20210429 - First shots last April, at that time in the middle of the learning curve, 2 months and counting

It was 2 nights after the ‘First Light’ of the WO RedCat 51, but this time without clouds and mist in the sky, so technically this would count as the ‘real’ First Light.

My first set of galaxies: M81 and M82. It was still with the planetary camera, the ASI462MC, but nice enough for a first image of these 2 galaxies, in spite of the near full moon. I have been focusing on the nebula season since then, but they are on the list to be revisited

What was the experience

Compared to the stumbling of the first couple of tries, this looked like a routine job. The enthousiasme wasn’t any less for it. The ‘kick’ you get when the DSO first appears on the preview screen from the ASIAIR Pro hasn’t any match.

What’s in the picture(s)

M81 Bode’s Galaxy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_81

M82 Cigar Galaxy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_82

How it was done

Mount: iOptron SkyGuider Pro

Guiding: ASIAIR Pro, ZWO30F4, ASI120MM (RA guiding only)

Scope: WO RedCat 51

Camera: ASI462MC

Filter: Astronomik UV/IR L1

Moon@94%(-), Bortle 5/6, SQM 19.60

Processing: Siril, Adobe Photoshop (Mac)

M81 - 65x 180s Gain 0, darks 10x

What have I learned from this

Polar Alignment wasn’t 100%, the Dec kept on sliding off (only RA guiding). Since then I’ve taken better care of the Polar Alignment and better balancing of the scope and the camera … it does make a difference, even ever so slightly🤔

It was the first time I figured out to use Plate Solving to manually point the scope (no GoTo with the iOptron SkyGuider Pro). Just 3 steps to slide to the right RA, and then manually adjusting the Dec 😉 Easy!

Processing at the time was limited to Adobe PS - white-balance, vignette, levels and curves.

With the improvements in skills and camera since then, I would love to revisit these two and get some new data to process them in PixInsight. 🎨🧑‍🎨

What have I learned from this

Never let go of your passion for ✨

Clear Skies everybody! 🤩✨🔭

#astrophotography #astrophoto #astrophotos

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#astrography #astrography_ #backyard

#deepsky #nightsky #sky

#M81 #PinwheelGalaxy

#M81 #CigarGalaxy

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