These are my submission for the Sky-WatcherUSA Target of the Month (TOTM) for 2024 (well one from 2023). I tag posts related to the TOTM with the tag SkywatcherUSA TOTM.
June 2024 TOTM – NGC 4435-4438, AKA the Eyes Galaxies
TOTM Submission Date: NA
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Primary Scope: SVBONY SV503 102ED, UA Field Flattener
Filter: None
Primary Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro Cooled to -5 C
Guide Scope: SVBONY SV106 60mm
Guide Camera: OSSAG
Software: NINA, PHD2, ASCOM, GraXpert, Siril
Exposure settings: 18 x 300 seconds, 121 gain, 30 offset, bin 2×2
Post: 06/07/2024 – Eyes of Frustration Lot of minor issues during this session, but I did manage to get a little bit of usable light from the Eyes.
April 2024 TOTM – April 8, 2024 Solar Eclipse
TOTM Submission Date: NA
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Primary Scope: SVBONY SV503 102ED, .8 Focal Reducer
Filter: Spectrum Telescope Glass Solar Filter ST500G
Primary Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro
Software: INDI Server, KStars/Ekos, Siril
Exposure settings: 0.000032 second, 30 offset, bin 1×1
Post: This is a single 0.000032 second image captured right around the time of peak magnitude as seen from Suffolk, VA – Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 – It. Was. Amazing!.
March 2024 TOTM Submission – Jones-Emberson 1
TOTM Submission Date: 03/12/2024
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Primary Scope: SVBONY SV503 102ED, .8 Focal Reducer
Filter: None
Primary Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro, Cooled to -10 C
Guide Scope: SVBONY SV106 60mm
Guide Camera: OSSAG
Software: INDI Server, KStars/Ekos, Siril
Exposure settings: 300 seconds, 121 gain, 30 offset, bin 2×2
Post: Collected 2 hours (24 x 300 seconds) of the Headphone Nebula on 03/11/2024 and processed the data in Siril on 3/12/2024.
February 2024 TOTM Submission – Hechathorn-Fesen-Gull 1
TOTM Submission Date: 02/08/2024
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Primary Scope: SVBONY SV503 102ED, .8 Focal Reducer
Filter: ZWO 2″ Duo-Band Filter
Primary Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro, Cooled to -10 C
Guide Scope: SVBONY SV106 60mm
Guide Camera: OSSAG
Software: INDI Server, KStars/Ekos, Siril
Exposure settings: 300 seconds, 121 gain, 30 offset, bin 2×2
Post: I collected just over 3 hours of data on 02/05/2024 and a little more than 3 1/2 hours on 02/07/2024. Total of 80 x 300 second exposures. Stacked and processed with Siril.
January 2024 TOTM Submission – The Dolphin Head Nebula (Sh2-308 or LBN 1052)
TOTM Submission Date: 01/21/2024
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Primary Scope: SVBONY SV503 102ED, .8 Focal Reducer
Filter: ZWO 2″ Duo-Band Filter
Primary Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro, Cooled to -10 C
Guide Scope: SVBONY SV106 60mm
Guide Camera: OSSAG
Software: INDI Server, KStars/Ekos, Siril
Exposure settings: 180 seconds, 121 gain, 30 offset, bin 2×2
Post: http://www.suffolksky.com/2024/01/22/01-21-2024-more-light-from-the-dolphin-head-nebula/
This is the results from data captured over 2 nights. 37 x 180 second exposures captured on 01/20/2024 combined with 34 x 180 second exposures on 01/21/2024 for a total of 71 x 180 seconds or 3 hours and 33 minutes. Calibrated (darks, flats, and offsets), stacked, cropped, and processed using Siril.
December 2023 TOTM Submission – The Drunken Dragon (LBN 762)
TOTM Submission Date:12/13/2023
Primary Scope: SVBONY SV503 102ED, .8 Focal Reducer
Filter: None
Primary Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro, Cooled to -10 C
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro
Guide Scope: SVBONY SV106 60mm
Guide Camera: OSSAG
Software: INDI Server, KStars/Ekos, Siril
Exposure Settings: 180 seconds, 121 gain, 30 offset, bin 2×2
Post: http://www.suffolksky.com/2023/12/13/12-12-2023-a-drunker-drunken-dragon/ This is data from 2 nights – 4 hours on 12/11/2023 and 3 hours on 12/12/2023 for a total of 140 x 180 exposures at 121 gain, 30 offset, bin 2×2. Stacked, cropped, and processed using Siril.
