[Daveskywill (David)]

HI all IIS: I need some recommendations for good astrophotography

books to read including CCD, DSLR, and about galaxies; how to take

a master dark and flats. How to do those with for example an ST-2000XCM

CCD (2 megapixel). PS: by the way I've made some progress so far.

A good Australian man living here in Michigan Terry Hancock suggested

getting my polar alignment drift aligned better and someone on FB suggested

I use Star-Targ. That reticle program and it really works good.

Overlayed that over my CCDSoft program and used my 2000XCM and

did the drift. Eventually I estimate I'm maybe within about 1 or so arc

minutes of the pole. And my exposures can go for longer until they trail.

PS: I was able to go for as long as 4 minutes until a trail at barlowed

power. Then removed the barlow and then it trailed worse even in 2

minutes and under. Then I played around with the Tracking Rate (Meade

LX200GPS) and found a setting of +10 worked to smooth out the trail.

I realize I need to make things as perfect (untrailed) as possible even

before guiding. Any suggestions?

PPS: I'll post a pic of my M51 soon; Needed CS2, DSS,

Maxim DL. it's getting better.

Thank you David