first light QHY 8 fixed!

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Yo dudes, thanks to people on here for me getting the second hand QHY 8 camera (Pmrid) thanks to me I blew the TEC cooler by accident without even getting one picture. I rang Theo and he suggested the ticket system at QHY HQ. So I sent it back and I now have it back and working and they didn't charge me a cent!
So I have tried through the miserable clouds to get some piccies. I had a go at M83 last week - 5 minute subs for 2 hours. Last night with a nearly full moon and water dripping off everything I had 10 min subs on Butterfly NGC 6405.
This is the first time I have processed OSC camera frames. Thanks Marc for advice. Used Neb 3 for acquisition and calibration, stacked in DSS and processed in Star tools.
I know they aren't that crash hot, but with just flats and darks and ten min subs (was 5'c ambient) I was well happy with these,my first proper CCD OSC pics.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Well done mate.
It's a darned nice camera with very low noise. ILook forward to enjoying your journey with it.
Peter

[Osirisra (Ken)]

Nice work! I've got the same camera and had it for a year now without any real light on it yet with the horrid weather we have had.

[alistairsam]

Hi Graham,
Well done, I have the same camera and haven't used it much with this horrible weather.
I'd suggest checking the focus a bit more, and the glow around the stars look like there might have been some fogging or condensation, did you take out the camera after your run and check? or do you use a heater strap?
I'm not sure why but I have similar green hues in dark areas as well. But that can be removed with some adjustments with levels.
do you have any issues with internal reflection? what scope did you use?
its a nice feeling to get the first pics though and good to know qhy fixed your tec.

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Thanks dudes, I am very impressed with it so far. Have it out side now taking some ten minute subs on Eta so I can compare with my marathon 7 hour DSLR eta I did a few months back. Neb 3 works beautifully with it as well. Only fly in the beer is that I just updated my driver for my focuser and now maxim won't recognise it anymore- putting my plans for auto focus and world domination back a few weeks!. Still, software issues are all part of the deal aren't they!
On another note have the planned observatory on paper now and ordered the pier plate adaptor for my CGEM/EQ 6. Got the permission from the boss to press ahead. Will be tinny shed based so considering the moisture down here I will have to think hard about dew amelioration on the walls/roof.
Have an old broken room fan I may utilise to keep the air circulating.
I should write an article about the IIS market, as apart from my mount, everything I am using now was bought second hand from adverts here!
Gotta love that

Graz in damp Taz

added- Alistairsam- I agree, I had a go last night with using maxim Dl for auto focus but it kept defaulting as 'too many steps', so I used the setting on the focuser for the best HFR and manually changed it. Was terrible dew as well and had to clear the objective several times. I have a dew heater but when I plugged it in to my Celestron power tank it basically went flat. My other battery was in the car and I couldn't be bothered to go and fetch it at 3am. I think the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere contributed as well, I took a picture of antares and I have huge concentric rings around it. Also the Moon was very bright so some gradient there. Ahh the excuses never end!

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

alls plugging ahead for you now Graham! Hey just on a side note did you get a chance to read my take on concrete piers and pier footings?

[graham.hobart (Graham stevens)]

Brendan, yeah I did thanks very much, very useful. Will be getting some chook wire !