My Fav Alignment Stars for MAY
May 7, 2016 11:18:40 #
Alignment Stars and Tonight's gameplan!
I have a few alignment stars that I prefer to use in the Spring - Month of May especially. The visual magnitude - and Alt and Az at 10 pm (about the time i begin imaging this time of year) I get polar alignment, Darks and Bias frames out of the way first. Start Bias Frames at 8:00 - it takes 10 minutes to shoot 100 of those, then 50 darks - I then uncover the scope, polar align, an it is close to 10. When I am not using Astrotortilla (and still haven't taken time to use Sequence Generator Pros) I use the planetarium software Cartes Du Ciel (free and powerful) and select these alignment stars to build my sky model.
Since I am using the Newt, I can shoot 30 second and ISO 1000 subs - with PhD2 dithering - I can get 120 subs in two hours - at 12, I change targets - tonight I am starting with the Hercules Cluster from 10 to 12, from 12 to 4:30 I am imaging the Pelican Nebula. At 12 before imaging the Pelican I will check my alignment model and focus by using Vega - perfect spot for me at 12 - if it is dead center then i am off to the Pelican ...set up the imaging sequence in Backyard EOS and go to bed. Awake and shoot flats. Then time to process and see what Santa brought!
I thought some of you might be able to use these alignment stars with your alignments.
Jupiter -2.20 S - 65 alt. 173 az. I will look for this giant to check finderscope accuracy. It is sooo easy to use this for my initlal alignment.
Regulus 1.40 SSW - 65 alt. 204 az. (great for bahtinov or FWHM focusing)
Alphecca 2.22 ENE - 29 alt. 76 az.
Kochab 2.05 NNE - 41 alt. 18 az.
Arcturus .15 E - 41 alt. 95 az.
Alkaid 1.86 NE - 51 alt. 52 az.
Mizar 2.22 NE - 56 alt. 41az.
Alioth 1.75 NE - 60 alt. 35 az.
Denebola 2.13 SSE - 65 alt. 142 az.
Algieba 2.23 SSW - 73 alt. 204 az.
Dubhe 1.82 N - 63 alt. 3 az,
Vega .02 Low In Sky at 10:00 - 12 am - 33 degrees.
_____________
Eltanin 2.23 NE 17 alt. 38 az.
Eta Herculis 3.48 ENE 22 alt. 57 az
Seginus 3.03 ENE 45 alt. 68 az
Izar 2.59 E 39 alt. 81 az.
Vindemiatrix 2.85 ESE 51 alt 120 az.
West
Alpha Lyncis 3.13 W 71 alt. 274 az.
Pollux 1.22 W 50 alt. 273 az.
Talitha 3.14 W 65 alt. 311 az
Clear skies to one and all and to all, good night!
I have a few alignment stars that I prefer to use in the Spring - Month of May especially. The visual magnitude - and Alt and Az at 10 pm (about the time i begin imaging this time of year) I get polar alignment, Darks and Bias frames out of the way first. Start Bias Frames at 8:00 - it takes 10 minutes to shoot 100 of those, then 50 darks - I then uncover the scope, polar align, an it is close to 10. When I am not using Astrotortilla (and still haven't taken time to use Sequence Generator Pros) I use the planetarium software Cartes Du Ciel (free and powerful) and select these alignment stars to build my sky model.
Since I am using the Newt, I can shoot 30 second and ISO 1000 subs - with PhD2 dithering - I can get 120 subs in two hours - at 12, I change targets - tonight I am starting with the Hercules Cluster from 10 to 12, from 12 to 4:30 I am imaging the Pelican Nebula. At 12 before imaging the Pelican I will check my alignment model and focus by using Vega - perfect spot for me at 12 - if it is dead center then i am off to the Pelican ...set up the imaging sequence in Backyard EOS and go to bed. Awake and shoot flats. Then time to process and see what Santa brought!
I thought some of you might be able to use these alignment stars with your alignments.
Jupiter -2.20 S - 65 alt. 173 az. I will look for this giant to check finderscope accuracy. It is sooo easy to use this for my initlal alignment.
Regulus 1.40 SSW - 65 alt. 204 az. (great for bahtinov or FWHM focusing)
Alphecca 2.22 ENE - 29 alt. 76 az.
Kochab 2.05 NNE - 41 alt. 18 az.
Arcturus .15 E - 41 alt. 95 az.
Alkaid 1.86 NE - 51 alt. 52 az.
Mizar 2.22 NE - 56 alt. 41az.
Alioth 1.75 NE - 60 alt. 35 az.
Denebola 2.13 SSE - 65 alt. 142 az.
Algieba 2.23 SSW - 73 alt. 204 az.
Dubhe 1.82 N - 63 alt. 3 az,
Vega .02 Low In Sky at 10:00 - 12 am - 33 degrees.
_____________
Eltanin 2.23 NE 17 alt. 38 az.
Eta Herculis 3.48 ENE 22 alt. 57 az
Seginus 3.03 ENE 45 alt. 68 az
Izar 2.59 E 39 alt. 81 az.
Vindemiatrix 2.85 ESE 51 alt 120 az.
West
Alpha Lyncis 3.13 W 71 alt. 274 az.
Pollux 1.22 W 50 alt. 273 az.
Talitha 3.14 W 65 alt. 311 az
Clear skies to one and all and to all, good night!
May 7, 2016 15:01:07 #
nikonshooter wrote:
Alignment Stars and Tonight's gameplan! br br I h... (show quote)
Oh, if I could only see any stars! It has been cloudy and rainy here in the Bay Area for what seems like two straight weeks.
May 7, 2016 18:39:01 #
JimH123 wrote:
Oh, if I could only see any stars! It has been cloudy and rainy here in the Bay Area for what seems like two straight weeks.
Totally understand the cloud thingie! Last night was rated, Seeing Poor, Transparancy average, cloud cover 30 percent. ....the same tonight but transparancy is now poor. None the less, I am going to play until 1:00 am or so.....and yes, still plan to make Church tomorrow!
If there are any moms on this forum - hope you have an awesome day tomorrow...and every day thereafter!!
May 7, 2016 19:55:21 #
nikonshooter wrote:
Alignment Stars and Tonight's gameplan! br br I h... (show quote)
Thank you Ed those are some of the Stars I am using too.
Late Sunday Night I'll set Jupiter to "Sync" for alignment to the Sun Mon morning.
Craig
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