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Old 22-02-2018, 11:16 PM
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Icearcher (Chris)
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M42 - Beginners edit

Hi All

Just having a crack at editing some data from the weekend.

What do you think? Honest feedback is appreciated. Im really at the very beginners edge of learning to edit.

Canon 550d Unmodded
250mm (kit lense)
20x2min @800iso
Tracked but not guided.

Regards
Chris
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Old 23-02-2018, 12:05 AM
raymo
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A good first try, but judging by the amount of star elongation, one minute would be the max exposure time in order to get round stars. You don't
say what the camera is mounted on, but its polar alignment needs improving.
Any well aligned decent mount should enable 2.5 to 3 minute subs without guiding at a focal length of 250mm. Get your tracking right, and I'm sure the good folks here will help you along with comments and suggestions.
raymo
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Old 23-02-2018, 07:01 AM
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Icearcher (Chris)
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Thanks Raymo

Yeah the alignment wasn't great as there were big trees in the way of the SCP and I also feel my focus was just a little soft.

The mount is a Skywatcher Star Adventurer, Iv managed to get up to 4 mins so far if i can nail the PA.

How about the editing? any advice on how to do better?

Regards
Chris
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Old 23-02-2018, 01:22 PM
raymo
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Your processing is not that bad, so I'd concentrate on getting consistent
results to work with. How are you focusing? If you frequently have the
SCP obstructed, I suggest you google DARV [by Robert Vice]. After a few
practice goes you will get great alignment in around 10-20 minutes,
depending upon how far out it is at the outset. If you have a permanent
site, mark the tripod leg placings on the ground,and if you leave your gear set up from the previous session, plonk it down on the marks and you'll be up and running in a few minutes.
raymo
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Old 23-02-2018, 04:24 PM
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Icearcher (Chris)
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Thanks Raymo

Im focusing with BackyardEos as well and in camera. Do you know of a better way? Ill look at a mask once I have my new scope.

The SCP usually isn't obscured, it was only from this site. Usually I pick sites with great south views cause thats where lots of interesting things are.

At present, my imaging sessions are always in different area and I dont have the ability to set up in a permanent fashion. One day Ill have my own bit o land for a dark site.

Regards
Chris
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Old 24-02-2018, 11:22 AM
raymo
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Having tried just about every focusing method known to man/woman,
I have found a Bahtinov mask the quickest and easiest, followed by
Backyard EOS, which I found pretty foolproof. I have simplified my gear,
and now only do wide field with my Canon 600D, and as it has an
adjustable LCD screen, I get great focus using LiveView, which can be a
pain in the rear with fixed LCDs like my 1100D has. One thing you can do
with a fixed screen model is rig up a mirror so you can view your screen comfortably. The changed image orientation doesn't matter for focusing
and image composition. You can even hand hold the mirror.
Instructions are available online for making your own mask if cost is
a consideration.
raymo
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Old 24-02-2018, 01:23 PM
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Hi Chris
You did well and you should be proud of your efforts.

I have had difficulty getting good polar align because I cant see the pole and unfortunately when I find it the mount needs a fix so insude it goes and I start over.
In an effort to carry on I have gone for 30 second captures and that works well rather than not getting anything done at all.
One night I dropped to 10 seconds to see what that would do...not bad really...so my method pending good and permanent polar align is to drop exposure time to keep the stars round...
As to a focuser mask.
In time get a decent one like Raymo suggests but you can make something that will be better than none.
This way.
Make a disk and simply put two holes in it on opposite sides each a little in from the outter egde.
For a camera lens holes of about a cm.
Out of focus the holes will be appart but when focused it will appear as one hole.
Maybe use a five cent piece to draw your holes...that may be too big but maybe not...
The point is you can make that in no time and at least it will be one step ahead.
But you are doing well this time next year you will be expaining how you get such grest images to newcomers because you really are off to a good start.


And print this one out..frame it..its special.
I wish I still had my first...

Alex
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