TheSkySearchers

Here's my start. I will be adding more as I go along and will let the TEAM know when I hit each level.

Captured using a SeeStar S50. Images are all captured using only the SeeStar internal processing.

Hope you enjoy my journey!


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... sp=sharing

Looking forward to seeing what the SeeStar can do Gordon.

Enjoy the journey.

Graeme

Nice captures Gordon! SeeStar is the little telescope which can.

OK challenge accepted, I started the Seestar Messier Challenge, now if we could just get some clear weather, the last 2 months have been totally overcast, all the people with solar panels are complaining!

I added a few more from last night (2-14-2024).

I love using this scope!

Very nice Gordon. My favorite open cluster, M-40, with that embedded planetary nebula looks really nice.

AstroBee wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:46 pm Very nice Gordon. My favorite open cluster, M-40, with that embedded planetary nebula looks really nice.

Do you mean M46?

Gordon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:41 pm I added a few more from last night (2-14-2024).

I love using this scope!

That list is starting to look quite lengthy now Gordon!

Graeme

Gordon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 8:03 pm

AstroBee wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:46 pm Very nice Gordon. My favorite open cluster, M-40, with that embedded planetary nebula looks really nice.

Do you mean M46?

Yes, sorry about the typo.

I am curious. Is there a sweet spot for the number of frames you can take or does the picture just keep improving as long as new frames are added to the stack?

jrkirkham wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:05 am I am curious. Is there a sweet spot for the number of frames you can take or does the picture just keep improving as long as new frames are added to the stack?

I am sure that Gordon will chime in but I thought I would put in my 2 cents worth. First it depends on the target, Nebulas, at least faint ones want the most exposure, I would say open clusters and maybe the globulars as well as large bright nebulas the least, it is amazing what you can do with Orion with just a couple minutes.

More exposure gives more depth and also reduces noise in the image. but as you give more exposure it becomes less of an impact, There is a mathematical formula to tell why and what. As you give more exposure the noise is reduced or "cancelled out" to a large part.

BUT with an Alt/az mount you start to get field rotation, i.e. the upper left and lower right corners will not show any exposure when the image is stacked. The seestar or most stacking software will crop to the common area, although on a long exposure that can be a lot of cropping.

Due to field rotation you are better off doing 15 or 20 minute exposures over several days, we get about one clear night a week or so and lately Chicago has nothing on us for wind, steady winds 10 mph and gusts to 50 mph

Here is a single 10 second sub of Orion then a 10 minute exposure, stacked by the Seestar and then one showing field rotation.

the second shot was stacked and cropped by the Seestar internal software

jrkirkham wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:05 am I am curious. Is there a sweet spot for the number of frames you can take or does the picture just keep improving as long as new frames are added to the stack?

I agree with what Jeff said. Typically with clusters/galaxies, I can get away with 5 minutes of 10-second images. But If it's a nebula then the times start stretching. Even with galaxies and clusters, more images will help reduce the noise and bring out more detail.

With doing the Messiers for the contest I'm trying to capture as many in a night as I can using a 4-hour window. The weather has been a factor so I have to catch as many as possible when the sky is cooperating.

I had a productive night last night as was able to add a bunch more!

Click on the link in the topic starter and you can see my progress.

I'm up to 62 now and plan on trying for more tonight!

Excellent progress Gordon.

Congratulations on reaching the 40 EAA Images Challenge Target!

Please see the Certificate attached and the Profile Flair bling awarded.

Regards

TSS Team

Thanks!!!

Congrats Gordon!

Congrats on M40 EAA Gordon!

Congratulations!!
After seeing all the images, reading all the info and watching many videos, I ordered my Seestar s50 last night. Hope to start the Messier challenge myself.
Nice work!

Good going! You will love the S50, I can't use mine right now, I am actually surprised that we are not having clear weather because I just had a total knee replacement a week ago and can't set up the S50 even as simple as it is. I am still using a walker

The more I read about this seestar and the more photos I see, the more and more I am aunt.