stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Even though "Florence is gone the humidity and 90s hasn't left until this week, humidity is still high but, the temp is finally in the 80s. I was trying to get the settings set for the Asi174MM cooled and efw. I've never shot with the efw and especially not Mars but, there's no time like the present . Even though setting up and getting my alignment wasn't anything short of a sweat bath, I've got my settings set and I'll be ready when I can get back out after the humidity leaves. Flipped and rotated 2000 fr ea. channel.

Mars 5x PM

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Very NICE, Ronnie!

Great progress! I was playing one summer evening and showing my Step-Son the new telescope, and my recently found Saturn.
I got Saturn in my telescope, then I tries a 2x Barlow's, re-center, tweak focus...
Then I changed to my 3x, and did the R, & TF...
Then I stepped out of bounds. All I'd read said stacking would degrade the view something terrible. Well, I'm not afraid of terrible.
I've stepped into terrible while others ran away. So I stacked my 2x, and 3x together. Re-centered, and adjusted focus.
Wow!
And while the Son was enjoying the view, and the AVX was actually tracking, went and got the wife.
She got so excited she ran in to send out the Daughter-In-Law and watch the baby while she got to look....

Yes, the view degraded and dimmed. But it sure didn't degrade the excitement!
First time any of us have seen Saturn live through Earths shimmering atmosphere.

Glad to see you are back in the Vixen Saddle again!

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Thank you Sonny, the hiricane sure didn't knock the humidity out long after SHE left it was right back with a VENGENCE. hopefully my practice run gave me good settings for when the humidity goes BYE BYE and Mars isn't too far gone withdrawing.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Even if not Mars, there is always something to shoot for when everything comes together.

For all the other times, well, I call those practice.

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

I shot on m31 that night and 2 consecutive nights after and I've got it stacked , all I need to do is align the planes because they were shot different nights and process . I do need the practice after a 2month hiatus , it's especially good that since I tuned up the lxd55 the guiding is coming into play, I guess it just took time for the white grease to work it's way around. I was surprised when I was able to not just bring out one polar cap but, 2 polar regions . It's not that great but, it don't SUCK and I'm looking forward to those exceptional nights coming up.

Europa Loc: West Hills, CA

Very nice. The humidity should be gone soon. Looking forward to more pix.

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Thank you Brian , I have my settings so I don't have to waste any time taking a zillion subs just to get it right . Now , I only have to tweak it "Cruzin" through the Cosmos. My guiding has improved considerably , it's still not great but, it does allow longer subs with only 13 in the blue channel , 3 in Red and 5 Green frame dumps out of a 145 total. That was some good nights with the moon out.

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

I didn't mean to confuse you Brian , I also ran on m31 that night and that's what I was talking about. I'm going to do a mosaic of Andromeda and the 2 dwarf galaxies m32 and m110 , I think that would look awesome.

CraigFair Loc: Santa Maria, CA.

Very nicely done Ronnie, I guess you're ready.
Craig

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Thanks Craig , I love it when everything comes together and goes well. I was surprised that the 5x took , the heat and humidity was just a lil' lower , so I took the leap and away I went . No more can I shooty Mars this year , behind the trees.

northcoast42 Loc: Puget Sound, Washington

Nice image Ronnie! Even with the humidity...which hopefully just can't last much longer... you must be in Florida?

stepping beyond Loc: usa eastcoast

Northcoast 42 thank you , I'm just up the road a bit in N. Carolina and the weather went straight into Winter temperatures. All I need now is for this rain and clouds from the gulf hurricane to leave and it'll be on like a "pot of neckbones." It's muggy and buggy in the Summer in the Carolinas , it's got some nice skies where I live " Orange zone ".