Not easy to be an astrophotographer

[prokyon]

Hi friends of astrophotography!

Some days ago I prepared my equipement (Pentax 75 SDHF, 350d, LVI Smart Guider, Vixen GP-E) for photographing. Location: My balcony. I did everything very carefully!

So I could start my first image. After 10 minutes I checked the pic :sadeyes: , damned, the objects are too close to the edge of the frame. Okay, I had to justify it again. It was not easy, I could see nothing looking through the viewer of the cam. I had to make pics for checking out the position of the galaxies.

So I could start a 2nd tiral. I spent 10 minutes in my living room. After that I checked the pic :scared:, I forgot to readjust the exposure time.
Okay, stay cool! The guiding star approached now to the roof of our house. So I had to find a new one. During calibration the guider lost the star. :doh:

That was too much for me, I gave up. Now I sat on the floor and watched to the stars, a wonderful clear sky! This can not be, I restarted myself!!!

New adjusting and starting the exposures. But I lost too much time. Only 5 pics..... :(

My fighting spirit was great, I wanted to make 15 exposures.... and what did I get. Only five.
But I wanna show you the pic, because it was so hard to get it.

The Leo Triplet: 5x 600s with ISO 800

http://www.prokyon.startime.at/Bilder/Leo_Triplet_Apr09b.jpg

cheers

werner

(please apologize my bad grammar :) )

[Dennis]

A beautiful portrait of this classical triplet – well worth the effort despite your very frustrating evening!

The mark of a true astrophotographer is that despite all the set backs, they persevere, to produce the best result they can, even in the face of quite challenging obstacles, so well done!

Cheers

Dennis

[caleb]

That is a realy awesome photo.:D

Just unsure, were these taken through a scope?

Last night I set up and my laser didn't work (I was trying to photograph it pointing to the stars) And then it got realy windy and the tripod was shaking a bit. Then a spider was crawling on me and I'd had it...

ZERO photos for me last night:mad2:

he he, peace sells but who's buying...:)

[prokyon]

:D

[CoolhandJo]

What a nice picture. Well worth it. Thanks for posting!

I understand your frustration, two nights ago it was clear (finally) so I set up my scope and new wedge to polar align. I spend 7.5 hours chasing my tail as the $#@ thing wouldnt polar align! Couldnt even get the goto to be accurate enough! Packed up and went to bed at 1:30am without a single photon of light hitting any sensors!

But - its forums like this who can come to one's rescue! For that I am grateful!