CCD vs Film? Lots of time vs no patience? Alright, this is your place to discuss all the astrophotography what's and what's not. You can discuss about techniques, accessories, cameras, whatever....just make sure you also post some nice photos here too!
As we all know it's been raining and cloudy as hell (is hell cloudy??) and never had the chance to do any Ob's for some time. There were some satisfactory nights but when you have 2 princesses at home, Ob's automatically take a back seat!
Anyway, my DIY finder/guide scope is being painted so took the chance to set up my stuff for a quick visual. Decided to practice some alignment. Decided to do a DSLR alignment with the mount pointed south as my balcony has an East to South view. Was all aligned after some DSLR shots and adjustments and clouds roll in blocking off the BEST part of Scorpi!! Waited and had a very quick chance to capture The Butterfly cluster with what view I had left!
Vixen GP w/IOptron EQ conversion kit set up for Southern Hemisphere, unguided, Celestron 80ED, 2" extension, Fuji S3, 20sx10 exposures (with alot of Light pollution due to the hazyness!), DSS and minor photoshop! I so need to find my cable release!!
Could have done better but time was running out and perhaps next time! But here's all I got,.....
My wife never complained about how much time, effort & money I spent on my Astronomy hobby!................suddenly I met her!!!
Thanks for the comments thus far. AP is still new to me and still learning with every chance I get, which isn't much to start with!
@Gary
Thanks bro! Duh...forgot to mention the settings..lol! ISO400. Hmm,..can't recall the f-stop, somewhere on paper at home. Kinda scribbled it as I was at Prime. Lemme get back and check and edit the main post with the info!
@weixing
Thanks for the nice words!! I still learning lah! Need to go visit one of your AP sessions. When u imaging? I don't stay far away!!
Yes, my GP is aligned southwards. The IOptron EQ conversion kit allows you to select Northen/Southern Hemisphere. Then the Handset does the rest. Which is good for me because if I am to align as per norm (North), slewing to east or south targets makes my counterweight shaft and/or scope almost hit my balcony window sill! With south align, if I target south, my counterweight swings opposite and away from the window bringing my scope thru the window. Then I don't have to worry when it tracks as the weight is far away from the window sill. Also if I align north, I would have to place my set up further away from the window which will limit my viewing upwards. The nearer I am to the window the more my scope can track a little more.
I then use a DSLR to grab some shots for alignment, the 'V' method on a south star (Rigel Kent is what I normally use), then an Eastern Star (Antares or someone from Scorpius, shoot, adjust, repeat till a straight line is formed, and then Re-park. Select and Slew to a target I wish to view and then synch to target from the handset. Sometimes I re-confirm with a 2 star alignment, but so far I don't really need to.
One thing about the IOptron which I like, even with their mini-tower mounts, the accuracy is pretty impressive as well as the tracking! They get good reviews for something this affordable! I never had probs and targets come into almost center with my 12mm EP!
I only need now is to get a cable release if I use my DSLR for imaging so I can go longer exposures. My next trial would be with my Meade DSI. But I try to limit the stuff to set up,...no laptop makes less effort..lol! Also need to get my DIY guider scope set up so perhaps more error can be corrected. One prob I face is the weight at front of scope which I need to increase if I use a DSLR to balance things off. More to zenith I track...the flex comes in and becomes bottom heavy.
Still trying...but I mostly use DSLR aligning as it's faster for me. It works...so needs improvements I guess!
My wife never complained about how much time, effort & money I spent on my Astronomy hobby!................suddenly I met her!!!
I'm still trying, and about to venture further into AP! Now that I can assuredly get a good alignment, it's time for filtering and longer exposures.
So anyone has anymore pointers, point me please...!! lol!
My wife never complained about how much time, effort & money I spent on my Astronomy hobby!................suddenly I met her!!!
"The universe is composed mainly of hydrogen and ignorance."