I've imaged this target before, albeit briefly, but it looked like a good candidate to test out some new software. I've just switched from using SGP to using The Sky X, after ongoing dissatisfaction with SGP's auto focus routine.
TSX doesn't offer any automation itself, but it does provide a handy scripting interface if you're technically inclined. I built some scripts on top of Ken Sturrock's work and I'm now pretty happy with how it's all working. I can feed it a config file with a list of targets, set a minimum altitude for them and give the targets a priority so that it'll image target X until target Y is available for imaging etc.
The key thing that TSX offers me over SGP is the flexibility to integrate with whatever other software system looks interesting... for example Innovations Foresight have some new full frame guiding software that looks interesting and if I like it, I can make my scripts work with that instead of TSX's guiding. @focus3 looks like it works well, but if it doesn't I can interface with other software to do auto focus.
Seeing has been good lately, but I think TSX's @focus3 is working better for me as well. I've now seen the sharpest broadband subs I've ever done over the past few nights, with FWHM down to 1.64" on 300s subs (which are longer than I've been doing for a while now). Said subs were on a different target, not yet finished, but the NGC 1808 data was also quite good.
Some great sounding conditions there Lee, good when this happens huh?
and a mighty fine result on this galaxy Love the Ha jet like structures emanating from the core of this galaxy, kinda like M82.
Some great sounding conditions there Lee, good when this happens huh?
and a mighty fine result on this galaxy Love the Ha jet like structures emanating from the core of this galaxy, kinda like M82.
Well done
Mike
Thanks Mike :-) It is indeed good when things line up, haven't had much of that lately... instead I've been seeing images with 4" FWHM That said, even when conditions are good, as was the case here, I'm still oversampled with this rig so images look a bit soft.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
That's a sensational galaxy image. Boy you got a lot of things right there.
Greg.
Thanks very much Greg! :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJT
Really stunning, Lee. Processing, colours, everything is good.Top job
Thanks David :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Camelopardalis
Beautiful, Lee, well done
Cheers Dunk!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Ward
Like your work.....Top-shelf result.
Thanks Peter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joshua Bunn
A very natural looking Image Lee, pleasing colour too.
Thanks Mike :-) It is indeed good when things line up, haven't had much of that lately... instead I've been seeing images with 4" FWHM That said, even when conditions are good, as was the case here, I'm still oversampled with this rig so images look a bit soft.
Cheers Joshua :-)
It really is exciting when the seeing is settled, we can see this in some of Marc's recent Ha shots I had good conditions for my NGC55 shot last year (my most recent image actually ..what with the new mount purchase and all, I have been slack ) wish it was always like this....
It really is exciting when the seeing is settled, we can see this in some of Marc's recent Ha shots I had good conditions for my NGC55 shot last year (my most recent image actually ..what with the new mount purchase and all, I have been slack ) wish it was always like this....
Top work on 1808 again mate, really nice
Mike
Certainly is! That's a cracker of a NGC55, I remember that one. That's a healthy break; time to get back into it I'd say :p
Quote:
Originally Posted by multiweb
Beaute galaxy, great details and colours.
Thanks Marc :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Placidus
That's astonishing. One of the sharpest galaxy pix we've ever seen.
Three hearty cheers!
ha.. and here I was saying it was soft :-) Thanks M&T!
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
That's a great test shot, Lee
Cheers Rick :-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by marc4darkskies
That's an excellent image Lee!
Thanks Marc!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevec35
Great image of one of my favourite galaxies
Steve
Thanks Steve :-) It's one of my favourites too... I'm surprised it's not imaged more.