LewisM
31-08-2014, 02:27 PM
WIP - Work in Progress.
Latest imaging target is Corona Australis / NGC 6729 - just to keep up with the Kewl Kids.
This represents a mere 40 minutes of 10 minute subs with my FLI ML8300 OSC (IDAS LP filter in place, hence blue cast to the nebulosity and stars) and my Takahashi FSQ85ED (at native focal length).
40 minutes at f/5.3 is JUST enough to start showing some details and a hint of dust, but it needs a LOT more light yet. I also decided on this different framing, as I wanted to JUST show the famous nebulous region with the glob more point of interest amongst the beautifully immense star field. Probably not everyone's taste, but not fond of targets always being dead centre.
Had issues with guiding last night - new guidescope whilst I await some adapters for the OAG, and I couldn't get the lodestar to focus with the adapters I had - have to shorten one adapter a little. Will just go back to my trustworthy modified Tak finder in Borg solid rings. As such, I suffered - for the first time (:D) some flexure. Not surprising, considering that the lodestar would MOVE every time it forced a mount correction!!! GRRR. MaxIM refused to guide, despite perfect L calibrations, so PHD locked it for me (and last night, PHD 2 failed continuously - wouldn't even permit calibration (my mount was polar aligned sub-minute in both axes)
Anyway, needs a lot more to fill and smooth it out, bring out the dust (JUST starting to show a little), and was more of a first light for the FSQ85 Baby Q and FLI ML8300 - both of which I am very happy with.
EDIT: forgot to mention, this is processed WITHOUT any calibration frames - no darks, flats or bias. Was so frustrated by it all last night, when the clouds came, I packed it all in :) Camera was running at -30° all night (took mere minutes to get there - ambient was 17°). I haven't tested it to it's theoretical lowest delta-T YET...apparently I may get to -47° with it on a good night :) Seems pretty clean at -30°.
Latest imaging target is Corona Australis / NGC 6729 - just to keep up with the Kewl Kids.
This represents a mere 40 minutes of 10 minute subs with my FLI ML8300 OSC (IDAS LP filter in place, hence blue cast to the nebulosity and stars) and my Takahashi FSQ85ED (at native focal length).
40 minutes at f/5.3 is JUST enough to start showing some details and a hint of dust, but it needs a LOT more light yet. I also decided on this different framing, as I wanted to JUST show the famous nebulous region with the glob more point of interest amongst the beautifully immense star field. Probably not everyone's taste, but not fond of targets always being dead centre.
Had issues with guiding last night - new guidescope whilst I await some adapters for the OAG, and I couldn't get the lodestar to focus with the adapters I had - have to shorten one adapter a little. Will just go back to my trustworthy modified Tak finder in Borg solid rings. As such, I suffered - for the first time (:D) some flexure. Not surprising, considering that the lodestar would MOVE every time it forced a mount correction!!! GRRR. MaxIM refused to guide, despite perfect L calibrations, so PHD locked it for me (and last night, PHD 2 failed continuously - wouldn't even permit calibration (my mount was polar aligned sub-minute in both axes)
Anyway, needs a lot more to fill and smooth it out, bring out the dust (JUST starting to show a little), and was more of a first light for the FSQ85 Baby Q and FLI ML8300 - both of which I am very happy with.
EDIT: forgot to mention, this is processed WITHOUT any calibration frames - no darks, flats or bias. Was so frustrated by it all last night, when the clouds came, I packed it all in :) Camera was running at -30° all night (took mere minutes to get there - ambient was 17°). I haven't tested it to it's theoretical lowest delta-T YET...apparently I may get to -47° with it on a good night :) Seems pretty clean at -30°.