DIY Pier-Test on M42

[timatworksg]

I gave my Balcony DIY pier a test run on early Sunday morn with a quick and rough shot of M42.
* DIY pier post at: http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=8621

Anyway, didn't really align properly and the initial counterweight issue was a prob. Managed to squeeze in 20subs at 30s and 45s. Some elongated stars are apparent due to lack of proper alignment,..but sharing this to show the results of the DIY pier so far in my AP learning journey!

- M42 - 80ED/Orion SSDSI II/LPR filter/ x20subs 30s/45s
Best FIT's selected and tweaked. Converted to TIFF and curves adjustment a little, stacked in DSS, minor levels in PS. Trying a different process style.

[mch3898]

Way to go, Tim. Try 5-min subs. Looking forward to your images as soon as you get your mount/guidescope all adjusted and aligned.

Your OSC sure beats having to do LRGB!

[timatworksg]

Thanks Chris! And to your SSDSI! Guess all the thinking and testing paid off!
I would love to try LRGB...maybe in the near future...but to long doing straight off color from my commercial photography days. Perhaps thats why I take the digital imaging approach differently too. Been fooling around with different ways to stack and approach the RAW files. Theres always lots of ways and as long as one works why not!

Awaiting the day I can do long subs. Now with the pier set up...and once I settle the autoguiding...perhaps soon. I just need to have a small bar table and stool for the balcony...hehe! Where's my IKEA catalog??

[orly_andico]

@Tim,
are you guiding? I'm curious how much field rotation would occur if you're only approximately polar-aligned but are auto-guiding...

(waiting for my WO-FLAT2)

[timatworksg]

@Orly

No I wasn't. Just used the handset 2 star alignment. I can get 30s to 45s for AP. The IOptron does a good job at keeping the subject in view. Great for Obs as it can keep things in view for 30mins with a good 2 or 3 star alignment. But for AP, some PE occurs and 30s is normally the best I can get outta it...lol!

I also use CCD Drift alignment for 30s (if I'm in a rush) or 1min/2mins (If I have the time). That plus a 2star can give me 30s to 1min of good tracking. But I do need Autoguiding to correct the PE. When I do 30s subs I try to take lots and lots...so I can have more data info within the file after stacking to play with! Also it helps DSS work out the stacking process when you can give it more data! Once I can settle the Autoguiding, I can aim for more time shooting subs!

With the above image, I tried something new, which is process the FIT's to TIFF's, adjust each and then stack in DSS with some post process. Seemed to work but not always.

My compass has marks all over as so to the GP mount. So after every alignment I check to see if these marks correspond to my every set up. That way I have notes and can get pretty darn close to South Celestial Pole. Now with the Pier, I have to reset to get things right.
Having some communication issues with the 8401 handset....it's an IOptron thing, but It has worked before with the USB driver that IOptron has for connection. So I may have did something different moving to Win7 OS. With Win XP I had no probs.
But yeah, after 30s, with no guiding, elongated stars and drifts...lol! But with 30s you can capture lots of subs and get pretty decent images. Then it's some curves adjustments to bring out lost detail.
On the post process side of things, I sometimes use the Lodriguss method and do layering. Helps when seeing isn't good and when you have a collection of subs that you not only can stack but also use as layers to enhance detail. I also have Astronomy Tools, a set of plug ins for PS. Darn useful when you need something a little bit extra.

But overall, I have always relied upon the IOptron which has had some great reviews on it's GOTO system. Only niggle is connection for guiding which the latest EQ mount from them has resolved. Perhaps some day I may change out the motors and use something else. But for now...I can live with it.