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Lawrence Parchman

Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

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Another M13

Started by cosmoscrazy, 06/16/2008 05:55AM
Posted 06/16/2008 05:55AM | Edited 06/16/2008 05:57AM Opening Post
I picked up an Orion StarShoot Autoguider yesterday and was eager to test it. I shot this from my back yard under a three quarter moon. This is my first ever guided shot. All parameters for the guider except exposure were set to default so there a few tweaks might improve things a little.

Does anyone have any recomendation as to which guide speed to set my GM8 to (stepper version, non-goto)?

Equipment:
Optics - TV-85, TV 0.8x focal reducer
Mount - Losmandy GM8
Camera - Canon 350D (unmodified)
Guiding - Orion StarShoot Autoguider/PHD/William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD

Exposure Information:
7x180s @ ISO 800

Attached Image:

cosmoscrazy's attachment for post 42510
Posted 06/16/2008 11:32AM #1
The default looks good to me. For your 3 min exposures it doesnt look like much of any trailing. I use PHD with a DSI and I just let it do its thing at all default settings.
Posted 06/16/2008 04:22PM #2
The guiding looks fine, all the stars are round !
I use PHDGuiding at default settings.
Posted 06/22/2008 08:08PM #3
Nice Image Peter!

I have a G11/Gemini. (So it is at best similar to yours.) I use PHD Guiding on the default settings and I set my G11 at .7 sidereal rate. The PE of my G11 is low - but it is a bit jumpy. So I want my guiding responive to any quick mount errors but not so sensitive as to chase seeing.


Jim Thommes

Mak-Newt 152 mm
C8
Megrez II APO
Zenithstar 66 mm APO
G11/Gemini
ST8300M
Artemis285 Camera
Canon 350D DSLR

http://jthommes.com/Astro/