First attempt with my ASI183MC Pro

[bigfish]

I don't really know what I'm doing but it's fun.
Obviously I need more time outside!
By the time I hauled all my equipment outside and setup the clouds moved in. I am amazed how much detail I was able to get through the clouds.
I must be missing a setting or two in FireCapture because the terrible display was super hard to get a good focus, almost impossible. The "focus help" didn't help because I have know idea what it's supposed to do.
I switched to ASICap and was able to focus pretty easily.
One thing happened that I wasn't expecting and It's making me question my sanity.
When using ASICap, after starting the capture the telescope was tracking the moon. I didn't know ASICap would do this. I don't see any settings for tracking and I wasn't even polar aligned.
I took many sets with different settings just to get familiar with everything. The pictures below were processed using AutoStakkert, about 20% of 100 frames. I didn't do any darks because I didn't know if they were necessary and I forgot anyway.
Any insight into why the moon came out so green I would really appreciate it.
Also how many frames typically make a good moon shot? Is 100 cool or 5000 better?

[sdbodin]

Looks good for a first light. Focus is fine. What scope were you using? Looks like a fairly long focal length, since not all the moon is captured. As to number of stacked frames, more is better, but I never do more that 1000, too lazy, I guess. BTW, I use HLVG, hasta la vista green, to get my OSC tamed. OSC sensors have twice as many green pixels as red or blue, free download. I think there is a stand alone as well as a Photoshop plug-in.

Good luck,
Steve

[Dragonsfire]

Nice images Steve!
Theirs a setting on their so that you dont have the graininess (Bayer setting). I use the same settings always so I tend to forget what they are lol.
Try Registax for stacking, Ive never had great success with AutoS.

[bladekeeper]

Focus looks pretty good to me!

I've not used FireCapture, but there should be some manner of white balance or color balance setting to get the green edged out during capture.

I typically do 1000-frame videos and stack the best 10%. I'm kinda the opposite of Neil, I've had good luck with Autostakkert but can't get Registax to agree with me.

I do use Registax for wavelet sharpening though. Also, Registax will let you color balance as well.

I'm wondering though, if Autostakkert de-bayered your images properly? I downloaded your second image and ran it through a color balance in StarTools. Seeing some checkerboarding in there along with some red highlights on the craters. Makes me wonder if Autostakkert applied the incorrect bayer matrix.

At any rate, great job on your first attempt with the ASI183!

[bigfish]

Focus looks pretty good to me!

I've not used FireCapture, but there should be some manner of white balance or color balance setting to get the green edged out during capture.

I typically do 1000-frame videos and stack the best 10%. I'm kinda the opposite of Neil, I've had good luck with Autostakkert but can't get Registax to agree with me.

I do use Registax for wavelet sharpening though. Also, Registax will let you color balance as well.

I'm wondering though, if Autostakkert de-bayered your images properly? I downloaded your second image and ran it through a color balance in StarTools. Seeing some checkerboarding in there along with some red highlights on the craters. Makes me wonder if Autostakkert applied the incorrect bayer matrix.

At any rate, great job on your first attempt with the ASI183!

I understand most of what you said but not all of it.
I'm not sure what checkerboarding is in astrophotography. I'm also a beekeeper and us beekeepers also have checkerboarding in that hobby!
I noticed some vertical lines in the second picture, I'm not sure what caused those.

[bladekeeper]

Checkerboarding due to the incorrect de-bayer pattern being used can be a little tricky to see. Sometimes you have to get to the right zoom level in or out for it to really show itself.

Those lines are stacking artifacts from some likely bad frames you've got in the stack. You may need to thumb through those in Autostakkert and cull them.

Below is your second image after a bit of StarTools color balance. Not sure if the checkerboarding will show here or not.

[Makuser]

Hello Steve. This was my first lunar attempt using a 90mm Mak-Cassagrain through the diagonal with a Solar Sytem IV camera and Amcap back in 2009. I forgot to remove the Sky-Glow filter from the diagonal and got this poor blue-ish result

Now using a ZWO camera and Sharpcap directly through the visual/photo back (on a Mak and maybe with a Barlow), then ported to Registax, you should be able to balance the color.
I really enjoyed your second image Steve, so thanks for sharing this with us, and keep at it.