M81/M82 GALAXY GROUP - M35/NGC2158 CLUSTERS

Hi all, I've been through a lot! of work with these two shots to show you. Both were taken under superb clear skies in Cavan last week, I *think* i'm getting the hang of this deep sky stuff:)

The first shot is of the M81-M82 galaxy group, I'm still a bit limited with the unguided shots for now, but this is 83 minutes overall of both these galaxies. I have learned a lot on the processing side, still more to do, but I'm happy for now with my little 80mm and what it can do.

www.webtreatz.com/gallery/displayimage.p...om&cat=10068&pos=-75

On Wednesday night I set my sights on a cluster I have always been so keen on to shoot for years, M35 and its faint visual neighbour NGC2158. This is a fabulous region of the Winter Milkyway, I had a few problems with tracking, my batteries were stretched with the cold.

www.webtreatz.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=22&pos=1

Both were processed to remove the vignetting I had since the 80ED is so widefield, but overall, I'm happy with the results.

Any comments - *bad especially* I will gladly take on board and learn from as the processing side is really tough!

Hope you like 'em

Keith..

Hi Keith,

Wow Well done you have got to grips very quickly with the DSI. Just goes to show if you put in the time you will get the results.
Really Really great work.

Ps'

GET A GUIDER

PPS,

Very nice processing BTW

Wonderful stuff Keith. I'd just echo Carl. Guiding is the next step up for you and given what your acheiving with unguided shots, I can't wait to see what you can do with guided imagery. The thing is that autoguiding will open up a whole new universe of possibilities for imaging targets and a far greater dynamic range for all targets and the great thing is that the complexity of autoguiding is often vastly overstated by people who make it out to be some sort of 'black art'. Something it most definitely is not. You dont even need any fancy scope to guide with your common or garden skylux will do just fine.

Consider a guider like the QHY5 which is really a joy to use and has a built in guide port so you lose all the complexity of USB adaptors and relay boxes etc. Just plugs straight into the CGE guide port. Webcams are just not worth the hassle for autoguiding. Doable if your on a budget but it will break your heart in the end. The other factor is rigidity. However you mount your guiding gear it must be absolutely and utterly rigid. You can make a side by side plate for the CGE (I can show you how if you like) for a lot less than you would buy in the shops. Whatever you decide to do, don't accept any flexure whatsoever.

Thanks for the comments lads, guiding is the next step of course, i had been looking at this set up

www.altairastro.com/product.php?productid=16253#review

I don't think it is too bad as far as the scope is concerned, I have no idea what the orion starshoot will do heartbreaker or not ??

I'll have a look at the qhy5, thanks for the tip Dave.

Keith.

Hi Keith,

The Orion Starshoot and the QHY5 are actually the same camera, just rebranded. That setup looks great. My only fear might be a bit of lateral flexure. It looks like only one bolt holding each ring to the piggybacked bar, so if the guidescope was on its side it might bend a little. If your even the slightest bit handy you could easily sort this with some bracing

IF

it turned out to be a problem. i.e. there is nothing wrong with this setup which could not be sorted easily. I'd say go for it.

Hi Dave, just to get back to you regarding the side by side plate if you don't mind. Are they easy to make? There is also the option of these two:

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...iner-Montierung.html

or the more expensive

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...3--double-mount.html

I would also have to get a Guide scope ring mounting bar for my current 80ED plus allowing for the new autoguider as posted earlier. I'm not sure if the mounting bars are 3 inches wide, so maybe that rules out the more expensive side by side plate.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Keith.