I finally got my remote set-up working. It took a while to get set-up and then wind cut the imaging session short, I did get some data. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get more this year, so here is a very data-poor shot of the Spiral Galaxy in Leo.

NGC 3628 is one of the galaxies in the Leo Triplet. It has a great dust band facing us, and very nice, bright guide star in just the right location for my scope and camera set-up.

This is a mere 50 minutes total exposure time. 25 minutes luminance unbinned, 10 minutes red and green binned 2x2, and 5 minutes (only one image was usable) of blue also binned 2x2. The wind caught me at about 12:15 and I had to stop imaging at that point. This has led to a noisy image without too much detail. But given the constraints, I am not unhappy with it. It is also the first CCD image I've taken in quite a while.

I also had a heck of a time with the remote set-up. I am spoiled by the permanent set-up I have in town. But the skies are much darker out in the Anza valley.

A full sized shot and processing details are available on my site.

Thanks for looking.

--Andy

Attached Images

NGC_3628_LRGB_01v02-sm.jpg (141.5 KB, 59 views)

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Observatorio de la Ballona

Hi Andy;

Nice picture there of 3628. It looks nice, don't be mad about it!

At the scale shown on your webpage, the image looks nice, and your experience was interesting.

I've not really thought about it, but when I used the field tripod, and carried everything out for an imaging session, I may have had 50% of the sessions come off like your most recent experience. There wouldn't be any 50hr mosaics if everyone had to setup/knock down for each session.

Robert

I've always liked this one but I never get around to imaging it. Nice detail for the exposure time.

Tom

As a tripod user I understand the set up frustrations. You have done a fine job with limited data. It looks like a great remote location given the detail you managed to pick up so persevere.

Kind regards
Matt

Evan, Robert, Tom, and Matt: Thanks for the kind comments!

Evan, I'm not mad, it is better to have some data than none!

Robert, Robert Gendler did some really amazing work from his driveway, but I don't know if he did any 50 hour mosaics before he got his New Mexico observatory. As you probably know, it is getting a system down where you can reduce the set-up and take-down time that is key. Patience, patience.

Matt -- thanks and I am happy that it turned out at all! With almost no light pollution to fight it made a huge difference.

Clear skies,

--Andy

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Observatorio de la Ballona

Hi Andy, You have a great shot of this galaxy even at its short count of exposures. Lots of details could be seen. Welldone my friend and Clear Skies

Efrain, thank you for the nice comments. Clear skies to you as well.

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Observatorio de la Ballona

very nice shot Andy!
you did a great job!

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best regards,
Dietmar
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www.stargazer-observatory.com

Thanks Dietmar!

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Observatorio de la Ballona