Full automation!

First successful fully automated run. Other than hitting the power buttons the scope ran itself- from unparking to parking at the end. A bright moon, so I stuck with a trusty favorite the Perseus double cluster through the more forgiving 320mm fl apo.

 

I will also be able to "delay start" when darkness comes late (like in June) or when a target doesn't rise until after bedtime. I haven't tried yet, but the goal is to also be able to run multiple targets as darkness allows. A rare clear winter night around here is about 18 hours long, enough for 3 full imaging runs.

 

My point, certainly, is not to let the thing run while I sit inside and eat potato chips, more to give the flexibilty to do other things without having to babysit the imaging. Other things could be visual telescoping, going to the park for the view to the south, or I guess sitting on the sofa and eating potato chips.

 

Equipment

 

Imaging Telescopes Or Lenses

Astro-Tech AT66ED

Imaging Cameras

QHYCCD QHY163C

Mounts

Celestron Omni CG-4

Accessories

Astro-Tech .8x Reducer/Field Flattener · OnStep Telescope Mount Goto Controller · Rigel Systems Stepper motor

Software

Adobe Photoshop · Aries Productions Astro Pixel Processor (APP) · Open PHD Guiding Project PHD2 · Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA)

 

Acquisition details

 

Dates:

Sept. 5, 2022

Frames:

161×120″(5h 22′)

Integration:

5h 22′

Avg. Moon age:

9.28 days

Avg. Moon phase:

69.64%

 

Basic astrometry details

 

Astrometry.net job: 6272151

 

RA center: 02h19m07s.2

 

DEC center: +57°06′36″

 

Pixel scale: 2.423 arcsec/pixel

 

Orientation: 113.026 degrees

 

Field radius: 1.918 degrees

Find images in the same area

 

Resolution: 4528x3462

 

File size: 22.9 MB

 

Data source: Backyard

Done