First images from the telescope

I am a happy Viking - I have a really good telescope now and the basic knowledge of how to use it properly.

Conditions were not good - a thin layer of either high cloud or ground-hugging smoke haze, too much light pollution, and I totally failed to polar align correctly. (I couldn’t see any stars through the Star Adventurer’s polar scope, so it was a best guess effort. It showed, too, as I stepped through all the captured images and watched the stars slowly march across the screen.)

First target was the Jewel Box and despite having to throw away ~80% of my subs I have an image I’d call reasonable. (My so-called “smart” power bank turned itself off because the SA wasn’t drawing enough current. A dew heater at full power fixed that, though… )

Second target is M104 - the Sombrero galaxy. Usually it’s displayed horizontally. Mine is vertical due to the rotation of the camera as I moved to point at it.

I saw Antares and Scorpius rising in the east but haven’t yet managed to get a good image from the subs I did capture. I suspect that a longer integration time is required in a darker sky location.

The subs were stacked in Sequator and tweaked in Affinity Photo. Yes, I know, all my images need more work, the Jewel Box stars are over-exposed and the focus could be better. (I blame getting old for worsening eyesight.)

I really want a better mount now, and a guide camera / scope, and the laptop to drive everything. Damn this hobby can get expensive quickly - and the CV19 / Ukraine war shortages and supply disruptions are not helping either!

Anyway, enough waffle - have some images!

• Astro