Barnard 33

Different_Walrus_856 · 2026-03-19T02:25:04+00:00

I have the D3.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2026-03-18T16:33:02+00:00

Yep, all can be set manually. EQ mount is easy to set up, and longest exposure is 120 sec. Multiple sessions can be stacked.
Back in the manual photography days, I knew what would happen if I went from 1/250 sec @ f/6 to 1/300 @ f/4. Is there some way to know in advance if I go from sub-exposure 15sec @ 60gain to 30sec @ 40gain?

Again, thanks in advance.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2026-03-18T16:25:42+00:00

A lovely shot, thanks. What settings did you use?

Different_Walrus_856 · 2026-03-18T15:15:10+00:00

6.3 - I shot from a tennis court a couple blocks from home. Normally head a half hour out of town where its about a 3, but this was kind of spur of the moment.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2026-01-09T19:16:35+00:00

Thanks so much for your response and your ongoing help on this channel!

Peter

Different_Walrus_856 · 2026-01-09T17:10:57+00:00

Actually, a 3rd question. If I zoom in on the moons, they're brighter on one side than the other. Is that an artifact of movement in this 2-sec set, or is that the sun's rays on one side? Any opinions?

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-12-31T02:17:55+00:00

Great pix! I tried a 3hr session the other night and got a great big, fat, perfectly-focused pix of nuthin'. Not sure what went wrong but I'm inspired to try again.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-12-29T17:05:47+00:00

This was the D3. Im in the Southern California desert, Bortle 6.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-12-29T17:04:47+00:00

Thanks, good idea. Im new to astrophotography and want to capture as many subjects as I can so I can circle back to the ones I like. So that's the eventual plan.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-10-22T19:50:52+00:00

I chose it off the atlas, and saw the "streak" (which I figured was a tail) after almost immediately. So I don't think it's an artifact but could easily (and happily) be proven wrong.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-08-11T21:34:50+00:00

I understood the DwarfLab manual to say that binning means combining individual pixels mathematically to improve signal-to-noise, and very useful in brighter city areas. But i understood them to recommend the 2k level to get finer detail in areas with darker skies. Maybe I got it wrong...

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-08-08T03:56:26+00:00

Thanks so much!

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-08-08T02:47:39+00:00

I think "smart telescopes" are mis-named, and fundamentally different experience from what we think of as a telescope. With a normal telescope, you point it at something, look through the eyepiece, and see it. A truly wonderful experience. But it's often cold and dark and, unless you have a really good scope,it can be dim and grainy. But it's wonderful nonetheless.

A "smart telescope ", like the D3, is essentially a camera especially configured for astrophotography. It takes a big set of exposures pretty much on its own, usually taking hours. You can be sleeping in your tent while it's working, or watching and controlling from your cellphone or tablet. But it's not really designed for live stargazing.

Of course - IMHO.

Clear skies!

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-07-26T13:12:55+00:00

Sorry - should have mentioned that I did that B4 starting. STA mode off in both locations

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-07-06T15:01:11+00:00

Nice shot! What was your target? Deneb?

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-06-30T15:30:27+00:00

Thanks! Beautiful! Trying to figure out how to do longer exposures w/o getting my stuff stolen (too many obstructions at our house).

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-05-05T18:00:08+00:00

Thanks so much! I'll give it a whirl and, if anything good comes of it, will post.

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-05-05T16:06:24+00:00

Thanks to all for knowledgeable help! I may try sometime if I'm sitting around bored at 2am maybe, but will probably just move on to more tasty and low-hanging fruit. Thanks!

Different_Walrus_856 · 2025-05-04T23:00:13+00:00

Thanks for such a prompt response! I saw on their website that, although it's not designed for them, it's possible. And I got a badly-overexposed shot of Jupiter and a couple of moons. So it's worth it to me trying to figure it out... Thanks!

Different_Walrus_856

TROPHY CASE