Hi all,
This is my first post so please be gentle
Just for a pre information part - I am using the following equipment:
HEQ5 Pro mount
Celestron 8SE SCT OTA
Piggybacked Orion ShortTube 80
Starshoot Autoguider (PHD Guiding)
Canon 60D
I am really getting into astro photography a LOT, but have some questions that might be very simple to answer, I am not sure.
Last night was my first attempt with my new autoguider (the Orion Starshoot Autoguider) and it in itself worked very well (although, I found that I was unable to guide on anything too bright).
Since I was just mucking about learning how to use the autoguider, I didn't focus too much on my exposures or anything of the sort. However, I did one 5' exposure on Hadar, and of course, the first thing I noticed was how much sky glow I have here in Gilmore, Canberra.
Sky glow I can process out reasonably okay with Photoshop CS5 but my first question relates to possibly a focus issue.
If you have a look at my photo here of Hadar (post processed the sky glow out), I cannot help but notice that all the 'distant' surrounding stars are just round dots. Should these be in focus or is this a normal result?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w1ngnut32/5892801950/
I am keen on photographing both DSO's and Planetary and have done 'reasonably' well with Saturn and Registax, however DSO's I am finding quite difficult at the moment. I have ordered an Astronomik UHC and OIII filters from Bintel to help with my nebula photos, but outside of that, I'm in deep water without knowing how to swim
.
Feel free to have a look at my other Astro Photos on my Flickr page. These are all my other attempts, however, unguided.
Regards
Sam Frizza