A couple new ones

[LewisM]

Took these couple before the HEQ5 threw a dummy last night (long story, but Tasco is on the ball).

NGC 253 is 30 subs at ISO 6400 (!!!), 20 secs per - I had no choice, my light pollution is SO extreme at home.

M 27 is also 30 subs at ISO 1250, 20 secs per. I tried layering some ISO 800 shots, but dismal failure.

Can't wait to get CLEAR, DARK skies...and a mount that doesn't slip in dec!

Improving, long way to go... it will be a magical day when I can crack 2 minute subs consistently!

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: Nothing wrong with those Lewis , at least you can see that they are ;).
Brian

[LewisM]

Brian, flattery will get you somewhere :) But, the truth is, the images are Charlie Romeo Alpha Papa :D

[alistairsam]

Lewis,
What scope did you use for the images?
What happens with your 1 min subs at ISO6400?
you might get some more detail if you reduce your black point a bit.

have you tried ISO3200 1min?
With LP you will need either a filter or guiding for longer exposures at 1600 to 3200 ISO or lower.
Also look at the magnitude of objects when you choose targets and try the brighter ones from your location and tackle the fainter ones from the dark site. I use the website calsky to plan my sessions.

I've heard the IDAS LPS filters help with LP, it is a given that there is no substitute for dark skies, but it's good to try with what you have from your backyard and get more familiar with the process.

[LewisM]

Alistair, I cannot go past 30 sec exposure at the moment, thanks entirely to a faulty declination motor in the HEQ5 - it was giving enough free play to star trail after 30 secs. It finally gave up the ghost last night and whirred, without ANY movement in dec whatsoever - the small cog on the head of the shaft of the motor (that is only press peened on!) was not turning - the shaft was though, meaning the shaft had lost ALL traction on the cog. Tasco have been very good and replacing the motor assembly - this time as a precaution, I think I'll permanent loctite the cog (there seems JUST enough gap for the ultra thin automotive sleeving permanent loctite), and do the RA one as a precaution.

Hopefully, when that is back up and running properly, I'll pass 1 minute comfortably. I had before.

SW ED80 refractor used for all shots. I love this scope, but I need more aperture. Harumpf.

[wayne anderson]

Hi Lewis, you are getting better i just looked at your 1st attempt at ngc 253. I am new at this too i have been astro imaging for only 4 weeks now, i have learned we need to take lots of subs, darks, flats, bias and learn to use stacking & processing programs well. Keep going it just gets better.
Also when posting photos onto this site remember to adjust file size for the best quality for this site you can upload maximum of 200kb size file, try for 190kb to 199kb, i found that a jpg file max width of 1200 and saved at 80% quality gets close to the best it works well it looks better on this site.