First autoguiding attempt

I finally took the plunge and tried to take longer exposures using autoguiding on the CGE mount. I connected a DFK camera to the back on the C11 and took the exposure through a piggybacked Megrez 72mm. The phd software worked well first time although I struggled to find focus and the camera also struggled to find guide stars . I think I need a dedicated guide camera that is a bit more sensitive. Here is the result of my first attempt. I only managed 6 x 7 minute subs before the weather closed in. I think the eggy stats on the top left are due to the field curvature. I am using a skywatcher field flattener.

farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5066151536_ae4cf654ae_b.jpg

Anyone using the Orion Solitare autoguider?

John - a very nice image. Looks like your foray into autoguiding went very well. I've heard that it can be a nightmare.

Odd how the eggy stars seem to only be on the left hand side...

Hi Dave

all my images with the WO72 are like that for some reason. The field flattner really helps but does not correct for the very top left. It may be the scope itself. A small price to pay as the scope was great value at under 300 Euro and works very well.

Nice images John, have you treid pushing the image through photoshop to push up the reds ?

This is the problem with processing with an older laptop with an average screen - everything looks fine until you post it The reds look OK to me but its probably the laptop I am using.

Nice image, I use an Ian King 70mm scope with the skywatcher FF and get the same thing happening up in the top left of all my images, I thought recently that I might have been out of collimation but not so sure now, It may be just the combination of a ~70mm scope and the Skywatcher FF.