My first SUCCESSFUl CCD shot

[LewisM]

Bought an SXVR-M25C OSC CCD recently. Knew there was alittle more to learn than with a DSLR, and after finally finding the RIGHT deBayer setting in DSS, started SUCCESSFULLY stacking images in PROPER colour.

This is almost 2hrs of lights, through a Vixen FL102S at f/9.2 (FR will be online soon). This is STRAIGHT out of DSS, and had NO - repeat NO - darks, flats or bias subtracted - just stacked the raw FITS. Pretty clean image, which these cams are renowned for. NO processing, except to crop the picture. Focus is a TAD off, but learning that too - with a DSLR, at least there was ACTUAL live shoot function :) The FWHM was pretty steady at 1 the whole time though - could be atmospheric.

Oh yeah, it's M83 of course :)

Now to redo the stack with flats and bias, 2 x drizzle and then fiddle with it in PS or GIMP. Must find the cash for Pixinsight on of these days - a telescope or accessory always seems to get in the way :)

[David Fitz-Henr]

Congrats Lewis; very nice esp. considering little if any processing! A good feeling when trying out expensive new equipment!

[LewisM]

On a roll - Sombrero with no flats, bias or darks, a small contrast tweak and crop. Only 20 mins total on it - kinda need some more I think :)

[Ross G]

Great capture Lewis.

Good luck with the new CCD.

Ross.

[LewisM]

I'll go back to sleep now - M83 was 20 minutes total (2 x 5, 1 x 10).

I put almost 2 hrs into NGC 3324 - then I found a strange software fact about the SX capture software - if you set it to continuous, it does not save individual frames, it STACKS the frames to make one! GREAT idea (if I had known about it), but my polar alignment was a hair off, so I have SLIGHT trailing on the right side (or field rotation). 2 hrs DOWN THE TOILET :(

Now I know better :) I think I will use Maxim or CCDAutopilot for the capturing :)