B174

Still testing and tuning the Epsilon 130, I believe I have a pinched mirror due to over tightening the mirror clips. I also want to mask out the mirror clips to remove the reflections around the brighter stars so still work to do.This is just 3 hours in 180 second subs. I upped the gain to 100 and trialed using dark flats instead of darks. I ended up with a much cleaner stack than before so i might continue with gain 100 and gather some short exposures for the stars.Asi2600 through a Tak Epsilon 130 mounted on an AzEq6Processed in PI, APP and PS.Richard.

B174 by Richard Sweeney , on Flickr

As we spoke elsewhere, I know what bugs you about this one - but in truth it is only that big star that one might notice. I meant to ask...."using dark flats instead of darks".....would you not use both?

Kinch wrote: As we spoke elsewhere, I know what bugs you about this one - but in truth it is only that big star that one might notice. I meant to ask...."using dark flats instead of darks".....would you not use both?

As this sensor is so clean i tried using my master dark flat as a master dark. Flats pre calibrated with master dark flat. 
About the stars, I made a little foam mask that now sits between the mirror and mirror clips. It just sits a few mm beyond the clips and essentially masks them out. I do lose some aperture doing this, so it's just a trial. Effectively changes focal ratio from F/3.3 to F/3.44. 

Hi Richard, 

Many thanks for sharing your beautiful image with us. I very much enjoyed reading about how you produced it... Great stuff and keep them coming!

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

Until_then-Goodnight! wrote: Hi Richard, 

Many thanks for sharing your beautiful image with us. I very much enjoyed reading about how you produced it... Great stuff and keep them coming!

Clear skies, 

Darren. 

Thanks Darren, i must start putting more details in with my images.