August 2012 Blog Posts (5)

IC5146 Cocoon Nebula

Location: Portland Downtown, Bortle 8

Sky Conditions: Clear with new moon

Total Exposure: 9.6 hours. 233subsx150seconds over 4 nights

Adquisition: MaximDL

Focus: FocusMax

Guiding: ST80+SSAG+MaximDL+EQMOD+PEC

Processing: Pixinsight + PS4 + Astrotools

Mount/Telescope Equipment: HEQ5 Pro + Orion Mak 1800mm

Imaging: QHY8L CCD…

I've always used a separate guide scope and like the simplicity that it offers, but I now have pretty clear evidence of differential flexure despite doing everything imaginable to make a solid connection between the 2 scopes. So I want to try an off-axis guider and am looking for recommendations. I think it should be very adjustable (both rotation and prism position) to be able to find a good guide star. My current setup uses 2" SCT threads to connect the reducer/flattener to the scope. This…

Location: Portland Downtown

Sky Conditions: Turbulence. Really warm air (80F)

Total Exposure: 1hr. 27.5min. 35subsx150seconds over 3 nights

Adquisition: MaximDL

Focus: FocusMax

Guiding: ST80+SSAG+MaximDL+EQMOD+PEC

Processing: Pixinsight + PS4 + Astrotools

Mount/Telescope Equipment: HEQ5 Pro + Orion Mak 1800mm

Imaging: QHY8L CCD

M.…

This is my first shot of 2012 & first OSC processing in Pixinsight.

Location: Portland Downtown, Bortle 8

Sky Conditions: Clear with full moon

Total Exposure: 5.75 hours. 138subsx150seconds over 3 nights

Adquisition: MaximDL

Focus: FocusMax

Guiding: ST80+SSAG+MaximDL+EQMOD+PEC

Processing: Pixinsight + PS4 + Astrotools

Mount/Telescope Equipment: HEQ5 Pro + Orion Mak 1800mm

Imaging: QHY8L CCD

M.…

Wonder how much it would cost to have your own like 20 inch orbiting telescope.