Last Night - The Epic

[mickw]

Forecast for clear skies, new software, what could possibly go wrong............................
Started at about 8:30 going through the motions of polar alignment using EQMod (I kept forgetting things and doing them in the wrong order  )
Finally got set up and ready to rock at about 9:30 and fire up APT.
I can't get my head round the way it's supposed to work, even getting a viewable preview is an ordeal, patchy clouds didn't help either.  It definitely seems like it's designed for the Live View fraternity - I persevered for 4 f'in hours, I will not persevere again.
1:30, fire up Nebulosity and change settings to convert weird files on the fly, had a hunt around and M101 was just above the trees (on the up this time)
A few practice shots and all seemed to be doing the right thing so set up for 15x8 min subs.  After 4 the clouds rolled in, so I decided to get the darks etc out of the way and start again after the cleared.  Darks - Done, Bias - Done, Flats - Squeak - WTF the camera rubbed on the mount - Didn't realise the significance of this until today 
Anyway, here's the result - M101 - 4x480 (not enough or long enough), complete with a rabbit farm - The guiding looks good though despite this being a crop



In future, I will do flats Before darks and bias 

[Fay]

Mick, you are funny!!!!!

An epic indeed, at least you re persevering. The result looks extremely promising, regarding guiding etc, so don't loose heart

[Carole]

Oh dear Mick, I remember a few nights like that.

As you are using APT I assume you are using a DSLR.  Have you tried Canon Utility, I find that dead simple to use, although I do have live view which helps a bit with focus and alignment?  

Well you got your target and your guiding worked well.  I have found it is 2 steps forward and 1 step back but patience and perseverence is the name of the game.  

Keep at it.

Carole

[mickw]

The main thing is really to get consistent guiding, although to stay up until 3:30 without getting a decent image is not much fun 
I also now know that 4x8 mins (pity about the clouds) isn't long enough for M101 but I should be able to guide much longer.

The Canon Utility only allows 30 second exposures on the 400D even with LX adapter

[Mike]

Stars look nice and round Mick.

I am sure with a bit of stretching you could bring out a lot more detail in that image at the expense of noise.

[Fay]

M101 is very feint.

[mickw]

Cheers Mike, despite PHD graph looking a bit flakey, it did a good job, not sure about the stretching though, m101 was barely visible in the subs - that should have been a warning to be from the start.  Still it looks like another clear night tonight so I might get some good data  - if I can stay awake 

[Carole]

The Canon Utility only allows 30 second exposures on the 400D even with LX adapter

That's a bummer Mick.  

carole

[Fay]

What I mean Mick, is that M101 is a feint galaxy to get, not that your one is feint!

[mickw]

Sorry Fay, I guessed that...........

My one is rubbish, not faint   
Actually it's faint and rubbish 

[Tony G]

Actually it's faint and rubbish 

Bloody better than mine.

Tony G

[mickw]

Actually Tony, yours is better than mine because yours is neither faint nor rubbish 

[The Thing]

Mick,

May DSC I'll give you an APT lesson. It's very simple! I think you think it's Nebulosity or Maxim  .

[Fay]

It's not rubbish, Mick, just not long enough exposures & not enough

[mickw]

Thanks Duncan, it really is doing my head in.

Thanks Fay, I suppose a compromise then - "not very good result"