M 8

[glennb]

HI
First post so this is a test. Pic may be a bit big if the limit is 48x48. I dont know how to place a pic in Flickr that will get down to the size of gif format...


GlennB
Auckland
New Zealand

[Skywatcher]

Hi GlennB
I would really like to see your M8. I think it may be pretty spectacular from NZ skies. My skies are very light polluted. As you know your image did get loaded into your post. First you need a webhost like Flicka, Fototime or etc. Second upload your image to the host. Third copy the address of the image. Fourth log into ASO and your previous post and select EDIT now select a  place in the post where you want the image to appear then click the "picture icon", second row second image in the icon list, above the msg window. When you click the icon a two pair of brackets appear. Paste your image url between the pair of brackets.

I am looking forward to your posts. I would really like to visit AUS and NZ.

clear skies
James C.

[glennb]

Got it this time. Used the flickr URL rather than http they suggest. Looks darn small so I'm posting a large one with this.
Thanks James
Its been good to get some great weather for a change.
GlennB

[lindendave]

Glenn,

Very nice capture!

[Skywatcher]

I thought your image would be nice but M8 is nicer than I imagined. Your equipment list looks like you are a veteran astrophotographer?

James

[drclay]

Beautiiful shot....excellent in all respects.

Dr. Clay

[glennb]

Thanks
Ive been trying to get good pics over the last 7 yrs but progress is slow. Partly thru weather and thru getting gear together. Just in the last month - winter we've had our usual runs of clear cold nights (5-10 degrees celcius) and Ive got some tuning done - PHD adjustments. I use a lumicon off axis guider and DSI pro - guiding at 0.5arcsec/pixel. The PHD yahoo group provided me with the settings I needed so now I think Im getting somewhere.
I have rebuilt a 16in cassegrain and I'm going to use it with a SWpro ED100mm refractor as guidescope. Then I can make modify the 18in newt - install a wire spider and improve the mirror cell to stop mirror slop. Im still contemplating building a truss style OTA for the 18in. Thats how Ive rebuilt the 16in cass - better than the construction method I used for the 18in OTA. 
I had an interest in astronomy in early teenage yrs and have rekindled the interest now 40yrs later. Such is stargazing. I missed the entire Dobsonian revolution!
Question for you - what is next after producing "pretty pictures"
GlennB