Asteroid 372 Palma crossing Andromeda

I can't recall where I read this crossing was
coming up but I knew I wanted to get some kind of shot of it.
So, due to;
A. Our lack of regular clear skies &
B. My lack of a Takahashi / SBig / Paramount
I rented time on the GRAS 020 scope in New Mexico.
The plan was to take a shot of the Galaxy
each night of the crossing at the same time & stack the results.
So I took a 10 min exposure each night (morning) at 1AM
The GRAS network uses .FITS files
so there was a bit of a learning curve involved to
be able to open, calibrate & process the raw images
to get them anywhere near a recognisable image.
(these remote scopes have come a long way from
the earlier set-up's - I was surprised at just how much
control over them you have, aside from
some basic protection parameters you have
basically full control for the time you are driving it)
Anyway,
So here is the final image,
It's a stack of 6 x 10min subs from each night.
processed in DSS, Maxim DL & PS CS3

i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k562/Frankryanjr/photo.jpg

and I'm not sure if this will work but
here is an animated Gif of the images to
show the Asteroid moving.

i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k562/Frankr...singandromedagif.gif

Frank - the animation works fine and looks good.

Aside from the asteroid, its a fine image of the Andromeda Galaxy.

I'm curious as to what "DSS" is.

Thanks Dave,
it's Deep Sky Stacker.

So now I'm curious as to why you used DSS seeing as MaximDL would have done the job?

Actually, MaximDL would also do pretty much everything PS CS would do (except the add-on text).

I'm guessing that its familiarity with the software?

Are you getting the asteroid bug?

Exactly right Dave,
It's a bit round the house way of
doing it but basicslly I used Max DL to
open the .FITS files and use the Digital Development
tool to stretch the values.
Then saved each image as a Bitmap.
Used DSS to stack the 6 images
and then used PS to tweak the levels, colour balance,
and whatever else then
added star spikes (my own brush tool)
and text.

Maxim DL is a top drawer prog and I'm in
the middle of getting to grips with all it can do.
So *someday* when I have my own set up
I'll be fimilliar with the tools.
I actually find the GRAS network quite comprehensive
and a brilliant learning tool.
Some of the scopes / camera / filter / mounts
are just incredable.
wiki.global-rent-a-scope.com/GRAS_Telescopes.ashx

As for the asteroid bug,
I don't have the patience (or gear) for it!

I'm impressed with that Frank.

Remote rented scopes strike me as being a really neat idea.

I concur with Dave - even disregarding the excellent time-sequence asteroid transit - it's a very nice shot of Andromeda.

Mark C.