Target or subject
New setup with a Veil/Dumbell Nebula test
Current stageCapturing
- PlanningPreparing the target, composition, and capture requirements.
- CapturingCollecting pictures across one or more imaging sessions.
- CalibratingSelecting, calibrating, and stacking the captured frames.
- ProcessingDeveloping the stacked data into the final image.
- CompletedPublishing the finished image and lessons learned.
We got a complete new setup, so its configuration time with the Veil and Dumbell Nebula as a test shot.
- Started
- 21/08/2026
- Updated
- 05/09/2026
- Sessions
- 1
Getting my dad into the astrophotography, so we bought a complete new setup together.
This project is about setting up the new setup and see how everything needs to be configured, and when that is done, hopefully a nice short exposure photo of the Dumbell nebula for a test shot.
18 August - New gear day!
Since my dad wanted to try this new hobby out as well, we figured it would be pointless to buy a second setup that sits within the range of a 250mm focal length. So we decided to look for a scope within the 700mm-800mm range, where we ended up with the Askar 120APO that has a 840mm focal length when you would use the premium accessory 1x flattener.
One main reason we choose this scope was that we can use a 0.8 reducer to decrease the focal length to about 672mm, so we can shoot target with a 250mm, 672mm and 840mm focal length.
Another main reason is that this scope can be use for viewing as well, which my dad like to do too.
This setup also has an auto focuser to make sure those images keeps looking neat when the atmosphere changes. Figured that might come in handy 😃
05 September 2026
Session one
41 frames · 60s each
While I was shooting the Eastern Veil nebula, it was time to start configurating our new setup and to see what the Askar can do.
Interesting session with mixed feelings
It was time to start with our new Askar build. While my dad build this thing up, I started with the auto focuser while my redcat was already shooting. At first it was a bit unclear what I should be expecting to see within N.I.N.A. so I started to shoot a short exposure picture in a loop while trying to manually set the focus on the auto focuser to get somewhat in range of focus.
While I had some kind of stars I tried to use the auto focus option and after changing some settings it went pretty smooth. So it was time for the polar alignment. And that’s where it got weird.. We started with quite some errors, but still in range to adjust it. So after correcting a 4 arcminute error over the azimuth axis and a 2 arcminute error over the altitude axis. I stopped and restarted the TPPA. Strangely, the correction I did previously was all gone with yet again a 4 arcminute error over the azimuth axis and a 2 arcminute error over the altitude axis, but this time toward the opposite side.. 😐
So when the third TPPA resulted yet again with strange readings I decided to disconnect everything and restarting N.I.N.A. to see if that helped. Which it did. We did the polar alignment with a total error about 10 arcseconds. So excited as we were, I ditched setting up the auto guider in order to shoot something as we were both curious what this setup can do. So figured, since I finished the Western Veil nebula last month, I would shoot this for the test of tonight as this would test the meridian flip as well. So slew to the target, got a test shot in which kinda looked okay, and started shooting for 90 minutes.
During stacking 49 pictures were rejected.. 😧
So from the 90 pictures the final stacked picture was only from 41 pictures. That’s only 41 minutes of exposure. Positive side is that there is much more detail already then what i had during the 11 hour exposure with the redcat and the ASI533 MC camera.
But yeah.. the final picture clearly shows some tracking issues. But heey, the meridian flip worked like a charm 🤭