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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

NGC 253/Helix Nebula/M45

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First light for my new “old” ES127mm and for my new Stellarmate Pi. NGC 253 is pretty much done as far as post goes. I could use more data. It’s pretty low in the horizon for me. Helix and M45 aren’t done but this is what I have so far. 5.3 hours for NGC253, 3.2 hours for Helix and 2.3 hours for M45. ASI1600MC-COOL, moonlite focuser, ioptron iEQ45 pro. I used the pi for running the server then use an Ethernet cable and an old MacBook running Kstars/ekos. M45 was completely automated! First time for me! I was in deep slumber when it slewed, focused, platesolved, guided and captured!



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Last edit: 5 years 4 months ago by Wes Creech.
5 years 4 months ago #31348

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Beautiful images. I particularly like the brown hue in the Merope Nebula. Well done! And congrats on having had a successful fully automated session! This is where Ekos and INDI prove their value!

If you don’t mind me asking, are you sure the backfocus of the camera is correct? Perhaps this is due to the low resolution of my iPad, but it looks like the stars in the corners of all three images are slightly elongated and are radiating away from the center. You may need to add a tiny bit between the corrector and the sensor but once more this could be due to the representation on my iPad.


Clear skies, Wouter
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5 years 4 months ago #31349

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Thanks. I’m glad you mentioned that. I definitely do not know if my spacing is correct. I was an ES 0.7x reducer and I saw that the correct spacing should be 55mm. I don’t know if this includes or excludes the small spacing from the should to the glass or what so I just used 48.5mm worth of spacers and the sensor back focus is 6.5mm so that equals 55mm. I don’t know if I should try more or less space or what. I definitely don’t get a perfectly flat field. That much I know. Any thoughts are appreciated!


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5 years 4 months ago #31350

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I may not be the right person to ask advice about spacings because I have had a bad experience myself. According to the vendor the backfocus was 55 mm. I am using a DSLR camera and with the T2 bayonet on it, the distance from the flattener to the sensor was exactly 55 mm. However, the stars in my pics radiated away as well. So I tried 4 mm and that still wasn’t enough. I spent three nights increasing the spacing with steps of 0.5 mm (no kidding, I really did that) only to find that I needed to add 24.5 mm (!!!) to get the correct spacing. And I am still not satisfied since the stars are not completely sharp in the corners. Oh well, I hope you won’t have to go through such an exercise.

From your comment it looks to me that you are on the 55 mm but I really think it is not enough. How’s your German? See

dutch-backyard-astro.nl/Div/Abstandseins..._bei_Korrektoren.pdf

The first image (Bild A) shows what the stars look like if the spacing is too large, the second image (Bild B) when it is too small.
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5 years 4 months ago #31352

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Those are some outstanding photos!
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5 years 4 months ago #31368

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Thanks!


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5 years 4 months ago #31386

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Replied by Eric on topic Re:NGC 253/Helix Nebula/M45

Awesome images!

-Eric
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5 years 4 months ago #31437

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