StarTools

Here's my take on the Leo Triplett:


With 18 hrs I hoped that I get more tidal tail...even the tiny bit you see here was selectively pushed by the Sharp module. Something I usually avoid. Details in galaxies are okay. Seeing the result of SVDecon on stuff like that is always a stunner.

See https://app.astrobin.com/i/9gzv6k for details.

This is the first image captured with my new mini PC. My laptop which has been used outside for imaging since the start of my astro stuff is now out of order...the battery leaked maybe due to the constantly shifting temperatures. The keyboard rose and fell like the tides The mini PC is better anyway; less to set up and less cable chaos.

Regards
Stefan

Hi Stefan,

a very nice image. M66 looks really great, lots of detail and the colours and the saturation are excellent. Don't be angry about the weak tidal tail. Probably the sky is simply not dark enough at that altitude? For me it's quite a bit brighter than for example at the altitude of M81/82. I think

Congratulations to your new mini PC I too think that this is much better than fiddling with notebook and cables outside in the dark. Do you connect via RDP from your PC/notebook from inside?

Best regards, Dietmar.

Hi Dietmar,

yes, probably not dark enough. It might be easier with a mono setup and gathering huge amounts of luminance (see this https://app.astrobin.com/i/1m3ks5 for example) but that's not in the cards.

With regard to the mini pc: yes, I connect via RDP from inside via Wifi and take the notebook only out for polar alignment and focusing (I don't have it automated but use a Bhat mask instead). Initially I tried the RDP app for android but it's not very stable and after losing the connection once it has a hard time reconnecting at all and you have to restart your phone etc. AFAIK the app will be replaced soon by 'Windows' app. Maybe this will be more robust.

Regards
Stefan