Orion with Skywatcher Star Adventurer

[Mike008 (Mike)]

Hi all. First post here
I shot this with my Nikon D7100, 70-200 2.8 VR1 and a Star Adventurer which I love. Not yet got a telescope yet as Im buying a 4x4 and saving for a holiday in April. But for the equipment I have I think it came out ok.

Setting were 180mm, 18sec and ISO 800. Single shot. Still learning all this stuff having a great time too.

Thinking of a CELESTRON ADVANCED VX 8' EDGE HD by mid year. Mainly for imaging so Im hoping this scope will be good for that.

Cheers
Mike

[bobbyf (Bob)]

Nice first shot Mike
Pretty good for a single 18 sec sub.
Try to get it to 30 secs, push the ISO up a notch and take lots of shots, using the intervelometer on the D7100.
Looks like it was wide open at F2.8. If you can manage it, stop it down to F4 too, to reduce the CA and coma.
Was this taken from a back yard or a dark site?
Cheers

Bob

[Mike008 (Mike)]

Thanks Bob
Yes it was taken at f2.8 in my backyard at Modbury North.
Iv probably taken 300+ shots over the past month or so, all at different times, settings etc and all with darks and bias frames and put in Deep Sky Stacker. Still not coming out as good as I would like.

I must say though I have 60sec+ shots at 200mm and the Star Adventurer tracks beautifully. I use a $30 Ebay Intervalometer. Could never get my head around the inbuilt one.

I will try f4 though. I know what coma is but whats CA?

Cheers
Mike

[bobbyf (Bob)]

CA is chromatic aberration and is the bluish halos around the brighter stars.