M31 at society viewing night site

[tornado33]

last night I tested out my rig as a portable one, taking it to the Newcastle Astronomical Society's monthly viewing night at its Shortland site.

Conditions were hazy and moist but I got in 40 minutes on M31 which is too low to access from my place.

Found that drift alinging was nice easy and quick, I was ready to image by dark.

Image is 8x5 mins ISO 200. Unfiltered. Modded 350D camera. 6 inch f3.6 SN with MPCC coma corrector.
Scott

[strongmanmike]

Excellent for Newcastle skies mate :thumbsup:

I wanted to get out side last night but traded it for a night in with the missus...teenager away and aaaaaall alone :love2: :evil:

Mike

[h0ughy]

nice work Scott - i had a repro of the data i got from you today - emailed it to you so i might as well post the result i got here.

Half your luck Mike - i did my back in, but not doing what you were, so missed out on the night:sadeyes: but thankfully young mr scotty gave me a go at it.

Scott did you use the earlier framing shots? looks like i didnt push it as far as what you did? mmm i am way short of the mark

[strongmanmike]

errr?..do ya know how ambiguous that sounds Dave :eyepop:

:question:

[DavidU]

:lol::rofl::lol:

[h0ughy]

i do now - oh well he loaned me some data:P

[Hagar]

Nice image Scott, Hard target when it is just above the horizon. I imaged this from Snake valley a month back when it was just 15degrees above the horizon. Hard work but worth it.

Well done.

[tornado33]

Thanks all.
I do my framing and focus test shots as jpegs ISO 1600, then switch to the lower ISO and RAW image quality.

With the gunk in the atmosphere and floodlighting from a nearby recycling facility it makes colour balancing a challenge. Daves version has nice pleasing colour.
Scott

[alan meehan]

Nice shot Scott ,shame about the sat trail on the bottom