighter and puts out a lot more power. Those iron 1049CC engines weigh a ton.
Theoretically when I purchased the car everything was complete, though completely stripped.