Cluster's last stand

Couldn't resist...

Its been a while since I've posted any images. The last few months have been spent wrestling with new equipment and software.

On the software front, I have to say that ACP rocks. I've set up a few runs that have taken in all the AOP galaxies (for SN searches) as well as periodically swinging over to a few asteroids for astrometry purposes (inluding a newly discovered PHA). And it takes it all in its stride. I'm at the point now where I'm confident enough to leave the system running while I go and do something else.

On the hardware front, I've been trying to refine polar alignment and periodic error. However these were confounded by poor collimation. I've sorted that out now (visually) but it needs to be better. Bob's knobs are on the way so hopefully that will help along with CCD Inspector. Until then, I'll make do with current polar alignment and a PE of 0.6 arcsec peak to peak.

As far as the Proline goes, the horrible fringing seems to have gone. But I've been getting the reappearance of bright columns. They disappear in a stack and really have no impact on astrometry so I'm not going to sweat it.

Whilst I have taken some darks and flats, I've thrown them all out 'til I get the hardware fine tuned. So, the images you see below are uncalibrated (other than alignment). No darks, no flats. So, I'm pretty pleased with results and I hope you enjoy them.

Finally, I managed to grab a very fast moving Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA) of interest to the MPC. The ephemeris was a fair bit out (a few arcminutes) since this was a new discovery. So, you can all sleep soundly in your beds whilst J65 digs out these life-changing rocks - well at least you can sleep soundly knowing pretty much when its going to hit...

For your interest, J65 has now contributed 419 astrometric measurements to the MPC.

Enjoy!

Dave

M3 Globular Cluster

M51 Whirpool Galaxy

Great work Dave. Super images considering the brightness of the sky.

Hence taking them after 1am...

Roll on the autumn

Hi Dave,

Two class images you have there. They have to be your best to date M51 is fantastic. are you going to add colour to them.

Carl - I thought the same.

I guess the reason is that I really haven't (until now) realised just how much fine-tuning you really need to do to your system to get it working optimally. Of course, good kit helps but it really does need to be tuned like a F1 car! And I've still a way to go to to really pimp my setup.

As for colour, I'm not set up for that yet. My current filter set consistes of research grade BVRI filters in preparation for starting photometry in the autumn. I have three spare filter spots (well, two - I have to purchase a clear filter) That said, I'm going to figure out wjhat filter I need to get to complete a rudimentary RGB set - I don't think the BR in BVRI as the same as Rand B in RGB. But I could be wrong.

As a diversion from astrometry and photometry plus the odd SN search, I'll try and shoot some colour images. I might need some help processing them though.

By the way, I was more impressed with M3 even though 51 was pretty good

Cheers for the feedback
Dave

Hi Dave,

This is how i learned how to combine LRGB.

www.waid-observatory.com/article-LRGB.html

its very good