20251203 Short Observation Session M27

The forecast is bad, but I still pulled out the S30 again.  

Zero setup time virtually.  I have a rain sensor outside, so tearing down is quick and simple as well.

The best telescope is the one that you can use most, the S30 is definitely a winner.

Planetary Nebula should be good target, as long as star clusters.

AI really saves a lot of time on planning, I set M27 the Dumbbell Nebula as the target.

With only a few minutes of stacking, colors are shown.  Below is around 1 hour of exposure:

Some more targets for this season: M57 the Ring Nebula, NGC 7293 the Helix Nebula, NGC 6543 The Cat's Eye Nebula.  

Let me try them out one by one.

20251202 Short Observation Session with only S30

Comet 2025 K1 Atlas 30s exposure for 2 hrs

NGC7789 20s exposure stacked for 1 hr, exposure lowered due to field rotation

C17 and C18 20s exposure stacked for 30 minutes

No edit, direct output.

20251125 Electronic focuser added

I started using my 85mm refractor for imaging in the last session.  We have clear sky again tonight so I inserted the electronic focuser in the imaging chain.  Autofocusing by the ASIAir is simple but it takes some a few minutes.  

The first result was bad, but then I do the whole thing once more and it comes out great

Not bad it seems and I will let it run for at least one or two hours, NGC6888 or the Crescent Nebula, or maybe even leave it for the rest of the session since I am rather busy.

The 85mm refractor was calculated to be 511mm.

The guidescope setup was about perfect, just a minor tweaking on the focuser will do the job, highly repeatable and that saves a lot of effort in the cold air outside. 

The S30 is going as well, there's simply no reason not to pull it out.

It's taking image of the Iris Nebula NGC7023 or the Caldwell 4 and I will probably leave it for the rest of the night.

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Some processed shots, I really have to study Siril.

I could see some artifacts after extreme stretching... need to investigate why, the CMOS sernor has not visible dust or marks or whatsoever.

Equipment Preparations

Part of the fun is to re-arrange the equipments to prepare future exploration.

On the next morning, I placed the whole motorised SCT focuser into the 85mm refractor via a SCT 2" nosepiece.

I found that it reaches focus without problem.  I can use autofocusing next time, expect better results.  The light pollution filter could also be attached to the 2" nosepiece.  

Quite elegant.  The 85mm refractor focuser could be used for rough focusing while the motorised one could be driven by the ASIAir for final fine tuning.  It could be great for adjustments when doing imaging, like switching target, thermal expansion or contraction during the session.

The whole SCT focuser could be plugged back to the SCT, simply plug and play.  Miuch easier than removing and re-installing the focusing motor.

I have also focused my guiding scope on distant object, fine tune and then locked the drawtube in a good position, minor tweaking could be done via the helical focuser.

I am planning to sell my Canon FD 300mm f2.8, I won't be using it any more.  Don't get me wrong, it is good when you don't want guiding.  300mm is moderate enough and f2.8 is fast enough for that situation, so the Herscules adapter with filter drawer will be up for sales too.

I will keep the Canon EF 200mm f2.8 however, for other type of photography, and also some wider field imaging, again when guiding is not required.

I have placed the SCT reducer on my Meade 8" for lower power observation, I would prefer that unless I do planet imaging.  I will try deep sky imaging with it later.

20251120 Deep sky imaging with a telescope

Finally took the plunge to use a real telescope for imaging.  I have been locking myself in using camera lenses, thinking that it's easier and faster (aperture).

This test shot blew my socks off.  The stars are so nicely taken, better than camera lenses.  This is not a real APO but it's not bad especially when compared with camera lenses.

Camera lenses are lighter and easier to operate, but a telescope could do more at the expense of more complicated setup, like more accurate polar alignment and to do guiding in order to have longer exposure.

After the imaging session, I did some planet observations with my daughter Almy using the 8" SCT, nice one.  The Rigel Quick Finder was way out of alignment.  I ended up using a distant lamp post for rough alignment, and then fine tune on the planet.

I spent little time in the preparation, which wasted some of my time in the cool weather.

My 85mm scope cannot reach focus without a diagonal or extension tube.  I went back and forth cooling off my fingers.

Before observation preparation: I tried to put on the motor focuser on the 85mm but the mounting plate is not matching so 

ZWO S30 First nights

Got a few nights to test this little piece of equipment.

Fantastic value!  It has autofocuser, wifi remote control box, built-in light pollution filter, and even a dew heater!  How can they put all these valuable stuff into just a single small box?

Using it is no brainer, just put it there and they will do all the job. 

I always say astronomy is about polar alignment, focusing and collimation.  You don't need to do any of these things!  Just put it outside and it's ready to go.

It's very portable, so it can be used for ad hoc events like comets, you can bring it any where, even camping trips.

It's not cooled, but since it's so easy and ready to use, you can gather more shots for stacking.  Scottish weather helps too.

Two unprocessed shots out of the box, the first one was stitched automagically.  The second one was direct.  

The best telescope is the one you can use most, this is undoutedly the best telescope.

The only downside is, you cannot put an eyepiece on it.

20251101 Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon again

 

Taken with a 533mc with a Canon 200mm f2.8, 120s exposure, I believe around ten frames stacked.

Processed the image taken on 2025/10/25, taken with a Canon 6D with a 200mm f2.8, 60s exposure ISO 1600, around 16 frames stacked.  I messed up with the color and ended up making it monochromatic.

20251025 Comet C/2025 A6 (LEMMON)

Finally got a clear night.

Armed with my Canon 18x50 IS, I got the comet without problem.

Finishing my quick dinner, pulled out my EQ mount and placed it on the pier, no time to do polar alignment again.

Started some 60s exposure with my Canon 6D.  This is a newly acquired camera after selling my DIY modified Canon 450D, guess what, it covered more than half of the cost of the 6D and this is my first full frame DSLR.

Canon 200mm f2.8 wide open:

Will process it later, now the same setup was slewed to M31 for some test shots.  I won't do long focal length stuff, an old full frame DSLR should do the job quite well in the cold Scottish winter.