M42 - dob tracking getting better

[davidpretorius]

Had a much better handle on the tracking and guiding. Basically align a planet, go into tracking mode, after say 30 or 40 seconds, adjust, and then adjust again, and then go into guide mode.

I had a loveley time viewing mars. Seeing kept swinging from 4/10 to 7/10. Not enough to toucam it, but compared a few ep's and barlows.

Orion was nice and high, so had another go with the long exposure.

Basically 10 seconds exposures. roughly 12 images each. They mainly vary with the gain settings. One was 80% and the other 90%.

CFA comverted in iris. darkened the background, median stack, gaussian filter, unsharp mask. Very quick jobs, star trails still present, but happy for night 2 of longer exposure work

[TidaLpHasE]

;)Getting heaps better Dave, it won't be long now:prey2:

[atalas]

DSO's on a dob ! thats got to be tough Davo ,well done :)

[davidpretorius]

thanks, the motorized tracking is getter better, so i hope it will not be too tough???

[ving]

WOOHOOO!! on ya dave! :D

no stopping ya now :D

[davidpretorius]

thanks ving, i hope to get you some more doubles.

honestly any requsts. I would love to build a image gallery based around your double star interests

[ving]

sure, I'll get back to you on that :)

[xelasnave]

I still find it hard to believe you are doing what you are doing.. great stuff. At the risk of sounding critical and that is not my intention (I only hope to contribute constructively) I suspect it is more your focus that is the problem. Try focus on "either" side of where you believe it should be as I doubt if the tracking is contributing as much to the slight blur as is the focus. It is great to see you developing this set up and how far you can take the set up. Can I put in a request..the Jewell Box in the Southern Cross that is a real gem err gems??
alex
alex

[davidpretorius]

you are helping/educating me, so being critical is good. This is no prize winner, but a start. so please do not hold back with suggestions / crisiticism / tips etc. They are all very much appreciated by this little black duck.

I am imaging via a 40mm plossl with the toucam lens left in and held still via a digiscope.

I did not focus using the moon as I should have done. The star trails have been cleaned up a bit with iris.

Even with 1 second exposures, the image was moving across the screen very slowly. I had a quick look at the bee hive, but did not image it. I will have another go tonight weather permitting and then give the jewel box and m45 a go as well.

Thanks for your comments alex

A few little things to straighten out and then i ican start with the harder objects