ShahGazer Rambling about Astrophotography, Coding and Clouds

Note: The live streaming services provided was called Night Skies Network, and NOT NightSkyNetworks as stated on the photo (left). My mistake.I will make the necessary correction as soon as possible. I attended the virtual online observation by Rock Mallin via the really cool Night Sky Networks Night Skies Network . It was way late at night in Canada, while I was comfortably having my breakfast here in Kuala Lumpur! The setup used was a 16 inch LX200 coupled with MFR-5 and using the new Mallincam VSS . Integration setting was 2 seconds. We were looking at M42, and the live view itself was wild! As mentioned by one of the attendees, it looked pretty much 3D! The dust lanes (or clumps) really pops up in front of the trapeziums! I couldn't resist capturing some of the frames and stacked it up. The photo speaks by itself! It was a combination of 20 frames each at 2 sec integration. So, in all a total of 40 SECONDS! exposure time! Whew!!! The VSS seems to be displaying nicely. There...

Objective: Finalize all connection software and hardware between each component is running smoothly. 1. Connection HEQ5 to Skymap Pro 8 Connect RJ45-serial cable from HEQ5 handpad to Serial-to-USB converter to Laptop Identify COM Port number (under My Computer>Manage>Hardware etc) In Skymap, under Telescope>Configure, select ASCOM Driver then Configure In the list, select Celestron Scope Driver, then Properties Under Scope Type, select NexStar 5i Serial Port = whatever COM Port number assigned by Windows Track Mode = Eq N Site = Current location Scope = not paying attention for this one yet. OK>OK>OK Under Skymap, select Telescope>Open Connection “Your Wish is My Command”!!