After months of not getting anywhere, I've taken my first semi-presentable shot since hooking up a guiding rig. This is maybe attempt #6 or #7, lost count. I'm slowly finding and fixing issues as I go.
First it was the spacing for the stupid GSO coma corrector that, inexplicably, comes with ABSOLUTELY NO INSTRUCTIONS OR INFORMATION; lots of conflicting info on the interwebs about distance to sensor. Finally got it sorted.
Second was my bad polar alignment. I used the exact same mount position I always did unguided (with reasonable success), but didn't realise that adding the ED80 guidescope & camera etc and the extra counterweight slightly affected the RA. Sorted.
Third was getting the old laptop running PHD2 without drama. It's about 7 years old and recently underwent the tragedy that is Windows 10. Uninstalled basically everything and turned wifi off, and now it seems to be perfectly stable (touch wood).
Fourth was getting PHD2 working properly, connected and calibrated. It took quite a few goes but it seems to be doing its thing now.
Fifth was mounting the ED80 on the Newt so they actually pointed in the exact same direction. Not as easy as it sounds, but they're within a couple of arcminutes now.
Sixth was getting the DSLR to actually focus. Took me ages to figure it out but locking the focuser actually changes the focus slightly. Now instead of locking it I just tighten it enough to stop any possible movement.
Seventh problem was simply learning about seeing. Cloud-free nights don't necessarily mean ideal conditions.
Last night's problem was just stupidity - I had the counterweight too far up the bar, so at a certain point the OTA end became heavier and the mount started pushing instead of pulling; hence the slightly stretched stars.
I now feel extremely sheepish when I remember how cavalier I was about everyone's insistence that astrophotography is significantly harder than one might think. Good grief! So many nights spent with nothing to show for it! Satisfying when it works, though. Hoping that I'm getting closer to more consistent results. Fingers crossed.
This is 15 subs of 4 mins, Nikon D3300 at ISO 400, through 8" f/5 GSO Newt atop NEQ6, guiding through an Orion ED80. Flats darks and bias added, stacked in DSS, edited in Lightroom.
Suggestions for improvement welcome. (Encouragement also very very welcome!! Getting a bit frustrated at the moment...!)
Yes there is a learning curve, don't get frustrated, we have all been through these things. I got rid of my GSO Coma Corrector, too hard to sort out, and bought a Baader MPCC which works perfectly.
If you wish to persist with the GSO coma corrector there is a sticky thread on the Cloudy Nights forum on how to set them up. Just look at the top section on the Reflector sub-forum and you will see it.
For a first image, especially of a galaxy, this is a fair effort. With each problem overcome it's one more step towards being consistently able to collect good data from which you can begin to hone your processing skills.
All the best.
Paul
PS We have all shared, and many times still do share, your frustration.
Congratulations Chris! It really is a testing hobby at times but when it works it is certainly rewarding. No matter your setup or amount of experience, issues crop up that make us angry at times
Trust me, the more you do it the easier it'll get!
Yes there is a learning curve, don't get frustrated, we have all been through these things. I got rid of my GSO Coma Corrector, too hard to sort out, and bought a Baader MPCC which works perfectly.
If you wish to persist with the GSO coma corrector there is a sticky thread on the Cloudy Nights forum on how to set them up. Just look at the top section on the Reflector sub-forum and you will see it.
I really should have gotten the Baader, especially considering a mate was very generously offering their unused one. But I dunno, I just didn't like letting it beat me. I got the correct info off that CN post you mentioned, after the guy at Bintel sold me the wrong spacer; I should probably give them a call and tell them to stop selling it with the 30mm spacer (it needed a 20mm), save any future prospectors a whole lot of heartache!
For a first image, especially of a galaxy, this is a fair effort. With each problem overcome it's one more step towards being consistently able to collect good data from which you can begin to hone your processing skills.
All the best.
Paul
PS We have all shared, and many times still do share, your frustration.
Thanks! I'm not thrilled with it, but at least I finally have to show for the past two months of otherwise fruitless attempts. It was all so very much easier shooting unguided with an ED80...!!
The thing I need to remember is that many people here are only posting their successes; hard to gauge how many failures went before each one.
Congratulations Chris! It really is a testing hobby at times but when it works it is certainly rewarding. No matter your setup or amount of experience, issues crop up that make us angry at times
Trust me, the more you do it the easier it'll get!
Geez, I bloody hope so...! I reeeeeally look forward to the getting easier part - it seems that I'm just flailing my way messily from one issue to another, hard to gauge any progress. But at least this is an actual result, instead of yet another night of useless data gathering. I'll get there.
BTW, how's that mosaic coming along? I haven't checked into IIS for a while...?
