I have plenty more data to sort through from tonight, M16, M74, NGC2070 to name a few targets..
Only one problem so far is that there seems to be either dust on the QHY8 sensor, or maybe moisture buildup on the chip.. its hard to say.. but there are a fair few marks in the image in uniform locations in each image.. I dont think they are from the scope, as they didnt show up in any of the shots with my DSLR yesterday.. I have inspected the camera since use and there is some moisture in there around the sensor, but i can see any on the sensor itself..
Oh, and the 4th pic is what my neighbors make me live with...
Great series of 1st light images – you’ve been on a very steep learning curve with all that new gear and you seem to have mastered it quite well. Top job.
The M8 and M20 images look too red on my monitor, I think they can be much improved if you can remove the overall red cast and showcase them against a more neutral sky. The blue in the Trifid may pop out more then.
Very nice first attempts with the CCD Alex - heaps of potential when your neighbours go to bed and turn off the lights.
Considering your images range from total exposure times of 5-15 minutes I think you might be right to be happy with the results/purchase.
All the best
Doug
Good to see you got it all working Alex. I had a fiddle again, can't help myself. It is hard to work these little files but this should give you some idea of what you are capturing. One sugestion is to watch your histiogram with all 3 colours open and adjust each colour independantly. You have plenty of data to work with and a lot of colour but with nearly a full moon and those flood lights you don't stand much of a chance.
Hope you don't mind.
Thanks to everyone for the comments. I'm really quite happy... appart from the fact that its now been 12 hours since I brought the QHY8 inside and its still got water visible around the CCD... I dont thing its supposed to do that..
About the flood lights... I was thinking less about a .22, and more about a .50 or better yet.. some duct tape and a blow torch... nothin like a bit of torture....
Doug, I appreciate the edit. It really clearly shows that Dennis was right, and the background was too red. I'll have to work on that...
Craig_L : They were taken with a William Optics Megrez 102,
good start..as for dust, I too had plenty on the sensor when I got my QHY8
Theo recommends using methylated spirits to clean but I have held off so far, relying on flats to get rid of them, but may Doug or Rob (astrod00d) has tried cleaning
Shame about your neighbours. Are you on talking terms with them?
Might be worth saying g'day and seeing if you can work something out.
I was in a similar situation when I lived in Canberra. My neighbours didn't know their backlight was causing grief until I spoke with them and they were very reasonable.
good start..as for dust, I too had plenty on the sensor when I got my QHY8
Theo recommends using methylated spirits to clean but I have held off so far, relying on flats to get rid of them, but may Doug or Rob (astrod00d) has tried cleaning
Yep, there was a lot of dust, and a blob in the lower left corner that looked like solder flux, on the sensor when my qhy8 arrived.
I cleaned the dust out with a blower bulb while holding the QHY8 sensor-side down (so the dust falls out not in!). The flux blob came off with methylated spirits on the corner of a tissue. I just dabbed the corner of the tissue on that very small portion of the sensor where the blob was.
I still have dark spots all over the sensor that look like residue left over from factory cleaning, however they're barely visible. One day, when I feel braver I'll clean the entire sensor with methylated spirits.
Last but not least... Great images, especially for a first run with a full moon and floodlights. Need a bit of work on the colour balance, that will come easily if the raw data is good, and it looks good!
These shots are much better than previous posting of 350D shots ... well done especially considering those prison camp spot lights ... as suggested if you are on speaking terms with the people I would knock on their door and explain that they are a problem ( the lights not the people ) in the nicest possible way. " You catch more flies with honey than vinegar " is a good old saying.
If that doesn't work MOVE like I am going to
My ST2000XCM had lots of spots on the sensor when I bought it and I removed them with what the SBIG manual recommended ... Isopropyl Alcohol ... available at Dick Smith's for around $7.00 and applied with good quality cotton buds i.e. not sticks with minimal wrapping. Just be careful ... worked well for me !
I'm sure you are going to have a lot of fun with your new gear .
I've had a play with the levels and color balance on the M8 and M20 shots.. I think the 47tuc image is pretty right as is..
I am on speaking terms with the neighbors, and whilst last night was annoying, its very coincidental that it happened on the night that I was going to image... They are usually well behaved as far as the lights go.. mind you coming into summer they may get carried away with outdoor entertaining in which case I'll have to work something out...
Randall, If anyone at barambah has a white light even remotely that bright, i will personally shoot them. Im not about to drive 200kms to suffer light pollution woes!
I've looked at the camera again, and the moisture inside it has dissipated, I will have a go with a rocket blower camera cleaner and see how that goes, failing that, metho or isopropyl and a high quality q-tip might be in order...
Nice going with the QHY8 Alex. Pity about the neighbours lights - persevere and now is a good time for you to be visible to them and then ask them over to view Jupiter. I know as it works with my neighbours and they now ask if Im going to be out so they dont accidentally switch on a light. Doesnt help Brisbane CBD is only 4.5Km away but work with what you have
Allan.
I dont thing its supposed to do that.. 
