Another NGC253 (Lots more data needed)

[Nico13]

Well it is the season for this rather spectacular galaxy and I have been battling weather, working nights and being a bit crook trying to get some data for over a month now. Some great shots of it poping up.

Finaly some data but pretty average seeing on Sunday night, some very high cloud, would have loved to have done this Saturday night as the sky was tha blackest I've seen in months but I was as crook as a dog with hay fever.

Anyway early stages only got just under thirty minutes of 220 sec subs and the camera bat went flat, by then the weather had deteriorated anyway, more cloud. :( No flats or darks at this point.

Meade 8" SCT
Pentax K5 SLR (std) with PKTether
Guiding with PHD and ST80 with SX Superstar
ED80 on the side just for peeking :P
TheSky6 controling NEQ6 Pro

[Larryp]

That's looking nice, Ken!

[Poita]

So that was through the SCT? Nice work.

[Nico13]

Thanks Laurie and Peter, yes it has some potential and I hope to make some significant improvement on this, I've just got to strike that combination that everone is wanting, a clear night at home with the gear all set up.
Got home from work at 2:00 this morning and it was crystal clear, a bit windy but it would be 3:00 by the time I got the gear out.

Gunna have to set up before work if looks promising and just put a cover over it.

Back on day shift next week, maybe then hey. :question:

[NeilW]

Hi Ken,

Very interested to see that, because I've recently lashed out on a K5 too, but I haven't had it on a scope yet. I've had a short play with PK Tether as well. Backyard EOS it ain't, but it's the best us Pentax users have for now.

Great work though, and I'll look forward to more K5 images in the future (and I hope the damned hay fever clears up soon! :()

Cheers,

[Poita]

I like the Pentax cameras, and the optional GPS lets you do widefield with just a tripod.

I have the Kr, going to have to sell it and the GPS too unfortunately, but it has been great fun using it. The nicest thing about using a DSLR for this stuff is that you get to use it as a normal camera when not attached to the scopes.

[Nico13]

Thanks Neil,
Yes the hay fever is clearing and with luck the sky.
I think you'll like the K5 I've had mine for about eighteen months now and it's got to be the best camera I've owned, always had Pentax though almost forty years of using them :eyepop: :D so a bit one eye'd.
It's much improved for low light low noise from the earlier models if you have any questions about it I'm happy to share what I know.

We are lucky to have people who put some software together like PK Teather, it aint perfect like you say but it's great to setup and let it do a series of images though, better than sitting with a stop watch.

I've made a lot of changes to equipment and software over the winter and it's all finaly coming together.

Cheers



I agree totaly Peter mine gets a fair workout at both ends of the spectrum. Sorry to see you're selling a lot of gear. :(