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Hi Alex
Thanks for the complements. Good gear definitely makes imaging easier and more enjoyable. My Vixen and Tak mounts auto-guide really well with the SBIG ST7E. Good polar alignment is always worth the effort invested. Focusing is a major factor and is essential for good results. Having the target above 45 deg altitude helps with the seeing. Exposing for as long as is possible then stacking as many images as you can grab always makes for an improved final result.
Using a short focal length (my 4” refractor is 918mm) is very forgiving. Finally, on those occasional nights when everything just seems to go wrong, call a halt to your imaging plans and just enjoy being outside under a canopy ablaze with stars and realize how lucky you are to have such a profoundly satisfying hobby! That’s my basic formula.
The only "value" I add in the chain of imaging events is being fortunate to own such good gear and the discipline of methodically setting it up. The real geniuses are the designers of all this amazing equipment and software. Not forgetting the talent of our Forum designers and coders that provide a global stage for us to display our results, or the encouragement provided by like minded souls such as yourself!
Cheers
Dennis
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