The Little Scorpion

NGC 1342 in Perseus

 

My first image since rebuilding my scope mounting with new rings and mounting plate. The starfinder 8" uses a non standard size tube, so I reshaped a pair of standard rings and remounted my guidescope on a reinforcing aluminum rail. Took some time and made a mess of aluminum shavings, but it worked!

 

The previous system, in use for the last 6 years, involved rubber straps.

 

I still am getting some flexure, but it has been reduced by 90%, enough that I won't be opening up the OAG can of worms.

 

 

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Imaging telescopes or lenses:Meade Starfinder 8

 

Imaging cameras:QHYCCD 163m

 

Mounts:Losmandy GM-8

 

Guiding telescopes or lenses:MEADE 50mm Finder Guidescope

 

Guiding cameras:ZWO ASI120MM

 

Software:NINA Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy , Open Guiding PHD2 Guiding , Astro Pixel Processor , Adobe Photoshop CS4 Photoshop CS4

 

Filters:Blue , Green , Red , Orion SkyGlow Imaging Filter

 

Accessory:Rigel Systems Focuser , Baader MPCC coma corrector

 

Dates:Sept. 27, 2020

 

Frames:

Blue: 45x60"

Green: 45x60"

Red: 45x60" (gain: 120.00) 0C

Orion SkyGlow Imaging Filter: 220x60"

 

Integration: 5.9 hours

 

Darks: ~200

 

Bias: ~200

 

Avg. Moon age: 10.74 days

 

Avg. Moon phase: 82.75%

Basic astrometry details

 

Astrometry.net job: 3891944

 

RA center: 3h 31' 40"

 

DEC center: +37° 22' 44"

 

Pixel scale: 0.640 arcsec/pixel

 

Orientation: 343.413 degrees

 

Field radius: 0.551 degrees

 

Resolution: 4864x3834

 

Data source: Backyard

Done