The longest unguided image I ever managed with this mount was 2 minutes, and that was a single fluke that I've never managed to replicate, until now. After an hour of polar aligning it was good to go, first target, M104 then M8.
As this was just a learning exercise I didn't bother with any Darks or Flats, but I'm still happy with the results, the hot pixels in the M104 images are annoying, but preventable. The accurate tracking it really showing up the bad coma issues but at the moment I'm just happy to have good steady images.
The Sombrero image is made up of 2 minute subs, and the Lagoon is 5 minute subs, as I learn and get more confident I'll start pushing the sub length up.
Thanks guys!
I am using DSS Jon, but I mostly leave the settings unchanged and export a TIFF into Irfanview for processing. I'll have a look more closely at the options next time, do I tell it to ignore hot pixels before or after stacking?
Thanks Rob. I'll keep an eye out, but I have a few other expenses which will (begrudgingly) take precedence.
In other news, I quickly set up for another go tonight because the prospect of M83 at zenith was too much temptation. So, once again there are no darks, or flats, but I have found how to remove Hot Pixels! (Thanks Jon!)
[EDIT] Urgh. Upload compression is a killer. Might have to sign up to Astrobin.
