Orion and Andromeda - Learning this is not so easy (Page 2): Total Telescope Kit Weight 43 lbs. Craig...

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

Albuqshutterbug wrote:

When my Wife collects on my life insurance? :shock:
B&H has the tube only for $2999
:D
I don't know if the AVX would support it.

Total Telescope Kit Weight 43 lbs.
Craig

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Holy Zamboni!

Gorgeous shots!

Gad zooks, you guys are really setting the bar high!

Amazing photographs! (Or should I say, "Astrophotographs"?)

Amazing!

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

(I'da given you four, but you didn't give us the Download option to look at. Tisk, tisk. :twisted: :roll: ;-) :thumbup:

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Will you give me the 4th after. I tried to do one yesterday, but it wouldn't accept tiff. I'll try to get them there today. Thanks for the input.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

This is one of the Orion Photos, wasn't sure what you were looking for, so this is one from Astro FX stacked images and the 2nd is stacked and stretched. I'm not sure why the stretched does the green circle around, then dark outside of it. But when I did levels and curves in PS, it went dark.

Stacked

(Download)

Stacked and Stretched

(Download)

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

It's vignetting and can be fixed with the use of flats when calibrating. The green ting is because of the use of a OSC camera. It too is fairly easy to correct in post gorgeous images. I might even download one and play with it.

Matthew

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Thanks for the info, if you get a chance to play around, I would appreciate any input/suggestions. I'm still just playing around and don't have a good grasp of what I am playing with.

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

Lol I'm in the same boat. Only thing with this subject I would suggest it to capture a couple image with less exposure for the detail in the core. And maybe a couple to help bring out the surrounding dust field. But it's a great start.

Worst thing about starting off with great gear is you lose a scapegoat when things go wrong

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Europa wrote:

Will you give me the 4th after. I tried to do one yesterday, but it wouldn't accept tiff. I'll try to get them there today. Thanks for the input.

Actually, the fourth is tacked on to the end... ;)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

SonnyE wrote:

Actually, the fourth is tacked on to the end... ;)

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks Sonny!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Also, I too, have had difficulty with tiff files here.
So anymore, I just put jpg's up, and click download so folks can play around with them. (Like zooming, etc.)
In fact, unless it is something exceptional, I just export as a jpg and post it.

I took some time with my mount today and made sure it is level with my digital level. 0.0 degrees is as level as I can get it.
(It was only off by .1 degree on the Y axis anyway. X axis was flat, 0.0)
I really strive to make sure I'm not doing something wrong. And I look at myself first when an error crops up.

Oknoder Loc: Western North Dakota

I hate to derail the topic but I have read many times about leveling mounts. For Alt/Az mounts I understand but with GEMs it makes no sense to me. Since the RA coordinates are determined by centering the Celestial pole on the Ascension axis whether it is level or not, should not make a difference. Mind you I'm just thinking only slightly out of level, nothing like being on a steep slope or anything.

Is my logic faulty, or is this a subject of, better to be safe than sorry?
Matthew

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

Oknoder wrote:

I hate to derail the topic but I have read many times about leveling mounts. For Alt/Az mounts I understand but with GEMs it makes no sense to me. Since the RA coordinates are determined by centering the Celestial pole on the Ascension axis whether it is level or not, should not make a difference. Mind you I'm just thinking only slightly out of level, nothing like being on a steep slope or anything.

Is my logic faulty, or is this a subject of, better to be safe than sorry?
Matthew

Hey Mathhew, I too try to error on the side safe. I use an electronic level myself.
I think when I don't get my time and level correct getting Aligned is more problematic.
Craig

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Oknoder wrote:

I hate to derail the topic but I have read many times about leveling mounts. For Alt/Az mounts I understand but with GEMs it makes no sense to me. Since the RA coordinates are determined by centering the Celestial pole on the Ascension axis whether it is level or not, should not make a difference. Mind you I'm just thinking only slightly out of level, nothing like being on a steep slope or anything.

Is my logic faulty, or is this a subject of, better to be safe than sorry?
Matthew

I wouldn't say your logic is faulty, Matthew. And there has been many a time I just set my mount on the "holy bricks" I use for my locators. (Instead of washers like before)
Not even bothering with checking the level. Usually it is very, very close, mind you.

But to me, if I try and get things as plumb as I can, it might be one less variable in the mix. Thus making my inconsistencies smaller and smaller in the future.

If I had a pier mount, there certainly would be a lot less to worry about because the foundation wouldn't be variable like a tripod mount.
But even with my bricks, the legs, for example, could retract slightly from being moved if they got bumped.

It seems to me that even .001" could in the distances of space be the difference of a hit or a miss with a target.

I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. But if I can try and be as consistent as possible (Spell that Anal), then maybe I can achieve a better keeper ratio. ;)

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

Oknoder wrote:

I hate to derail the topic but I have read many times about leveling mounts. For Alt/Az mounts I understand but with GEMs it makes no sense to me. Since the RA coordinates are determined by centering the Celestial pole on the Ascension axis whether it is level or not, should not make a difference. Mind you I'm just thinking only slightly out of level, nothing like being on a steep slope or anything.

Is my logic faulty, or is this a subject of, better to be safe than sorry?
Matthew

Your logic is OK. Alt/Az mounts do require careful leveling.

But for GEM mounts, it not so important. All that matters is that axis has to point at true north. You could tilt the mount 45 degrees, and as long as you can point that axis at true north, it is still OK.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Imagine one of those RASA telescopes with a Sony A7s on it....

:shock: