finally imaging again from the observatory

[h0ughy]

I am finally imaging from the observatory, though i may have to tweak the alignment again. But hey i am getting photons. First time i have used the tcf focuser. i must say i need to get used to the image scale, and its f6.2:question:

[Octane]

Well done!

Was the delay/timeout due to work, weather, etc?

I haven't captured a single photon since September/October.

I feel like I've forgotten everything.

H

[h0ughy]

weather

[h0ughy]

man i really need to get the mount setup in tune with the dome software. had to redo phd as i lost the image

[Jen]

woohooo so watch this space for some nice pics from you from now on :D

[jenchris]

I have to say, that if I don't get a hole in the clouds soon, I shall take up macrame and sell my scope.

[h0ughy]

maybe- need to fix a lot of problems;)

[Ausrock]

Houghy,

I was thinking about you earlier, figured you would be in the obs :thumbsup:

Since I gathered my bits and pieces together one thing I've been reminded about over the last few months is patience.........I've only had one night outside with the C9.25. Hopefully the forecast for the next couple of nights around here is accurate, I might actually get some familiarisation time in.

[h0ughy]

your not wrong there. i have drift- or binding? not in every shot

[lacad01]

Yeah nice one. Clearest night down here I've seen in a looong time :rolleyes:

[allan gould]

Why the double spikes on brighter stars?
Any thoughts?

[h0ughy]

no idea- and i have a heap of drift but look at the guiding?:question::help::shrug:

[dugnsuz]

Good to hear you're back on the front lines Dave

[h0ughy]

not sure it is drift now as it is in a different direction to earlier in the evening? would it be mount flexure? Also need to set the parameters for the dome in ascom but i cant find a diagram to help me work out the figures?

[tornado33]

Nice shot, you should get plenty more photons tonight.
Scott

[allan gould]

Keep at it David, all we have here is rain, rain and more rain. I suspect it's because Peter_4059 bought his Losmandy G11 mount!!!!

[h0ughy]

quite true. more tinkering tonight. here is a test shot with an 24mm extension removed. its frustraiting. i am having massive guide problems. see second image2min guided and third one is 2min guide off

[h0ughy]

its a dogs breakfast guiding all over the shop. this is a 1min shot guided

[h0ughy]

just stacked the data and now have an image. still have to remember how to mask etc and make it look good but for a short 60 odd minute shot with the meade it is a first for me. might take a while but i should have a repro here soon with the core revealed (as soon as i remember how to do that) a lot of data was rejected throught bad frames with poor guiding. i might add here as well that i think it is a cruddy image - but it is somethingto build on and gain more experience with - its been a very long time

[strongmanmike]

Little bit of the Eta nebula that huh?

Once you have your setup sorted I wanna see some crackers Dave ;)

BTW the lights at the stadium for the Jets game on Friday night were quite noticable form mums in New Lambton, now I know what you mean when the trots/dogs are running near your place :doh::doh::doh:

MIke

[strongmanmike]

Hey that looks alright Dave :thumbsup:

Mike

[h0ughy]

thanks Mike for the vote of confidence:lol: yeah stadium life can be a problem.

i have had another go - i have forgotten so much and have so little data. I can only improve. love the eta shot mike - its beuwtiful :thumbsup:;)

[strongmanmike]

David vs David :eyepop:

Maaaaaate :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

You know what Dave? ... that's a friggin fine image!! I'd probably tweak the colour some though. Although it matches Prof Malin's colours - he hasn't been true to the light! :lol:

Cheers, Marcus

[h0ughy]

well that was unexpected. still have a long way to go:D but thank you mike:thumbsup::thanx:

[h0ughy]

:rofl: well in direct comparison it does look a tad on the sea sick side - a bit green. Thanks Marcus. I have been waiting a reasonably longtime to get imaging and i still haven't found the solution i am after. in realistic terms it has only been going for a few hours - and of that i only managed to get 1 hours worth of data that is any use - the other 3 hours worth of stuff was just that - stuffed through poor guiding. the dome gets in the way of the guide camera and then i loose the star. thats because i am still working out the domes measurements in relation to the mount. the titan is a big beastie and though i had the g11 and the 127 humming this setup is somewhat of a challenge. my next step is to use the TCF-S focuser and then the On axis Guider at native f10

[strongmanmike]

On my screen this looks better..?

[alpal]

Sorry to ask a silly question but -
have you tried an OAG?

[h0ughy]

yeah much better. i removed my offending repro and will re sit the exam:help::question:

[h0ughy]

yep - cant find many stars and it was awkward

[alpal]

OK -I had the same problem until I bought a Lodestar camera.
The Orion SSAG that I first bought was not sensitive enough
to use in an OAG except on the rare chance that there was a very bright guide star.
See pic:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii119/alpal2002/P1020549_a.jpg

[h0ughy]

thanks Mike and Marcus - i have tried another approach and have ended up with this. i have pushed it to within a mm of its life. I will now apply what i have done back to the original data and rework it. I have tried to get to where you and Mike have guided me. its like falling off a bike - you get up, get on and its painful until you get the euphoria back of progression ;) (helmet not included):lol:

[gregbradley]

Gee that is really detailed. And you got the Trap stars. Fabulous.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

Nice detailed inner Orion shot. Good stuff.

Steve

[h0ughy]

thanks guys. i plan on redoing this from scratch to get it right

[gregbradley]

It seems really good David. The main improvement as far as I can see would be some clever noise control in the dim areas plus perhaps a bit more colour enhancement to make the colours a bit more solid and dense.

Greg.

[h0ughy]

my biggest problem is signal - not enough of it. the second problem is my processing skills, i will see what i can do:question:

[h0ughy]

well its a dogs breakfast repro :sadeyes:- something i stuffed up again:question: called colour and detail. Will fix it up later and redo it again:D - but there is less noise in this version:lol:

[strongmanmike]

Ok bucko, you trying to take my title or what :shrug: ...right! I'm bringing out a new version of my deep Cen A, I'll show ya :mad2:.. it will never, never be known as doing a Hough, ok?? :lol:

[h0ughy]

its always a sidonio - though mine always end up like the greek economy...:help::rofl:

[allan gould]

Mike, doing a Hough means releasing the magic smoke in the middle of the night accompanied by a big flash of light and one second later expletives for 5 seconds and then silence. But thats alright as it means an equipment upgrade. We dont want to go there.

Houghy, doing a Sidonio means squeezing every bloody photon and detail out of a photo and then trying again and again. You then post it several times to the amazement and ooohs and aaahs of the proletariate.
We want to go there.

[strongmanmike]

he he :D

[h0ughy]

SIDONIO version 9 – the death star version.

Processed in Pixinsight using HDR method then transferred over to Photoshop and tweaked and saved for the web. I like to get a “natural ‘ look but I cannot get it like the masters on here (SIDONIO, DAVIES etc). I have pushed and prodded it till I dare not go more.

I need more data and I need to watch the processing videos again……:question:

No more repros here……
:P:lol:

[strongmanmike]

You know, I am so used to seeing this flipped left to right from what you have here, it looks kinda wrong..:question:...maybe a flip-pro is in order :lol:

Nah, it's all good Houghy, no Sidonio needed :thumbsup:

Mike

[h0ughy]

i am flipping out......:P:screwy::rofl: thanks Mike:thumbsup:

[Ross G]

Good to see you imaging again David.


Good luck.

Ross.

[h0ughy]

thanks Ross, it was good to chase the photons