Details

• Rig: QHY268C + Sky-Watcher ED80 DS Pro + HEQ5
• Software: NINA/PixInsight
• Filters: Antlia ALP-T
• Constellation: Cepheus

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC 129 X 300s (645m)
    * Total: 10h45m
    
    Integration time target
    * Target: 12 hours
    * Progress: 90%

Notes

8th August 2023

Seeing index: 3/1
Jet stream: Very poor (44m/s)

    Integration time:
    * OSC 35 X 300s (175m)
    * Total: 2h55m

The clear skies didn’t begin until after midnight hence the slightly reduced number of frames. High quality results tonight even with guiding RMS around 1.50". The target is at the zenith and I wonder if the elevated RMS is simply due to the added difficulty for the mount to make corrections in this position. The powerbox mounted on the top of the scope came loose and caused nearly 10,000 Pushover disconnected camera alerts even though the camera only disconnected once and worked correctly after reconnecting in NINA. To be investigated.

7th August 2023

Seeing index: 4/2
Jet stream: Poor (30m/s)

    Integration time:
    * OSC 44 X 300s (220m)
    * Total: 3h40m

Curious guiding stats this evening - 1.38" up to meridian flip and 1.61" thereafter. However all frames were perfectly usuable with error uniform on DEC and RA making eccentricity very low. Average HFR arond 3.2. I stopped imaging at astronomical dawn (02:50) due to forecast of cloud and possible rain.

6th August 2023
Seeing index: 4/2 -> 5/2
Jet stream: Average/poor (23m/s - 31m/s)

    Integration time:
    * OSC 50 X 300s (250m)
    * Total: 4h10m

This evening was the first evening of properly clear skies for what seems like months. I chose the refractor as I still have problems getting the new CT8 to focus and combined with the guiding issues I still have with the EQ6R-Pro the prospect was only of frustration and a late night. I chose a large, bright target to make the process as trouble-free and positive as possible!

Surprisingly good results from a night where the seeing, or at least the jet stream, was poor and the guiding very bouncy up to RMS 1.3", which is just inside the pixel ratio of the telescope and camera combination of 1.48". Only two frames discarded and the others all more or less uniformly good (with the odd slight eccentricity).