A now, less-noisy coil...

[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Ta Marcus...but not there yet

YES! CCDops!

Seriously CCDops has the best AG algorithm bar none.

Sure....you can't kill it with a stick and it means very limited automation... but that's what remotely controlled domes, remote-desktops and central heating are for

Fair nuff. I'm now a full fledged TSX + CCDAP man. I even use @Focus2 now. Watching it all work (yes, I like to watch) is akin to listening to a good symphony! (closest emoticon I could find )

Looking forward to seeing your final and definitive amateur Helix ... no pressure though!

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

Nice one Peter. That RH sure is impressive.

Cheers

Steve

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Stevec35

Nice one Peter. That RH sure is impressive.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve, to be sure the AP Honders, is in a class of its own
But I'll feel a lot happier when I can get another 10 hours of data.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very cool picture. Unreal gear.

[dvj (John)]

That 8300 seems like a great match to this scope! Well done Peter.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by dvj

That 8300 seems like a great match to this scope! Well done Peter.

Thanks John, but there is some work to be done here yet

I think the jury is still out as to whether the smaller KAF8300 pixels work best with this scope...but I'll know more after a few exposures with the AO adapter.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Very cool picture. Unreal gear.

Hey Marc, thanks, ....but, well, tepid at this point ...hopefully headed toward cool.

I've since updated the rig photo...gives a better idea of what it looks like

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Gee, thats impressive for 1 hr in Sydney, well done.
I happen to be imaging this remotely in dark skys now, based on what ive done (assuming dark skies are supposed to make a difference ), youve done an excellent job so far with capture and processing.

Interesting you went with 7nm filters, whys that?.

You commented on the internal guide before filters on your SBIG with the pic. Ive tried this now with my new STXL6303E and after initial scepticism looking at it in the flesh, Im amazed at how effective it is. Before, even with a cooled guide cam and MOAG, I was forced to use a rotator to guarantee a guide star, but now I find quite a few and at least one always (so far) and I havent touched the rotator yet.

Even though the new guide cam isnt cooled, it is very sensitive and the built in 0.67 reducer gives a relatively huge FOV, even over 2m FL. Finally, SBIG got all that sorted, im well chuffed .

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Gee, thats impressive for 1 hr in Sydney, well done.
I happen to be imaging this remotely in dark skys now, based on what ive done (assuming dark skies are supposed to make a difference ), youve done an excellent job so far with capture and processing.

Interesting you went with 7nm filters, whys that?.

You commented on the internal guide before filters on your SBIG with the pic. Ive tried this now with my new STXL6303E and after initial scepticism looking at it in the flesh, Im amazed at how effective it is. Before, even with a cooled guide cam and MOAG, I was forced to use a rotator to guarantee a guide star, but now I find quite a few and at least one always (so far) and I havent touched the rotator yet.

Even though the new guide cam isnt cooled, it is very sensitive and the built in 0.67 reducer gives a relatively huge FOV, even over 2m FL. Finally, SBIG got all that sorted, im well chuffed .

Ta Fred.

Ah...in the fine print.....you'll see the exposure is now at the five hour mark...

I find the Baader 7nm filters have well behaved reflections, robust coatings and don't cost the earth.

Indeed my experience has been the same with guide star selection. There is always one there....it will great to use it with the AO.