the importance of collimation and flats - NGC253 from Astrofest

[h0ughy]

This is a real good example of not what to do – bad flats, bad darks for that matter, poor collimation of the hyperstar system and very average processing. One year I might actually get something right – until then practice; practice; practice.;):lol:

Its only 13 x 150 sec, murdered with a celestron Nightscape camera and a C11 with hyperstar ona eq8 which is nowhere near that poncy 1hr single exposure well focussed and tracked stuff from Allan Gould ;)

[LewisM]

I know and feel your pain.

Been trying to process old data using different sets of flats and bias (don't use darks routinely with the SXVR M25C, as per Terry's suggestion) - I cannot find the proper matching set. Time to redo a bunch, especially now the temps are increasing again.

Still better image than I have gotten in a long while. GREAT potential there sunshine ;)

[Bassnut]

I recon that's not bad Dave, at least the stars are white. What you need of course, is more gear. You can't front to a star party unless well equipped , that's the only way to take better pics, and look damb good doing it. More gear Dave :D

[RickS]

I reckon that Dave needs a pantechnicon for the next Astrofest. And a police escort :thumbsup: Not a bad NGC 253, BTW, all things considered :)

[h0ughy]

Ah like Marcus has for his motto " he who has the most toys wins":rofl:

[h0ughy]

yes not a bad idea - I could sneak home a AP900 with a smallish scope on top...