Post by robrj on Dec 9, 2016 3:43:07 GMT
I took my Lodestar X2 for it's first run last night. For my first target, I did the CN target of the Month for November 2016. It was ARP 145.
I just put an Optolong CLS-CCD filter and had my Antares 0.7x focal reducer on the Newt.
This was 9x60s and brightened with the Auto button in Photoshop (curves and levels) to make it more like it was on the screen.
You can make out the donut shaped galaxy.
Next I tried some multispectral capability. I don't have an easy way to change the filter other than taking the camera out and swapping it. I put a parfocal ring on the camera so it would insert back into the same place. But I also had to rotate it so that the image was close to what it was before I took it out. My technique was to examine a close up of something on the screen in the Focus tool (which has crosshairs), then swap out the filter and put it back as close to possible to what it was. It doesn't affect the stack to focus so it worked out pretty well for a manual step. I had some dew that was making it difficult to get focus. I tried a SHO type exposure of 10s x15 for each color channel. For OIII I was only able to get 10 stacks at 10s but I managed to continue with the other two channels successfully. A filter wheel would make it a little less labor intensive so I bought a cheap 3 filter wheel off Amazon for $30. I figure if it's junk, I haven't invested too much into it. Plus I have a newtonian so it will give me a chance to try it out to see how well it works.
Here is the Eskimo Nebula in SHO. I think it might be better to try it without the focal reducer next time as it's a bit small.
Those were the only objects I captured with the Lodestar last night. I was fussing around with other stuff like Astrotortilla for plate solving but it was giving me problems. Plus guiding wasn't working right.
'
I just put an Optolong CLS-CCD filter and had my Antares 0.7x focal reducer on the Newt.
This was 9x60s and brightened with the Auto button in Photoshop (curves and levels) to make it more like it was on the screen.
You can make out the donut shaped galaxy.
Next I tried some multispectral capability. I don't have an easy way to change the filter other than taking the camera out and swapping it. I put a parfocal ring on the camera so it would insert back into the same place. But I also had to rotate it so that the image was close to what it was before I took it out. My technique was to examine a close up of something on the screen in the Focus tool (which has crosshairs), then swap out the filter and put it back as close to possible to what it was. It doesn't affect the stack to focus so it worked out pretty well for a manual step. I had some dew that was making it difficult to get focus. I tried a SHO type exposure of 10s x15 for each color channel. For OIII I was only able to get 10 stacks at 10s but I managed to continue with the other two channels successfully. A filter wheel would make it a little less labor intensive so I bought a cheap 3 filter wheel off Amazon for $30. I figure if it's junk, I haven't invested too much into it. Plus I have a newtonian so it will give me a chance to try it out to see how well it works.
Here is the Eskimo Nebula in SHO. I think it might be better to try it without the focal reducer next time as it's a bit small.
Those were the only objects I captured with the Lodestar last night. I was fussing around with other stuff like Astrotortilla for plate solving but it was giving me problems. Plus guiding wasn't working right.
'