https://skyhound.com/forums/ Mon, 18 May 2026 07:41:17 +0000 MyBB https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2897 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:44:53 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2897
Whilst setting up to attempt to record the faint Globular Cluster UKS 1, I used HP 1 as a warmup target to get all the gear set up, aligned and calibrated. Both clusters were found in ST4 Imaging via the Database Power Search.

R.A.  17h31m05.0s Dec. -29°58'54" (2000) in Ophiuchus
Magnitude: 12.50
Size: 1.2'
 
Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
ASI294MM Pro Camera, 4.63u Pixels.
 
A Plate Solve reported a FL of 2135mm (F10.1) at 0.447 arcsec/pixel.

• L: 60x60 secs
  
• R; 20x30 secs
  
• G; 20x30 secs
  
• B; 20x30 secs
  

 
Discovered by Dufay, Berthier and Morignat in 1954. Independently rediscovered by van den Bergh and Hagen in 1975. Globular Cluster HP 1 was discovered by Dufay et.al. (1954), and sometimes referred to as "HP" for the Haute-Provence Observatory where the discovery occurred (e.g., Sawyer Hogg 1959). This designation was mutated to HP 1 as more globular clusters were discovered at that observatory in the 1960s by Terzan.

Until recently, it was thought that HP 1 is situated close to the Galactic Centre, but recent estimates have put it as far as about 20,000 light years beyond, to a total distance of 46,000 light years from us.

Further information can also be found here.

http://cdsportal.u-strasbg.fr/?target=ESO%20455-11

http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id...BD300F75B1

I have included a DSS Coloured image from Aladin Lite.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis


  HP 1 LRGB Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 384.41 KB / Downloads: 9)


  HP-1-DSS-Layer.jpg (Size: 196.48 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]>
Whilst setting up to attempt to record the faint Globular Cluster UKS 1, I used HP 1 as a warmup target to get all the gear set up, aligned and calibrated. Both clusters were found in ST4 Imaging via the Database Power Search.

R.A.  17h31m05.0s Dec. -29°58'54" (2000) in Ophiuchus
Magnitude: 12.50
Size: 1.2'
 
Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
ASI294MM Pro Camera, 4.63u Pixels.
 
A Plate Solve reported a FL of 2135mm (F10.1) at 0.447 arcsec/pixel.

• L: 60x60 secs
  
• R; 20x30 secs
  
• G; 20x30 secs
  
• B; 20x30 secs
  

 
Discovered by Dufay, Berthier and Morignat in 1954. Independently rediscovered by van den Bergh and Hagen in 1975. Globular Cluster HP 1 was discovered by Dufay et.al. (1954), and sometimes referred to as "HP" for the Haute-Provence Observatory where the discovery occurred (e.g., Sawyer Hogg 1959). This designation was mutated to HP 1 as more globular clusters were discovered at that observatory in the 1960s by Terzan.

Until recently, it was thought that HP 1 is situated close to the Galactic Centre, but recent estimates have put it as far as about 20,000 light years beyond, to a total distance of 46,000 light years from us.

Further information can also be found here.

http://cdsportal.u-strasbg.fr/?target=ESO%20455-11

http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id...BD300F75B1

I have included a DSS Coloured image from Aladin Lite.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis


  HP 1 LRGB Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 384.41 KB / Downloads: 9)


  HP-1-DSS-Layer.jpg (Size: 196.48 KB / Downloads: 9) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2895 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 23:15:50 -0400 theskyhound]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2895
Here is the premiere video. If you like the idea, please consider sharing the link.

]]>
Here is the premiere video. If you like the idea, please consider sharing the link.

]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2894 Sat, 22 Jul 2023 21:33:49 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2894
I managed to record a dim trace of UKS 1 along with the more recently discovered VVV CL001. These are very faint bulge Globular Clusters in Sagittarius, heavily obscured by interstellar dust, making optical observations very difficult.

Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener.

ASI294M Pro camera, Bortle 6 skies.
·       L: 60X60 secs
·       R: 20X60 secs
·       G: 20X60 secs
·       B: 20X60 secs
·       IR742: 30x60 secs
·       IR807: 20X60 secs

Just 158 globular clusters were known to be in the Milky Way until the European Southern Observatory's VISTA survey telescope, at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, located two faint new ones, called VVV CL001 and VVV CL002. (2011). However, an Australian Amateur Astronomer (Steve Crouch) did report recording what was to become VVV CL001 sometime in 2010, before the professional discovery was announced.

Astronomers have suggested that VVV CL001 is gravitationally tied to UKS 1, which could make these two objects the Milky Way's first binary globular cluster pair, ESO officials said. But this could simply be an effect of the telescope's line of sight, which could be distorting the true distance between the clusters.

Since interstellar dust absorbs and reddens starlight, this newly found pair is quite faint, which explains why they have been hidden for so long. Up until a few years ago, the UKS 1 cluster, which was discovered in 1980, was the dimmest known globular cluster in the Milky Way. However, it easily outshines those found by VISTA.

I have included a PanSTARRS image to show the location of these faint GC’s.

My image is the one that does not have the blown out brighter stars.

Cheers
 
Dennis


  UKS 1 LRGB IR807 Rot180 Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 392.56 KB / Downloads: 8)


  PanSTARRS DR1 Photo.jpg (Size: 348.44 KB / Downloads: 6) ]]>
I managed to record a dim trace of UKS 1 along with the more recently discovered VVV CL001. These are very faint bulge Globular Clusters in Sagittarius, heavily obscured by interstellar dust, making optical observations very difficult.

Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener.

ASI294M Pro camera, Bortle 6 skies.
·       L: 60X60 secs
·       R: 20X60 secs
·       G: 20X60 secs
·       B: 20X60 secs
·       IR742: 30x60 secs
·       IR807: 20X60 secs

Just 158 globular clusters were known to be in the Milky Way until the European Southern Observatory's VISTA survey telescope, at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, located two faint new ones, called VVV CL001 and VVV CL002. (2011). However, an Australian Amateur Astronomer (Steve Crouch) did report recording what was to become VVV CL001 sometime in 2010, before the professional discovery was announced.

Astronomers have suggested that VVV CL001 is gravitationally tied to UKS 1, which could make these two objects the Milky Way's first binary globular cluster pair, ESO officials said. But this could simply be an effect of the telescope's line of sight, which could be distorting the true distance between the clusters.

Since interstellar dust absorbs and reddens starlight, this newly found pair is quite faint, which explains why they have been hidden for so long. Up until a few years ago, the UKS 1 cluster, which was discovered in 1980, was the dimmest known globular cluster in the Milky Way. However, it easily outshines those found by VISTA.

I have included a PanSTARRS image to show the location of these faint GC’s.

My image is the one that does not have the blown out brighter stars.

Cheers
 
Dennis


  UKS 1 LRGB IR807 Rot180 Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 392.56 KB / Downloads: 8)


  PanSTARRS DR1 Photo.jpg (Size: 348.44 KB / Downloads: 6) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2876 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 01:49:02 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2876  
This is an image of that Quasar, PMN J1451-1512, Mag 19.14, Redshift (z): 4.76, Light Time: 13.0 Gyr (22 x 240 sec exposures) taken with my Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5 and QHY268M from my suburban skies in Brisbane (Bortle 6 to 7).
 
PMN J1451-1512
Quasar
R.A.  14h51m47.1s Dec.: -15°12'20" (2000) in Libra
Magnitude: 19.10 R
Redshift (z): 4.76
Light Time: 13.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2023 Jun 15  GMT+10:
Apparent RA:  14h53m05.4s, Apparent Dec: -15°18'10"
 
Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5
QHY 268 M Pro Bin 2x2
Thurs 15th June 2023 10:02pm to 11:41pm AEST
2023-06-15:T12:02 to 13:41 UT
22 x 240 sec exposures
 
I understand that the parameter 13Giga Years is a measurement of how long it has taken for the light from the distant Quasar to reach the Earth. I also understand that the current estimate for the age of the Universe is in the range of 13.7 to 13.80 billion years.
 
I have attached a professional observatory image (colour) from Aladin Lite (PanSTARRS), marking the location of the Quasar with a red cross.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis


  Quasar PMN J1451 1512 Text Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 471.78 KB / Downloads: 10)


  PanSTARRS.jpg (Size: 166.44 KB / Downloads: 10) ]]>  
This is an image of that Quasar, PMN J1451-1512, Mag 19.14, Redshift (z): 4.76, Light Time: 13.0 Gyr (22 x 240 sec exposures) taken with my Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5 and QHY268M from my suburban skies in Brisbane (Bortle 6 to 7).
 
PMN J1451-1512
Quasar
R.A.  14h51m47.1s Dec.: -15°12'20" (2000) in Libra
Magnitude: 19.10 R
Redshift (z): 4.76
Light Time: 13.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2023 Jun 15  GMT+10:
Apparent RA:  14h53m05.4s, Apparent Dec: -15°18'10"
 
Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5
QHY 268 M Pro Bin 2x2
Thurs 15th June 2023 10:02pm to 11:41pm AEST
2023-06-15:T12:02 to 13:41 UT
22 x 240 sec exposures
 
I understand that the parameter 13Giga Years is a measurement of how long it has taken for the light from the distant Quasar to reach the Earth. I also understand that the current estimate for the age of the Universe is in the range of 13.7 to 13.80 billion years.
 
I have attached a professional observatory image (colour) from Aladin Lite (PanSTARRS), marking the location of the Quasar with a red cross.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis


  Quasar PMN J1451 1512 Text Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 471.78 KB / Downloads: 10)


  PanSTARRS.jpg (Size: 166.44 KB / Downloads: 10) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2818 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:09:37 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2818
On that list I found BTC40 J1429+011 listed at Magnitude: 19.40 I, so I thought I’d fit my IR Pass IR742 filter and see if I could record this Quasar. An on-line search indicated the following:

SIMBAD Basic data :
[VV2006] J142926.5+011954 -- Quasar
ICRS coord. (ep=J2000): 14 29 26.4254653128 +01 19 53.572666764 (Optical)
B 24.55
V 22.53
G 20.579714
u (AB) 23.63
g (AB) 24.04
r (AB) 21.121
i (AB) 19.731
z (AB) 19.578

Although I could not hope to record objects at mag 23 or 24, I figured I might be in with a chance at i=19.731 using my IR742 Filter.

SkyTools 4 showed this Quasar with a Redshift (z): 4.84 and Light Time: 13.0 Gyr.

IMAGING DATA

• I captured 60x60 sec exposures.
  
• Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
  
• Tak x0.8 Reducer
  
• ZWO ASI294MM Pro Camera
  
• Bin 2x2 (3126x2088 Pixels)
  
• IR Pass Filter IR742.
  
• Suburban Bortle 6/7 skies.
  

After Calibrating, Aligning and Stacking the frames, using averted vision and knowing the pre-conceived position of BTC40 J1429+011, I could just detect a faint smudge where the Quasar was meant to be, but I wouldn’t have bet the farm on it.

So, I had a fascinating journey into the universe of on-line Professional Resources and using SIMBAD and Aladin Lite, I managed to find a set of reference images which showed that my Quasar was indeed a “ghost”, an imaging artefact that had been amplified through image processing techniques such as mirco-contrast enhancement and deconvolution.

Oh well, for one brief moment I felt like I had nailed it, but it was not to be.

I have included the following images:

• Full FOV showing a 1600x1600 crop overlay
  
• My inverted 1600x1600 crop showing the “ghost” position of the Quasar.
  
• An enlarged composite showing the offset between the actual position and my "ghost" object.
  

Astrometry.Net Results for the 1600x1600 inverted crop.

• Center (RA, Dec): (217.333, 1.368)
  
• Center (RA, hms): 14h 29m 20.033s
  
• Center (Dec, dms): +01° 22' 03.673"
  
• Size: 11.7 x 11.7 arcmin
  
• Radius: 0.138 deg
  
• Pixel scale: 0.439 arcsec/pixel
  
• Orientation: Up is 359.9 degrees E of N
  

A composite image from Aladin Lite overlaid on my up-sample image showing the offset between the real Quasar and my candidate. Even though this offset is small, it is significant that all other objects faithfully line up with no offset.

Such is life.

Cheers

Dennis


  FOV Resample to show ROI 1600.jpg (Size: 142.1 KB / Downloads: 7)


  Quasar BTC40 J1429 011 Crop 1600 Inverted.jpg (Size: 550.34 KB / Downloads: 8)


  Quasar BTC40 J1429 011 Crop 1600 Upscaled Comparison.jpg (Size: 374.15 KB / Downloads: 6) ]]>
On that list I found BTC40 J1429+011 listed at Magnitude: 19.40 I, so I thought I’d fit my IR Pass IR742 filter and see if I could record this Quasar. An on-line search indicated the following:

SIMBAD Basic data :
[VV2006] J142926.5+011954 -- Quasar
ICRS coord. (ep=J2000): 14 29 26.4254653128 +01 19 53.572666764 (Optical)
B 24.55
V 22.53
G 20.579714
u (AB) 23.63
g (AB) 24.04
r (AB) 21.121
i (AB) 19.731
z (AB) 19.578

Although I could not hope to record objects at mag 23 or 24, I figured I might be in with a chance at i=19.731 using my IR742 Filter.

SkyTools 4 showed this Quasar with a Redshift (z): 4.84 and Light Time: 13.0 Gyr.

IMAGING DATA

• I captured 60x60 sec exposures.
  
• Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
  
• Tak x0.8 Reducer
  
• ZWO ASI294MM Pro Camera
  
• Bin 2x2 (3126x2088 Pixels)
  
• IR Pass Filter IR742.
  
• Suburban Bortle 6/7 skies.
  

After Calibrating, Aligning and Stacking the frames, using averted vision and knowing the pre-conceived position of BTC40 J1429+011, I could just detect a faint smudge where the Quasar was meant to be, but I wouldn’t have bet the farm on it.

So, I had a fascinating journey into the universe of on-line Professional Resources and using SIMBAD and Aladin Lite, I managed to find a set of reference images which showed that my Quasar was indeed a “ghost”, an imaging artefact that had been amplified through image processing techniques such as mirco-contrast enhancement and deconvolution.

Oh well, for one brief moment I felt like I had nailed it, but it was not to be.

I have included the following images:

• Full FOV showing a 1600x1600 crop overlay
  
• My inverted 1600x1600 crop showing the “ghost” position of the Quasar.
  
• An enlarged composite showing the offset between the actual position and my "ghost" object.
  

Astrometry.Net Results for the 1600x1600 inverted crop.

• Center (RA, Dec): (217.333, 1.368)
  
• Center (RA, hms): 14h 29m 20.033s
  
• Center (Dec, dms): +01° 22' 03.673"
  
• Size: 11.7 x 11.7 arcmin
  
• Radius: 0.138 deg
  
• Pixel scale: 0.439 arcsec/pixel
  
• Orientation: Up is 359.9 degrees E of N
  

A composite image from Aladin Lite overlaid on my up-sample image showing the offset between the real Quasar and my candidate. Even though this offset is small, it is significant that all other objects faithfully line up with no offset.

Such is life.

Cheers

Dennis


  FOV Resample to show ROI 1600.jpg (Size: 142.1 KB / Downloads: 7)


  Quasar BTC40 J1429 011 Crop 1600 Inverted.jpg (Size: 550.34 KB / Downloads: 8)


  Quasar BTC40 J1429 011 Crop 1600 Upscaled Comparison.jpg (Size: 374.15 KB / Downloads: 6) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2812 Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:32:16 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2812
One of these was BR 1202-0725 in Virgo with z = 4.69

Summary of Quasar details from ST4 Imaging:
BR 1202-0725, Quasar, aka Q1202-0725
R.A.  12h05m23.1s Dec.: -07°42'32" (2000) in Virgo
Magnitude: 18.70 R
Redshift (z): 4.69
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2023 Apr 9  GMT+10:
Apparent RA:  12h06m35.3s, Apparent Dec: -07°50'23"

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer
QHY268M Pro camera 53x60 sec exposures

To pinpoint the location, along with the DSS Download from within ST4, I also used a reference image from a paper titled “ISO observations of the dusty quasar BR 1202-0725” at:

ISO observations of the dusty quasar BR 1202-0725 | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

From the Bortle 6/7 skies of suburban Brisbane, I was able to record stars beyond mag 20.

Cheers

Dennis


  Quasar BR 1202 0725 DBE NoiseXT BlurXT Labels Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 401.9 KB / Downloads: 8) ]]>
One of these was BR 1202-0725 in Virgo with z = 4.69

Summary of Quasar details from ST4 Imaging:
BR 1202-0725, Quasar, aka Q1202-0725
R.A.  12h05m23.1s Dec.: -07°42'32" (2000) in Virgo
Magnitude: 18.70 R
Redshift (z): 4.69
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2023 Apr 9  GMT+10:
Apparent RA:  12h06m35.3s, Apparent Dec: -07°50'23"

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer
QHY268M Pro camera 53x60 sec exposures

To pinpoint the location, along with the DSS Download from within ST4, I also used a reference image from a paper titled “ISO observations of the dusty quasar BR 1202-0725” at:

ISO observations of the dusty quasar BR 1202-0725 | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

From the Bortle 6/7 skies of suburban Brisbane, I was able to record stars beyond mag 20.

Cheers

Dennis


  Quasar BR 1202 0725 DBE NoiseXT BlurXT Labels Crop 1600.jpg (Size: 401.9 KB / Downloads: 8) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2770 Fri, 24 Feb 2023 14:16:54 -0500 PMSchu]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2770
  Orion_Nebula-LRGB_1-St(655KB).jpg (Size: 654.23 KB / Downloads: 9)

It's a stack of 30 second LRGB exposures processed in Astro Pixel Processor (APP).

Phil S.]]>
  Orion_Nebula-LRGB_1-St(655KB).jpg (Size: 654.23 KB / Downloads: 9)

It's a stack of 30 second LRGB exposures processed in Astro Pixel Processor (APP).

Phil S.]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2757 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 20:48:13 -0500 Della]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2757


I found this in the help: 

• Res. - the effective resolution in arc seconds during the block of time. Effective resolution depends on the imaging system, seeing, airmass, and the Nyquist sampling theorem
  

So looking at the items listed above, 
My system has about 0.6 arc sec a pixel
The Nyquist as best I know how to calculate it is 1.21  arc sec
If is the air mass is as close to 1 as possible and seeing is okay to good, I would expect that to limit me to around 1.5 to 2.x arc sec.

So I am not sure where the 7.3 is coming from or what it is telling me.

Since the exposure calculator under camera data has the correct camera arc sec per pixel at 1x1 bin I know its reading all my setting correctly. 

Anyway, any insight into how this value is calculated or what it it telling me would be appreciated as I am finding the more I understand the data in SkyTools the easier it is to plan  .

Thank you for your help.


I attached a  image of my exposure calculator if that helps


Shawn

  2023-02-10 19_00_13-Exposure Calculator.jpg (Size: 145.68 KB / Downloads: 7) ]]>


I found this in the help: 

• Res. - the effective resolution in arc seconds during the block of time. Effective resolution depends on the imaging system, seeing, airmass, and the Nyquist sampling theorem
  

So looking at the items listed above, 
My system has about 0.6 arc sec a pixel
The Nyquist as best I know how to calculate it is 1.21  arc sec
If is the air mass is as close to 1 as possible and seeing is okay to good, I would expect that to limit me to around 1.5 to 2.x arc sec.

So I am not sure where the 7.3 is coming from or what it is telling me.

Since the exposure calculator under camera data has the correct camera arc sec per pixel at 1x1 bin I know its reading all my setting correctly. 

Anyway, any insight into how this value is calculated or what it it telling me would be appreciated as I am finding the more I understand the data in SkyTools the easier it is to plan  .

Thank you for your help.


I attached a  image of my exposure calculator if that helps


Shawn

  2023-02-10 19_00_13-Exposure Calculator.jpg (Size: 145.68 KB / Downloads: 7) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2669 Fri, 04 Nov 2022 21:37:03 -0400 Della]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2669
I use Optolong L Extreme dual band filter which works great for the nebulas, but would like to start collecting full color stars using my lum filter for my image.   I then plan to add the full color stars into my images.

I often use the exposure calculator when planning a session for a nebula which works great.  Is there a way to have the calculator while pointing at the same object calculate just on the stars?     I see I can change expose for target object to stars but I am not sure if that takes into account the brighter starts in the FOV as I do not want to saturate them.

Or am I going about this all wrong?

Thank you for any advice

Shawn]]>
I use Optolong L Extreme dual band filter which works great for the nebulas, but would like to start collecting full color stars using my lum filter for my image.   I then plan to add the full color stars into my images.

I often use the exposure calculator when planning a session for a nebula which works great.  Is there a way to have the calculator while pointing at the same object calculate just on the stars?     I see I can change expose for target object to stars but I am not sure if that takes into account the brighter starts in the FOV as I do not want to saturate them.

Or am I going about this all wrong?

Thank you for any advice

Shawn]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2629 Sat, 24 Sep 2022 11:21:56 -0400 choward94002]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2629
Failing that, is there a way to relate the SNR value from Skytools4 to the PI SNR?]]>
Failing that, is there a way to relate the SNR value from Skytools4 to the PI SNR?]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2306 Sat, 23 Oct 2021 11:24:03 -0400 strgazr1]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2306
Is there anyone out there that uses SkyTools 4 Imaging for EAA (Electronically Assisted Astronomy)?

I'm interested in finding out how to use SkyTools 4 Imaging for Live Imaging without creating a formal observing project.
What I would like to do is is create a list of objects, filtered for my observing system, site and weather that I can use at my 
scope to have SkyTools slew my scope to the objects on my list.

This is kind of the way I used SkyTools 3 visually but with the filters for astro-imaging available.

Does anybody out there do this? Are there any resources you can point me  to?

My System:
AP 130mm Starfire Gran Turismo
AP Mach 1 GTO mount
ZWO ASI294mc OSC CMOS camera

I use Sharpcap for image capture and PHD2 for guiding

Thanks,

Bill]]>
Is there anyone out there that uses SkyTools 4 Imaging for EAA (Electronically Assisted Astronomy)?

I'm interested in finding out how to use SkyTools 4 Imaging for Live Imaging without creating a formal observing project.
What I would like to do is is create a list of objects, filtered for my observing system, site and weather that I can use at my 
scope to have SkyTools slew my scope to the objects on my list.

This is kind of the way I used SkyTools 3 visually but with the filters for astro-imaging available.

Does anybody out there do this? Are there any resources you can point me  to?

My System:
AP 130mm Starfire Gran Turismo
AP Mach 1 GTO mount
ZWO ASI294mc OSC CMOS camera

I use Sharpcap for image capture and PHD2 for guiding

Thanks,

Bill]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2183 Fri, 30 Jul 2021 21:53:28 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2183
In SkyTools 4 Imaging, using the Database Power Search Tool for Extragalactic Objects, I found a list of Quasars, filtered by date and my location, with a Redshift z >4, visible in August.

The 1st entry (Q2237-0607 in Aquarius) in the list looked like a good candidate at mag 18.3 so I slewed to the location and grabbed a series of 40x30 sec images and was pleasantly surprised to find a good match.

I also found an interesting APOD that showed a “Redshift Lookup Table for our Universe” which itself linked to the original Technical Paper which can be viewed as a PDF. It is described as a “Paper-and-pencil cosmological calculator” for when you don’t have an Internet Connection.

SkyTools 4 Imaging Data (sub-set)
Q2237-0607
Quasar
R.A. 22h39m53.6s Dec.: -05°52'19" (2000) in Aquarius
Magnitude: 18.30 R
Size: stellar
Redshift (z): 4.55
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2021 Jul 30  GMT+10 at Brisbane, Australia:
Apparent RA: 22h41m01.1s, Apparent Dec: -05°45'33"

LINKS:
APOD
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130408.html

Paper-and-pencil cosmological calculator PDF
https://arxiv.org/abs/1303.5961

Cheers

Dennis

  1. Quasar BG ID.jpg (Size: 194.83 KB / Downloads: 11)

  2. Quasar BG ID Inverted.jpg (Size: 207.94 KB / Downloads: 5)

  3. Quasar BG ID Inverted Text.jpg (Size: 215.71 KB / Downloads: 5)

  4. ST4 Database Power Search Panel.jpg (Size: 200.54 KB / Downloads: 4)

  5. Quasar Imaging List.jpg (Size: 190.58 KB / Downloads: 2) ]]>
In SkyTools 4 Imaging, using the Database Power Search Tool for Extragalactic Objects, I found a list of Quasars, filtered by date and my location, with a Redshift z >4, visible in August.

The 1st entry (Q2237-0607 in Aquarius) in the list looked like a good candidate at mag 18.3 so I slewed to the location and grabbed a series of 40x30 sec images and was pleasantly surprised to find a good match.

I also found an interesting APOD that showed a “Redshift Lookup Table for our Universe” which itself linked to the original Technical Paper which can be viewed as a PDF. It is described as a “Paper-and-pencil cosmological calculator” for when you don’t have an Internet Connection.

SkyTools 4 Imaging Data (sub-set)
Q2237-0607
Quasar
R.A. 22h39m53.6s Dec.: -05°52'19" (2000) in Aquarius
Magnitude: 18.30 R
Size: stellar
Redshift (z): 4.55
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2021 Jul 30  GMT+10 at Brisbane, Australia:
Apparent RA: 22h41m01.1s, Apparent Dec: -05°45'33"

LINKS:
APOD
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130408.html

Paper-and-pencil cosmological calculator PDF
https://arxiv.org/abs/1303.5961

Cheers

Dennis

  1. Quasar BG ID.jpg (Size: 194.83 KB / Downloads: 11)

  2. Quasar BG ID Inverted.jpg (Size: 207.94 KB / Downloads: 5)

  3. Quasar BG ID Inverted Text.jpg (Size: 215.71 KB / Downloads: 5)

  4. ST4 Database Power Search Panel.jpg (Size: 200.54 KB / Downloads: 4)

  5. Quasar Imaging List.jpg (Size: 190.58 KB / Downloads: 2) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2107 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:20:42 -0400 Dennis]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=2107  
On some recent images I took of PN ESO 216-2, the field star GSC 08225-985 is recorded more like a faint fuzzy DSO rather than having a stellar profile like the other field stars. I was actually taking images of Planetary Nebula PN G288.7+08.1 (ESO 216-2) at R.A. 11h18m09.7s Dec. -52°10'02" (2000) in Centaurus, Magnitude: 15.50, Size: 36" when I noticed that the field star (GSC 08225-985) looked distinctly fuzzy and unlike the other nicely resolved field stars. It appears more like the faint PGC Galaxies I often see in my images.
 
The “fuzzy” field star is identified as:
SkyTools 4 Imaging Data
J111827.8-520821
R.A. 11h18m27.9s Dec. -52°08'21" (2000)
Centaurus
Magnitude: 13.22
 
 
I have checked the Sesame Name Resolver on-line Query and it returned:
J111827.8-520821           11:18:27.8  -52:08:21
 
I also checked Aladin Lite and on that image the object appears in the Gaia EDR3 and 2MASS databases.
 
I have attached 5 files showing this “fuzzy” object, from the basic Raw File to Files with Labels and IDs from the SkyTools 4 Imaging Application.
 
I took a similar series of images on 6th June with a different camera (ZWO ASI 1600 MM Pro) and with the telescope tube rotated in a different position (approx. 45 degrees) and the same “fuzzy” object appears in that image too, so it is unlikely to be camera related or some reflection artefact?
 
The imaging system is:
Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5 (210mm aperture)
Takahashi x0.8 Reducer
F9.4 at 1932mm focal length
ZWO AIS 294 MM Pro Cooled Camera
106 x 30 sec exposures
10th June 2021
Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis Simmons

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Only.jpg (Size: 222.89 KB / Downloads: 9)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics.jpg (Size: 225.13 KB / Downloads: 3)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics Text.jpg (Size: 242.81 KB / Downloads: 5)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics ST4 Stars.jpg (Size: 233.2 KB / Downloads: 3)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics ST4 Stars ID Mag.jpg (Size: 250.06 KB / Downloads: 5) ]]>  
On some recent images I took of PN ESO 216-2, the field star GSC 08225-985 is recorded more like a faint fuzzy DSO rather than having a stellar profile like the other field stars. I was actually taking images of Planetary Nebula PN G288.7+08.1 (ESO 216-2) at R.A. 11h18m09.7s Dec. -52°10'02" (2000) in Centaurus, Magnitude: 15.50, Size: 36" when I noticed that the field star (GSC 08225-985) looked distinctly fuzzy and unlike the other nicely resolved field stars. It appears more like the faint PGC Galaxies I often see in my images.
 
The “fuzzy” field star is identified as:
SkyTools 4 Imaging Data
J111827.8-520821
R.A. 11h18m27.9s Dec. -52°08'21" (2000)
Centaurus
Magnitude: 13.22
 
 
I have checked the Sesame Name Resolver on-line Query and it returned:
J111827.8-520821           11:18:27.8  -52:08:21
 
I also checked Aladin Lite and on that image the object appears in the Gaia EDR3 and 2MASS databases.
 
I have attached 5 files showing this “fuzzy” object, from the basic Raw File to Files with Labels and IDs from the SkyTools 4 Imaging Application.
 
I took a similar series of images on 6th June with a different camera (ZWO ASI 1600 MM Pro) and with the telescope tube rotated in a different position (approx. 45 degrees) and the same “fuzzy” object appears in that image too, so it is unlikely to be camera related or some reflection artefact?
 
The imaging system is:
Takahashi Mewlon 210 F11.5 (210mm aperture)
Takahashi x0.8 Reducer
F9.4 at 1932mm focal length
ZWO AIS 294 MM Pro Cooled Camera
106 x 30 sec exposures
10th June 2021
Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
 
Cheers
 
Dennis Simmons

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Only.jpg (Size: 222.89 KB / Downloads: 9)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics.jpg (Size: 225.13 KB / Downloads: 3)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics Text.jpg (Size: 242.81 KB / Downloads: 5)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics ST4 Stars.jpg (Size: 233.2 KB / Downloads: 3)

  PN ESO 216-2 Raw Image Graphics ST4 Stars ID Mag.jpg (Size: 250.06 KB / Downloads: 5) ]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=1641 Fri, 08 May 2020 15:13:09 -0400 phemmert]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=1641
Thanks all!]]>
Thanks all!]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=1565 Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:05:04 -0400 mwg3656]]> https://skyhound.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=1565
Same Imaging system for both, just date change.

Full Moon April 7th, target SNR 30 calculations
- M81 mag 7.8 60min (looks ok)
- M1   mag 8.4   8sec (not ok)

New Moon April 22, target SNR 30 calculations
- M81 mag 7.8 60min (??, time should be less with new moon)
- M1   mag 8.4  8sec  (still too short)

1. Does sky limiting brightness (19.6mag/sec) set these exposure times?

2. Why is M1 so short?

Mark]]>
Same Imaging system for both, just date change.

Full Moon April 7th, target SNR 30 calculations
- M81 mag 7.8 60min (looks ok)
- M1   mag 8.4   8sec (not ok)

New Moon April 22, target SNR 30 calculations
- M81 mag 7.8 60min (??, time should be less with new moon)
- M1   mag 8.4  8sec  (still too short)

1. Does sky limiting brightness (19.6mag/sec) set these exposure times?

2. Why is M1 so short?

Mark]]>