First Light

[beren]

Spent Saturday night trying out a CCD camera I have just got, Its { older model}a Starlight Express MX7C self guiding one shot color type. I set up my CG5asgt mount with 80mm ed refractor and just experimented with auto-guiding settings {through Astroart 3} and capture. Looks like a there's a steep learning curve but managed to get some images although I'm still trying to work out how to get decent colored versions :duh: and I was having trouble with the auto-guiding because of the strong wind gusts on the night .Wasn't sure about posting the attached images but you have to start somewhere :Chessy_Smile: all 4 min one shoot with no dark frames and unfortunately B/W

[Dusty]

Awesome start Stewie !!!
Looking forward to more.

:welldone:

[beren]

Thanks Dusty :thumbsupmate: I'm eager to get out again but hardly no sleep fri/sat night ill need the week to get ready for next weeend :duh:

[Draig]

Hi Stewie,

Lovely photos. You even managed to photo one of my favourite galaxies (Centauri A).

Where do you go to shot these?

CHeers Colin

[Radar]

If that is first light for that camera Stu, I can't wait to see what you get in the coming weeks and months.

Were you shooting under light pollution?

4 mins exposure time is amazing. Filum would take ages for the same result.

:cool:

[beren]

:thumbsupmate: Thanks for the comments fellas , sorry for the delay in getting back...shots where taken in good o'ld suburban Perth with the typical light pollution .Tried again Wednesday , things started well had polar alignment in the bag within 20 min but had trouble getting the autoguide to work well, had balance issues ....nevermind try again soon

[Draig]

HI Beren,

I know how you feel, Spend all that time polar aligning (wouldn't be nice to have a pole star to align on :yesplease: ) and then have to balance or rebalance :crazy: .

Any way hope you have better luck this weekend.

Cheers Colin

[Mick]

Hey nice work mate I've only just seen your images, awesome effort for first light. Hope you have a good new moon weekend, our club was looking at traveling to our dark site at the dam tonight but the weather has turned on us.

[Draig]

Hope you have a good new moon weekend, our club was looking at traveling to our dark site at the dam tonight but the weather has turned on us.

Hi Mike,

Yeah weather is turning on us over here as well :crazy: ... ah well there is always next weekend.

Cheers Colin

[h0ughy]

nice work Stuart. Curious as to why you are now heading down the CCD path, your DSLR work was getting great, or was this the plan all along?

[beren]

Gday Houghy , opportunity came up to obtain one, hopefully I can get it to help with guiding the DSLR and manage to obtain decent images in the future on its own :eartoear: