Early this morning I finally had some clear sky and free time at the same time. (!) This is 29 minutes total of luminosity. Also, this is my first cut at using some new (for me) software - the SigmaBeta10 program to combine the images and AstroArt for some manipulation. Still reduced and aligned in CCDSoft. Floating point is a great option that apparently doesn't appear in CCDSoft and sure gives me lots more "room". (Now I apparently have LOTS of old data I can go back and play with. That should keep me busy for quite a while.) After saving this as a jpeg, I think this processing could have been a bit more delicate, but I trust that will come with practice.
I also took some H-alpha last night, but had all sorts of unexpected issues with the dark frames for those. I'll maybe get to look into that tomorrow. I will also post an "earlier" M1 image for compare and contrast. Thanks for looking - comments welcome.
Charlie
Details:
Scope - Meade 16" LX200; mounted Alt-Az with field de-rotator; f6.3 focal reducer
Focus - JMI Motofocus
Camera - SBIG ST-10XE; binned 2x2 (~.88"/pixel)
Guiding - Meade 5"/DSI/PHD
I also took some H-alpha last night, but had all sorts of unexpected issues with the dark frames for those. I'll maybe get to look into that tomorrow. I will also post an "earlier" M1 image for compare and contrast. Thanks for looking - comments welcome.
Charlie
Details:
Scope - Meade 16" LX200; mounted Alt-Az with field de-rotator; f6.3 focal reducer
Focus - JMI Motofocus
Camera - SBIG ST-10XE; binned 2x2 (~.88"/pixel)
Guiding - Meade 5"/DSI/PHD
Attached Image:
Fort Lewis Observatory: (37.238, -108.052) ~2360m (7744 ft.) elevation.
Darkness - typically 6.5+
Scope - Meade 16" LX200; f6.3 focal reducer
Focus - JMI Smart focus
Camera - SBIG ST-10XE; (~.5"/pixel)
Guiding - AO-8 and/or Meade 5"/DSI/PHD
http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory
