Just 45 minutes of the Triffid - through thin, high cloud - really just a test run to see how all the newly re-combined gear is interacting. I am also painfully aware its nowhere near the league of shots being routinely posted here, which gives me something to aspire too! However even such a quick light grab shows the gear is finally starting to perform well again!
Combined single 6, 10, 15 and 20 minute shots.
Finally since loading up my mount to carry two APOs and the SCT - I'd say tracking is beautiful, stars are lovely and round (finally) and I'm pleased that the dust lanes are clearly exposed and colour is not too washed out!
Tonight was a total success even though the imaging test only lasted under an hour. I think I finally worked out a software switch in ASCOM drivers that was disabling Astro Tortilla plate solves! As a boon I think I finally found optimal setting between the hand controller and PHD for DEC backlash settings!
Drift aligning yesterday with PHD's guiding switched off was very useful. I'd say this has improved my polar alignment from about from about 2 arc minutes down to 0.3 arc minutes. With carefully diagnosis I may be able to get this down a tad better.
So although its only a brief test shot - I am now pretty happy with how all the gear is interacting and ready for some serious photon gathering!
