M20 and M16 - more noob photos

[zipdrive (Dave)]

Shot them over last 2 nights
M20 - 10x90sec @ iso800 (i think i needed another 20)
M16 - 27x3min @ iso200
8" skywatcher reflector canon 350d

i'm still experiementing..
I still have those funky diffraction spikes..i think it is caused by the draw tube being too far in.. oh well it can be my trademark

[davidpretorius]

well done zip drive!!!!!!!

[TidaLpHasE]

Great pics even with the spikes

[atalas]

They look good Zip !

Louie

[RB (Andrew)]

Wow Zip,

Excellent images.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Nice and crisp shot of the Eagle! I notice the footer to each image. Are you planning to publish the images?

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

very nice images

let me know when you work out what causes those spikes..sorry you cant have the trade mark, I have the same issue with my 8 inch newt, only slightly less pronounced and cant seem to kill them

[asimov (John)]

Nice shots Zip! Good to see your getting out amongst it all..Well done.

[Mick (Michael)]

The spikes look good, Zip Zip images.

[xelasnave]

I second all the above praise for your work.
I thought that to be able to get "spikes" was the cool way to go.. I certainly enjoy seeing them in a photo... to me adds a little something that brings the shot alive.
Great captures.. you gotta be happy with that.
alex

[zipdrive (Dave)]

Thanks everyone, all your comments are very encouraging.. makes all that time in the freezing cold worthwhile.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Wonderful images.

Does the reflector have a vaned spider? They are usually the first thing to make spikes. Nothing wrong with spikes anyway. Sometimes due to the nature of the telescope they are unavoidable.

[tornado33]

Spot on tracking there, pinpoint stars. How do you guide, with a separate guidescope?
Scott

[iceman (Mike)]

I don't think it's the spikes he's complaining about - if you look carefully at the centre of the spikes, there's flaring off to one side.

It's a sure sign of astigmatism or mis-collimation.

The diffraction spikes themselves are definitely caused by the spider veins, it's usual for newts.

[zipdrive (Dave)]

Originally Posted by tornado33

Spot on tracking there, pinpoint stars. How do you guide, with a separate guidescope?
Scott

I used skywatcher 70/900mm refractor with neximage+guidog for auto guiding.

iceman, i've ordered a laser collimator to help me collimate it properly and if that doesn't get rid of the flaring, the mirror will have to come out to fix the astigmatism as you suggested, thanks for your advice..i'm still on a very steep learning curve

[ving (David)]

nice pics by the way...