Quick post of some recent captures. Enjoy -- or, use for contemplation, learning from my mistakes, etc.
Equipment for both images --
Camera: Sony A7R IV (ILCE-7RM4)
Scope/lens: Sony FE 70-200/2.8 GM OSS II
Mount: SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2 (pro pack with dec bracket)
Capture software: N.I.N.A.
Stacked in: DSS
Processed in: Siril and Photoshop
1. Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex and the Blue Horsehead Nebula
24 minutes of integration (30 sec x 48) - taken during a camping trip, had a dark sky to the south (something I lack at home), soon overwhelmed by clouds - rough stuff, I have tried stretching it further but it gets very noisy and I kind of like the ghostly Blue Horsehead - note: I may repost this in the Beginner forum for Goofi's current challenge. No subs thrown away because I have so few to begin with... Substantial crop was largely due to trees (hey Rho Oph low in the sky up here).
2. Sadr Region / IC 1318 / NGC 6888 and friends
2 hours of integration from my backyard (120 sec x 60) - it was clear all night but I was leery of letting it go unsupervised, I had it take an additional 5 frames (65 total - maybe those extra 5 were the ones I cut) but then started my darks, then fell asleep and left the equipment out all night anyway - threw away only 5 subs (four for elongated stars, and one for firefly contamination), the stars were beautiful, I should have left it going for at least 4 hours, alas. Another nice bit on this one: almost no crop needed from the original full frame.
