9763 replies to this topic

[Stargazer3236]

M65 from last night 33x8s (stack was longer than required... looked pretty good after 15 subs)

 

Edit: Setup was Evolution C8@f4.2, ASI290 mono, SharpCap running on Compute Stick

 

IMG_2582.JPG

Very nice! I want to be able to take pics like that with my 224, however, the weather up here in the northeast is down right atrocious!

 

On your compute stick, is that being used remotely? Are you connecting a Micro SD card or thumb drive for your storage?

 

I am waiting to buy Starsense for my Nexstar 8SE with my upcoming tax refund, so that will make my remote operation through Skysafari 5 and Skyportal wifi dongle that much more enjoyable. I cannot trust the Nexstar mount's ability to properly align and center the object all the time and even the Skysafari app does not completely center the object after a 3 star align. I use a combination of Skysafari to initiate the connect and align procedure and using the Nexstar HC for speed and direction for centering stars. I get the object of interest in the FOV, but not close enough for imaging remotely. I suppose I could use an F/5 reducer and during capture and display, just re-size the object for a larger appearance.

[Robrj]

Very nice! I want to be able to take pics like that with my 224, however, the weather up here in the northeast is down right atrocious!
 
On your compute stick, is that being used remotely? Are you connecting a Micro SD card or thumb drive for your storage?
 
I am waiting to buy Starsense for my Nexstar 8SE with my upcoming tax refund, so that will make my remote operation through Skysafari 5 and Skyportal wifi dongle that much more enjoyable. I cannot trust the Nexstar mount's ability to properly align and center the object all the time and even the Skysafari app does not completely center the object after a 3 star align. I use a combination of Skysafari to initiate the connect and align procedure and using the Nexstar HC for speed and direction for centering stars. I get the object of interest in the FOV, but not close enough for imaging remotely. I suppose I could use an F/5 reducer and during capture and display, just re-size the object for a larger appearance.

I use Astrotortilla to center objects with plate solving. It works great at centering it but it can be finicky at times. I use it along with the free version of "APT" (Astrophotography Tool).
Here's a tutorial for setting AT up. http://www.lightvort...te-solving.html

Also, have you tried using "Precise Goto"? That works pretty good too and it's already on your hand controller.

If not, here's how you do it.
Select the menu button (#7).
Next, use the 6&9 buttons (up/down arrow) until it shows "Precise Goto" and press "Enter".
Select "Database" and then the object catalog (e.g. Messier).
Enter the # of the object (e.g. 001 for Crab Nebula).
You'll be presented with a list of bright stars, usually the first one is the closest to the object. Select one of them.
The mount will slew to where it thinks the star is.
Center the star in Sharpcap using the cross hairs. When it's centered, hit "Enter"
It should put the object very close to the center of the view.

Edited by Robrj, 27 January 2017 - 12:59 PM.

[Astrojedi]

 

M65 from last night 33x8s (stack was longer than required... looked pretty good after 15 subs)

 

Edit: Setup was Evolution C8@f4.2, ASI290 mono, SharpCap running on Compute Stick

 

IMG_2582.JPG

Very nice! I want to be able to take pics like that with my 224, however, the weather up here in the northeast is down right atrocious!

 

On your compute stick, is that being used remotely? Are you connecting a Micro SD card or thumb drive for your storage?

 

I am waiting to buy Starsense for my Nexstar 8SE with my upcoming tax refund, so that will make my remote operation through Skysafari 5 and Skyportal wifi dongle that much more enjoyable. I cannot trust the Nexstar mount's ability to properly align and center the object all the time and even the Skysafari app does not completely center the object after a 3 star align. I use a combination of Skysafari to initiate the connect and align procedure and using the Nexstar HC for speed and direction for centering stars. I get the object of interest in the FOV, but not close enough for imaging remotely. I suppose I could use an F/5 reducer and during capture and display, just re-size the object for a larger appearance.

 

 

Yes, is being used remotely in the sense the scope is my backyard and I am in my study upstairs in the house on the Mac or on the couch in the living room with an iPad.

 

Even with the default 3 point alignment with no additional points the StarSense alignment always puts the object near the center of the field of view even with my small chip 224 and 290 cameras. Sometimes I have to nudge the scope a little using SW controls to perfectly place the object in the center.

 

I have never had to use platesolving or precise goto with the StarSense. It is incredibly accurate.

[Stargazer3236]

I typically use Precise GOTO on a star closest to the object I am imaging. I never tried it with using the NGC/IC or Messier listing, just using a bright star near the object. But I will try it your way next time I am out. I have been using PGoto for about 3 years on my Nexstar mounts. I also use Calibrate goto as well. Like I said before, I am waiting to get Starsense so my alignments will be spot on.

[Robrj]

I typically use Precise GOTO on a star closest to the object I am imaging. I never tried it with using the NGC/IC or Messier listing, just using a bright star near the object. But I will try it your way next time I am out. I have been using PGoto for about 3 years on my Nexstar mounts. I also use Calibrate goto as well. Like I said before, I am waiting to get Starsense so my alignments will be spot on.

It's a good interim solution until you get your starsense. I used it with the 130SLT. It worked great. Starsense is much less hassle though, especially if you want to use a program like Stellarium to move the mount.

[Stargazer3236]

No it doesn't, but from what I have been reading, I won't need it. The plate solving of the Starsense sensor is so accurate, that it will nearly center the object of interest every time, so I will have no centering issues.

[Stargazer3236]

 

I typically use Precise GOTO on a star closest to the object I am imaging. I never tried it with using the NGC/IC or Messier listing, just using a bright star near the object. But I will try it your way next time I am out. I have been using PGoto for about 3 years on my Nexstar mounts. I also use Calibrate goto as well. Like I said before, I am waiting to get Starsense so my alignments will be spot on.

It's a good interim solution until you get your starsense. I used it with the 130SLT. It worked great. Starsense is much less hassle though, especially if you want to use a program like Stellarium to move the mount.

 

I am going to use Skysafari 5 Plus for wifi operation of the mount.

[elpajare]

Stargazer, Im using SkySafari 5 Pro + Skyfi 3  and works very well.

 

Good choice.

Edited by elpajare, 27 January 2017 - 02:35 PM.

[elpajare]

The weather is very bad here....

 

I had a small window last night and I can make some very quick shots until the clouds covered the sky again.

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[Stargazer3236]

I was out EAA imaging last night too! It was temps around 40 F, but an annoying 20 mph wind kept shaking the mount and camera to the point of losing significant frames while imaging NGC 2392. Needless to say, I did not get many frames of my target and thus resolution suffered I used SharpCap 2.9 for Live Stacking and screen capture. Used MS paint for notations.

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Edited by Stargazer3236, 27 January 2017 - 02:46 PM.

[elpajare]

NGC 1888 ( 11 mag.) and NGC 1889 ( 14 mag.) are two galaxies very far one from the other, near 18 light years, but optically seems they are paired.

 

Last night I use for the first time the wireless setup of the scope. Better inside home that outside....  

 

 

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[elpajare]

This is a shot using Binx2.

 

Infinity turns automatically on B/W and seems that is capable to see more light but you lose the sense of depth that gives the color.

 

 

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[ChrisFC]

Im using skysafari pro thru an ebay serial- bluetooth to my phone. 3 star align and polar align on HC.
And am getting the computestick situation going. No more leads to scope.

[Stargazer3236]

I, too, am working on the remote access to my telescope using a CompuStick from Intel. But I currently use SkySafari 5 Plus on my iPad to remote control the telescope. Now to get my ASI224 Camera to capture frames remotely.

[DonBoy]

I just received an ASI071 and had first light last night.  I'm testing this camera for EAA imaging and broadcasting  on NightSkiesNetwork.com.  I'm still figuring out the best settings that will run the least amount of exposure x stacks for broadcasting.  Setting the gain high seemed too noisy and the cooling may need to be set to around -20C.   I ended up the evening running the gain between 250 & 300 and lowering the cooling to -20C from -15C.

 

Scope was a 152mm Mak-Newt @ f4.8 and the filter was an Idas LPS D1.

 

M106-180s x 8

 

 

NGC2174-60sx16

Edited by DonBoy, 28 January 2017 - 05:19 PM.

[DonBoy]

M45-60sx8

 

M97-180s x 9

 

NGC281-60sx16

[DonBoy]

IC405-60sx16

 

IC410-60sx16

[JonNPR]

Don, beautiful detailed work! What is the FOV? It seems quite wide with a modest f4.8.

 

Jon

[DonBoy]

Thanks Jon.

 

FOV is 73 x 111 arcmin & 1.34 arcsec/pix

[Relativist]

I believe it's an APS-C size sensor. Great broadcast Don.

[ChrisFC]

Another first light for the ASI071. Got it a few weeks ago but weather has been rubbish. So following on from DonBoy's lead.
On a GTF-81. 1x nthn & 1x sthn object. Had trouble with sharpcap crashing with darks or flats.

M42. 2x 90sec subs. Gain 200.

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Edited by ChrisFC, 29 January 2017 - 02:04 AM.

[ChrisFC]

NGC3372. 1x 60sec sub. Gain300.

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[ChrisFC]

And Running Chicken, 8x60sec subs. Gain300.

More histogram stretching here so some amp glow down the bottom so need to get the darks sorted.

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[nother]

The ASI071 seems to be great EAA cam. @ChriFC,DonBoy: These are are great pictures. Astrophotographers would Not belive that you did not post-process them.

[ChrisFC]

Robin has done a great job with sharpcap and is getting easier to make nice live pics.