Window opens on M33

Howdy Kieran,

This is a great drift align program if you are using a webcam. I used it a couple of times but now use a cheap reticle EP as I found it faster (got lazy with this as it takes some time & the clear skies often go before you're finished)

wcs.ruthner.at/index-en.htm

This is the best site I've seen on drift aligning & also has a drift simulator that you can play with when it's cloudy. Takes the confusion out of it.

Tutorial www.petesastrophotography.com/index.html...al/introduction.html

Simulator
www.petesastrophotography.com/tutorial/guidingsim.html

Trev

The scope permanently mounted and I was using an M7C to drift align using astroart and the guiding window to watch for drift but if any other software is easier then all links are appreciated. I should say that my previous aborted(due to clouds) attempt at drift aligning the LX was done without the ed80 piggybacked. The addition of the ed80 may have cause some flexure and knocked off my previous effort.

I will check out the links Trevor. Thanks

One thing I have to do is put a little bit of tipex on the wedge adjustment knobs and then write E W N S so that I remember which way I was turning these. Kept forgetting last time.

Kieran

Kieran - to avoid the utter frustration of drift aligning when i should have been imaging, I did it step-wise.

I kicked-off on a full-moon night and spent about 90 minutes fiddling about and ended up getting the mount aligned so images I took didn't rail for about 2 minutes.

I then gave it another 90 minutes the next clear night - this got me 3 minute untrailed images.

I had another bash a week or two later for about an hour and managed to get no trailing after five minutes worth of exposure.

I had a final bash another few weeks later and got an image of 10 minutes duration (no autoguiding) with barely perceptible trailing.

Rather than get frustrated (through tiredness) spending a whole evening drift aligning, try this method. And at the moment of course, clear skies are a real premium...

FWIW

Dave

Cheers Dave,

I think I will do it your way. I can live with the shorter exposures for a while.

Kieran

Lovely shot Kieran, I can but aspire!

Although this is a big DSO with an apparent diameter larger than that of the full moon, it is quite faint and difficult to capture well. This image is excellent with lots of details and very good stars.

Certainly a keeper!