Al's Astrophotography Blog & Gallery
A few tidbits from a novice AP Wingnut
For a better, smoother background sky…. Dither if you can. So midway through last year, I stumbled on several YouTube videos touting the benefits of Dithering. I’d been living in my little world, just doing my AP, struggling with the usual demons (weather, wind, guiding, focus, etc.) and getting the usual results. I had no … Read more
I’ve never really done well with the data acquisition & processing steps needed for LRGB imaging. There are so many ways to fail due to the number of image sets (lights, flats, darks, etc.) each with their issues of filter alignment, focus, dust, reflections, and whatnot. So although I started with mono, I’ve done most … Read more
When we moved to Wenatchee in Eastern Washington, the thought was to put an observatory in the yard of wherever our home turned out to be. However, I found there was nearly as much light pollution in our new location as there was at our previous home over on the Seattle side of the Cascades. … Read more
With the land purchased, corners found, building site location set, the process of building an observatory and 2nd observing platform begins: First, we had to have a “driveway” cut in up to the observatory location. Getting the foundation for pier I (which is steel) done, and pier II is ready for concrete. My … Read more
I often read in Astrophotography forums about trouble with guiding in DEC. Folks put in the time to get a great polar alignment and even though only very small adjustments need to be made, the guider seems to have troubles… non-response, then overshoot, periodic corrections that seem to come too late and allow too much … Read more