Damned clouds!!!!!!
Managed to get 3hr of 10 min subs L, 50 min G and B but NO R frames before the weather changed while I was using the GSO 10" RC scope with QSI583 camera. So i thought I may as well process what I have until the weather clears in a few days and I can get the R frames.
I was really impressed in that I was able to sync to a reference frame and goto the same position as an image I took last year to within 3 pixels using Sequence Generator Pro and plate solving. Focusing routines etc were a breeze and made imaging a pleasure.
ADDENDUM
Managed to get some more luminance data as well as the blue subs last night. This gives 5hr of L (1x1) and 50 min RGB (2x2)
Really not happy with the colour as I think its off due to the light pollution from BrisVegas but it was the best I could do under the conditions.
I was pleased to see several other small galaxies in the background other than the usual duo.
Sidonio done and softened stars and colour as suggested by Alpal
Comments welcomed.
Allan
Last edited by allan gould; 09-04-2014 at 12:31 PM.
Reason: Added colour data
Very nice indeed, great details all the way to the core. Looking forward to the colour version!
I've been thinking of taking the plunge with SGP too, but I don't have goto on the mount so was wondering if it's worth it in that case?
Fantastic detail Allan. Well done. Same happened to me last night with clouds. Beautiful dark sky location with clouds rolling through constanly.
Thanks for the comment Mark. You just have to get it when you can but the clouds are a bugbear in the suburbs or a dark sky.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyViking
Very nice indeed, great details all the way to the core. Looking forward to the colour version!
I've been thinking of taking the plunge with SGP too, but I don't have goto on the mount so was wondering if it's worth it in that case?
Gave this question some thought. Even if I didn't have go to then I would still get SGPro for the ability to alter a sequence on the fly, control of the QSI camera, auto filter contol and focus routine on filter change, as well as autofocus and tie in with PHD autoguiding for meridian flips and auto choice of guide star etc. I see you have a moonlight with stepper so you should be good. I must admit that using SGP's autofocus routine with temperature control (temperhum) refocusing or even refocusing every user defined number of frames is excellent. I've found that my focus is sharper than I get with a Bahtinov mask as it uses an algorithm that takes in the whole frame to get best focus and this puts it right in the critical focus zone for me.
There is a free 45 day trial to give it a go but I do love the goto and plate solving with my Losmandy mount. Pick up a second hand Gemini I?
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
Shame you didn't get it finished, Allan. Looking very promising!
Cheers,
Rick.
Thanks Rick, will post the colour version when the clouds go away.
Allan
I was really impressed in that I was able to sync to a reference frame and goto the same position as an image I took last year to within 3 pixels using Sequence Generator Pro and plate solving.
Hmm yes, that would be good I currently do this manually with a move, take a frame, blink with a frame from previous night approach and hone in on the same field like that, mind you after doing it this way for so long now I do have it down pat and can get to the previous nights framing to within a pixel or two tolerance (0.8"/pix) in about 10min or so usually
Quote:
Focusing routines etc were a breeze and made imaging a pleasure.
Ah yes, this is the bit that I often waste a little time on unless the seeing is good (easy to know you are in perfect focus then) as I tend to fluff around a bit trying to get perfect focus and if the star is moving around and fuzzing in and out I often chase my tail for a few too many minutes
Hi Allan,
The stars look a little hard but that's easy to fix.
The detail is extraordinary & you have just the right image scale with that RC.
I hope you can get some colour detail to finish it off.
Looking great Alan. Don't think you'll be doing much imaging tonight!
Mike - when are you going to try plate solving, like all the cool kids?
DT
Appears not for the next few days, but I've left everything setup in the observatory and so it will not be difficult to get back on target and get some more data.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
Guess I'm just not cool
Old dog new tricks...?
It took me a few attempts to get Elbrus and Astronomy.net set up for plate solving but the joy with SGPro is that if Elbrus fails then it rolls over to blind solve with astronomy.net and there is no messing about. Either can be done locally or over the internet. You can take an image of where you are, blind solve then go to the object and if you have a previous sequence that you want to continue with it will just match the scope image to the reference image to a few pixels and continue on with the sequence. Both these plate solvers are free but Pinpoint works really well with SGPro also. Its really helpful and just makes it easy to do from inside the house away from the mozzies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpal
Hi Allan,
The stars look a little hard but that's easy to fix.
The detail is extraordinary & you have just the right image scale with that RC.
I hope you can get some colour detail to finish it off.
cheers
Allan
Agree with that comment and will tidy the whole thing up with colour and Ha.
Thanks Allan.
Allan
m83 - so did you check for a SN? at least your imaging Allan
Yes I did as a matter of fact but nothing new. First time out for about a month and you tend to forget all the little things you need to do but now I have a protocol list.
Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_4059
That looks good Allan. Hopefully we'll start to see some good weather now.
Peter
For your image of the seagull nebula did you use the Losmandy mount or the EQ6 with the new belts? If the latter how did you find the guiding?
Thanks for the comment but let's enjoy some rain as I guess we did need it.
Allan
Great work, Allan! Nicely understated colour and good detail. I guess being able to grab data even with our unpredictable weather is the big advantage of that obsy of yours.
I currently do this manually with a move, take a frame, blink with a frame from previous night approach and hone in on the same field like that, mind you after doing it this way for so long now I do have it down pat and can get to the previous nights framing to within a pixel or two tolerance (0.8"/pix) in about 10min or so usually 
