First and perhaps last EAA look at Orion for the year

[Tinderboxsky]

My first quasi image post here. I say quasi image, as I am an EAA observer rather than an astro imager.

I thought some people may be interested in this image as I have managed to capture reasonable nebulosity without blowing out the Trapezium. This is, perhaps, my last look at M42 in Orion for the year as it starts to recede in the West.

Vixen ED103S (@530mm FL) with ASI385 on GPD

This is a hybrid live stack in SharpCap: 600 frames @ 0.5 sec plus 300 frames @ 1.0 sec plus 101 frames @ 3 sec. Gain fixed at 300. Darks and all image enhancements managed within the SharpCap live stack. No post image processing.

[xelasnave]

Amazing ... I had no idea you could get such a good image that way..I am very impressed and thanks for posting it.
I have to put so much effort to save the Trap...well done.

alex

[Tinderboxsky]

Thanks Alex.

[Dave882]

Great result! I’ve never been able to pull off a hybrid live stack but that’s worked really well here :thumbsup:

[Startrek]

Nice EAA capture and managed to tame the trap as well
Well done !!

[Tinderboxsky]

Thanks Dave. I simply “paused” the live stack at each stage to alter the exposure and change to the appropriate dark and then re-commenced the live stack.

[Tinderboxsky]

Thank you for your feedback, Martin.

[floyd_2]

It's great to see some EAA shots here now. I turned to EAA once the light pollution here worsened. Up until that point I didn't realise just how much I could see in real time if I enlisted the aid of technology. It's also great for sharing the view in real time (especially with those who have trouble lining up their eye / seeing through the eyepiece etc). Great first EAA shot Steve. I'll look forward to seeing more mate! If I get brave, I might share too :)

[Tinderboxsky]

Thanks dean. I find I am transitioning rapidly to mostly EAA observing. Even my simple rig is revealing much, much more than I could see through an eyepiece. With a little more equipment development, I’ll be able to do all EAA observing from the comfort of indoors.
I’ll hopefully post more soon. I can see you have indeed posted an EAA image yourself. Great stuff.

[floyd_2]

My current setup is to observe from inside a carpeted Keter shed with my rig just outside a few meters away. All cabling has been done using waterproof connectors (USB / Power) that pass through the wall of the shed. This allows me to have the shed doors closed, but to be right near the telescope for refocusing / changing filters etc. I tried observing from inside the house using remote control but it wasn't the same!

It's quite a different game switching from visual to EAA. It seems more refined and comfortable lol. Maybe this is how the oldies of astronomy end up :P I'll have a warm shed in the winter rather than a freezer suit and cold hands. I'll have an assortment of good snacks and a hot drink rather than a muesli bar and a bottle of water. Preserving night vision is a thing of the past. I can put my reading glasses on comfortably without losing some of my FOV at the eyepiece. The list goes on!

[Tinderboxsky]

Exactly. Totally agree.

I am currently rolling my fully assembled rig out of the garage and positioning it on three stainless steel tapers set into the concrete driveway. The tapers preserve very accurate polar alignment and I am ready to go. At the moment I am still observing outside. I am working on setting up an observing station, either in the garage, or in an area adjacent to the garage. Either way, the scope will be about six meters away. Have not made up my mind yet as to whether to have a simple cable connection or to go the more complex route of remote access through a small form PC at the scope.