Secret Still Observatory

'Star, star teach me how to shine, shine'

Mark

1 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC 139 X 120s (278m)
    * Total: 4h38m

In spite of the pretty poor weather, galaxy season is still underway. I’m really happy with the detail in M108 and the central star in M97. The Antlia RGB filter is proving challenging at the processing stage as some very unusual reflections are apparent. This might also be light leaks in the flats (more likely, in fact). To be investigated.

Mark

1 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC 10 X 300s (50m)
    * Total: 50m
    
    Integration time target
    * Target: 3 hours
    * Progress: 28%

An unexpected clear couple of hours gave me the chance to check the recalibration of backlash on the EQ6R Pro which now seems to work nicely having guided at around 0.7"/px consistently last night. By way of as test I shot some 5 minute frames on M64 followed by some flats and flat darks in accordance with my new calibration frames…

LDN1235 - Dark Shark Nebula

Trip in September to Mid-Wales Bortle class 3

Mark

3 minute read

11th September 2022 Evidently far more integration time is needed the the meagre 2h48m I managed to salvage from the trip. Still, this makes a reasonable start and allows some improved framing choices to be made for the next attempt on this target. I also think that the stars would benefit from the use of the Astronomik L3 filter to reduce star bloat.

Mark

2 minute read

7th July 2022 First test of the GHS (Generalised Hyperbolic Stretch) script in PixInsight which I found intuitive (for a PI script!) and mighty impressive in its results. Definitely one to keep using and get good at. This resulting image is a massive improvement on the same target photographed last year due to this and, mainly, the EQ6R Pro mounted on a pier.

Mark

1 minute read

2nd July 2022 I ran the 200PDS on the Cave Nebula in narrowband and the Askar on the Cygnius Loop in OSC. Amazingly my tweaks to the AZ-GTI mount seem to have made the guiding work and although the guiding standard deviation was horrible the result was very tight round stars on the Askar. The guiding on the Newtonian was awful too and I think that the extreme humidity was affecting the seeing quite badly.

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