SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

After batting my head against the wall, Today I did some revamping of my telescope and spent the last several days fine tuning NINA.
The weather was cloudy so I hunkered down in the house and tinkered.
Tonight, even in spite of the glaring moon, I'm mesmerized by pinpoint stars, flawless dithering, auto focusing without a hitch, and HFR working great.
Even though I dismounted my guide scope it came in almost dead centered. I had difficulty getting my balance back this afternoon, but finally got it nearly perfectly balanced. And the main camera landed better than before. I'm not seeing those streaking stars in the corners like before.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

I always like hearing stories of success. Most people don't have a clue how tedious astrophotography can be. Probably the most challenging.

W9OD Loc: Wisconsin

I wish I could do that. I have a Q 3.5. Really would like to try astrophotography.

Michael1079 Loc: Indiana

Time well spent! Looking forward to seeing the results!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

W90D,

You can, if you have a camera and a lens, you can go out and get started.
The Moon is an excellent place to get your feet wet. It can help you focus, and is an interesting beginning target.
After I found the Great Orion Nebula in my spotting scope, I fulled my evenings with the moon and other night sky objects.
I'd suggest you download Stellarium for a Planetarium program to look at and to help find things.
Just get out there and explore.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Forrest Tanaka sez it best: https://youtu.be/9d0292TBMHo

Yup, it takes more patience than anything I have ever done. And I have a million lightyears to go.
But I've always liked things that are challenging and make me think. I'm more of a mechanical and electrical interest than a processing interest.
Making my equipment work better is a great challenge to me. Many a night, even now, I will give up and bring my telescope and mount computer in and cover up my mount. If it isn't working, and I grow tired of trying, I'll bag it and try the next night.

I just spent this morning tracking down what I thought might be a dust mote in my imaging train. I even dismantled my telescope so I could try and clean the lens. And I did, I made up some rubbing alcohol and distilled water for solution and gently clean my lens with a microfiber cloth. It's good under my magnavisor and strong light examination.
But whatever the obstruction is (and I've checked everything) the imperfection is still there. And I know it is in the telescopes lens.
I didn't know telescopes wore out, but I guess mine is. May be getting to the time for a newer, better one. (I wish)
Anyway, looks like good skies for the next few days.

Tinker, Tinker, Tinker, damn, Tinker.

W9OD Loc: Wisconsin

Thank you SonnyE, I have a Questar 3.5 inch and the camera is a Sony a6600. I have the adapter for my scope. I also have an Optical Research 8 inch and 6 inch. Getting into the guided images is my scary issue.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

With this hobby there is always something to improve and tweak (and spend money on).