First light! M1

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Larry 1969 United States of America
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First light! M1

#1

Post by Larry 1969 »


Good evening all!
I've been working with a completely new rig and my first EQ mount.
Equipment used:
EQ6-R Pro
Orion 8" Newtonian astrograph F3.9
Full spectrum moded Canon T3i with no filters
Explore Scientific HR Coma Corrector (Not sure if it's spaced properly. Just threaded on the adapter but it's supposed to be optimized for F4)
All controlled with a cheap refurbished Windows 10 laptop running APT (Directly connected to the mount. No hand controller)

I'm not really impressed with this image. Collimation was off and focus was a bit out but the point is that I got everything to work and play together.
The fact that I captured an image at all is just a little bonus. I made a few observations during this process that I'd like to share and PLEASE give me some input.

1. This scope moves weird! My dob was up - down - left- right... Nice and simple. This thing moves like a crocodile in a death roll! I was paranoid about it crashing into the mount. :?
2. This was my first time without a hand controller or alignment. APT seemed to handle the task well. I solved an image and synced the mount. Goto's were not spot on but plate solving got me there.
3. I am very surprised how well this mount tracked. I polar aligned with the polar scope in the mount (No polar alignment device like PoleMaster) and I was able to capture 2 minute exposures unguided!
4. The coma corrector seems to do a pretty good job. This image is cropped just enough to remove the stacking artifacts. My old F4.7 uncorrected was far worse.
5. I think I have some dust on my sensor. Just to the lower left of the nebula there's a smudge. I've seen this in some of my images before. Any suggestions for cleaning?

This is a total of ~50 2 min exposures with 15 darks and 20 bias frames.

Thanks for all of your input, suggestions and feedback that's got me this far!

Larry
Attachments
M1.png
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.

For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
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bladekeeper
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Re: First light! M1

#2

Post by bladekeeper »


I'd say that is a pretty darn good first outing with an EQ mount, Larry! :)

Dust, dust motes, and dust donuts clean up nicely with flat frames. :D

I'll say if you didn't get mad or unduly frustrated and ended the session with the same amount of hair that you started it with, you had a pretty good outing. :lol:
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100

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Re: First light! M1

#3

Post by JayTee »


but the point is that I got everything to work and play together.
To me, this is 90% of the battle, congrats. Better images will naturally occur now that you can concentrate on the imaging and not so much getting everybody to talk to each other.

Congrats on the new rig.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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SkyHiker United States of America
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Re: First light! M1

#4

Post by SkyHiker »


Very good for a 1st image! If you are worried about it, I can see good detailed tendrils but they are washed out by the processing. M1 is pretty bright so you can lift it out an process it separately. Or use Starnet to simply dump the stars so you can process them separately and add them back in. Bright stars and small nebulas just don't work well together at F4. You can also add a Barlow for the core if needed, expose 4x longer.
... Henk. :D Telescopes: GSO 12" Astrograph, "Comet Hunter" MN152, ES ED127CF, ES ED80, WO Redcat51, Z12, AT6RC, Celestron Skymaster 20x80, Mounts and tripod: Losmandy G11S with OnStep, AVX, Tiltall, Cameras: ASI2600MC, ASI2600MM, ASI120 mini, Fuji X-a1, Canon XSi, T6, ELPH 100HS, DIY: OnStep controller, Pi4b/power rig, Afocal adapter, Foldable Dob base, Az/Alt Dob setting circles, Accessories: ZWO 36 mm filter wheel, TV Paracorr 2, Baader MPCC Mk III, ES FF, SSAG, QHY OAG-M, EAF electronic focuser, Plossls, Barlows, Telrad, Laser collimators (Seben LK1, Z12, Howie Glatter), Cheshire, 2 Orion RACIs 8x50, Software: KStars-Ekos, DSS, PHD2, Nebulosity, Photo Gallery, Gimp, CHDK, Computers:Pi4b, 2x running KStars/Ekos, Toshiba Satellite 17", Website:Henk's astro images
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Larry 1969 United States of America
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Re: First light! M1

#5

Post by Larry 1969 »


bladekeeper wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 3:04 am I'd say that is a pretty darn good first outing with an EQ mount, Larry! :)

Dust, dust motes, and dust donuts clean up nicely with flat frames. :D

I'll say if you didn't get mad or unduly frustrated and ended the session with the same amount of hair that you started it with, you had a pretty good outing. :lol:
Thanks Bryan!
I have to work on "flat" frames.
And yes! I kept all of my hair! :lol:

Larry
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.

For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
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Larry 1969 United States of America
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Re: First light! M1

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Post by Larry 1969 »


SkyHiker wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 4:36 am Very good for a 1st image! If you are worried about it, I can see good detailed tendrils but they are washed out by the processing. M1 is pretty bright so you can lift it out an process it separately. Or use Starnet to simply dump the stars so you can process them separately and add them back in. Bright stars and small nebulas just don't work well together at F4. You can also add a Barlow for the core if needed, expose 4x longer.
Thanks Skyhiker!
I didn't even go through my subs to weed out the poor ones. I just tossed all of it into DSS and stacked the best 90%.
I processed it super quick in StarTools and over darkened it in GIMP to try to get rid of the smudge. I should probably spend a little time with it but I didn't think it was worth it.

Larry
For visual:
10" Skywatcher collapsible goto dob, various EP's and a Celestron StarSense auto align.

For imaging:
Orion 8" astrograph 800mm @ F3.9
Eq6-R Pro controlled by APT via EQmod with an OTA mounted mini PC
Tele Vue Paracorr Type 2 coma corrector
Altair Hypercam 26C
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Re: First light! M1

#7

Post by Graeme1858 »


That’s a great first light image!

The eq mount is essentially the same as your dob except that you have to imagine pointing the dob at the zenith, tipping the base over so the telescope points at Polaris and you’re away!

I always set up a session, give it a go, then ponder how it went the next day and research the bits that didn’t work!

Step by step.

Regards

Graeme
______________________________________________
Celestron 9.25 f10 SCT, f6.3FR, CGX mount.
ASI1600MM Pro, ASI294MC Pro, ASI224MC
ZWO EFW, ZWO OAG, ASI220MM Mini.
APM 11x70 ED APO Binoculars.

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Re: First light! M1

#8

Post by helicon »


Very nice effort Larry - looks pretty good, especially for a first try!
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
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Re: First light! M1

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Post by starfield »


Wow. My first time out I didn't even get past getting things polar aligned. You can declare victory here! :clap:
Scopes: Esprit 100, 12.5" Telekit Dob
Camera: 294 MC Pro, 224 mc, 2600mm
Guiding: ZWO 290 mini on 120mm guide scope
Mounts: EQ6R-Pro, EQ Platform.
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Re: First light! M1

#10

Post by STEVE333 »


Congratulations on getting into the EQ mount world. Nice first image. You are in for a pleasant surprise once you figure out the alignment stuff. Look forward to your future images.

Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
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Re: First light! M1

#11

Post by coopman »


Very nice for a first image. Keep up the great effort.
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Re: First light! M1

#12

Post by jthommes »


Congrats on the "first light" success with the equipment. As you say, getting a resulting image is a nice bonus. Looking forward to seeing more.
Jim Thommes
Jim's Astrophotography
David Levy Maksutov Newtonian, Celestron Edge 9.25, FSQ-106N Refractor (on loan), WO ZenithStar 66 APO Refractor, WO Megrez II APO, Sigma 150 mm EOS Lens
Losmandy G11/Gemini, iOptron GEM45, Celestron Advanced VX, iOptron CEM70
ST8300M Camera, Atik 383L, Canon 350D (IR cut modified), ASI1600M, ASI294M, ASI260M
Observatory - Desert Astronomy Association (Shelter Valley, CA)
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