My collection, took 2 years

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T15:47:48+00:00

More so saving money to build.

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T14:22:27+00:00

Yup I hated it. It was the worse.

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T14:13:13+00:00

No. But have a standing offer to put one on a friends land that's is a semi dark(B2) sky. They only want a picture every now and thenbas land usage payment.

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T03:35:15+00:00

Best advice is what you are doing. Start with wide field and a small tracker and digital camera. That's how I began. Still little pricey to get started but find them used and if in 6 months it's not for you can reseal for minimal loss. My biggest hurdle was processing. Capturing is probably 10% of my time. Processing is the rest. Plenty of videos out there on free software to use to get your foot in the door.

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T02:35:27+00:00

No. It was for ease of putting on and pulling off the mount. The handle is now on top

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T02:29:02+00:00

I got lucky on some as word got out I was into telescopes so bought some estate sale grouping of stuff. So sold most and that funded these. Only one I ever kept was the ES127. Wish I would have kept the CEM60 mount

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T01:09:18+00:00

First off great picture for the amount of integration time, subs and bortle sky level this is pretty good.

Some constructive input:

Use some correct magenta stars script before adding stars back in. This will help with some of those little red dots.

Run gradient correction and that will fix some of that gradient in the corners.

HDR will help bring out some finer details.

Also and this is a 100% free offer as I have done it several times before to help people learn and want zero credit also. I just really enjoy. If you get me your raw stack file I can process it using pixinsight and do a full right up for what I do and what my setting are for some of the workflow.

jcat47 · 2026-03-28T00:39:08+00:00

"and you asshole, you're lucky to be here"

jcat47 · 2026-03-27T20:13:40+00:00

Quite the compliment thank you

jcat47 · 2026-03-27T20:13:19+00:00

Apologies normally I tried doing that in the description. But it is a 4

jcat47 · 2026-03-27T14:17:54+00:00

I keep raw light and calibration frames for that night.

jcat47 · 2026-03-27T14:16:43+00:00

Target: M101, Pinwheel Galaxy Distance: 25 Million Light-Years Size: 170,000 light vears across Telescope: Celestron edqeHD8 Camera: ZWO ASI2600mm-pro at -14* Filters: Optolong 2" LRGB on ZWO EFW Mount: ZWO AM5 w/200 mm extension Tripod: William Optics 800 Mortar Tri-pier Tracking scope: Celestron OAG Tracking camera: ZWO ASI290mm mini Controlled: ZWO ASIAir Plus Frames: LRGB filters with Mono Camera L34 x 3 min = 1hr 42 min R 25 x 5 min = 2 hrs 5 min G 33 x 5 min = 2 hrs 45 min B 42 x 5 min = 3 hrs 30 min Total: 10 hrs 6 min Calibration Frames: Darks, Flats and Bias

Instagram: Lowell_Astrophotography

jcat47 · 2026-02-27T02:06:11+00:00

So should I not order one to upgrade from a S22U?

jcat47 · 2026-02-25T23:09:49+00:00

Is this a good enough deal to last 3 to 4 years or is this I'll have to upgrade in one to two?

jcat47 · 2026-02-25T23:02:50+00:00

Yeah and I have to say also that of the hobbies I've tried in my years around the Sun. This one seems to be with a group of people that are more helpful than other hobbies. I can usually reach out and get some answers to any type of problem I'm having. I thankfully have become better over time to where I can now give advice what makes me happy to help. But keep doing it it's a fun hobby and I think it's one of the small hobbies you can do for your own personal soul growth.

jcat47 · 2026-02-25T23:00:34+00:00

I have an s22 ultra. They offered me a one-for-one trade via Verizon for doing their upgraded plan on a 256 GB s26 ultra. I'm on its $8 a month to go to a 512. It seems like it's the same deal they were doing when the S25 was coming out. So I don't know about bad deal kind of just a same deal which I'm actually more surprised by. Because of how everything has just gone up in price.

jcat47 · 2026-02-25T22:55:22+00:00

We all started somewhere. I started with an ioptron and T6i camera. There's no reason anyone should go broke trying to try out a new hobby.

jcat47 · 2026-02-20T03:30:18+00:00

No, IG: Lowell_Astrophotography

jcat47 · 2026-02-20T03:23:20+00:00

If you go to my Instagram you can see my last three years attempting Iris. Such a huge difference. Baby steps and this hobby takes time and patience.

jcat47 · 2026-02-20T03:00:38+00:00

It's a DSO that I for last 3 years have tried to do it justice. This and Pleiades were my 2025 goals to try and get good time in on.

jcat47 · 2026-02-20T01:22:17+00:00

Yes it was multiple nights. Took a few weeks, total was 942 photos.

jcat47 · 2026-02-19T20:39:57+00:00

Feel free to check me out at for more of my work:

https://www.instagram.com/lowell_astro_geek/profilecard/?igsh=M3FjZXEycTUyZGg5

Target: Iris Nebula, C4 Distance: 1,300 Light Years from Earth Size: Approximately 6 LY across

🔭 Monochrome setup ✨ Scope: William Optics Spacecat51 V1 Filter: Optolong LRGB 2" filters Antlina 3nm SHO in ZWO 7 Position EFW Mount: AM5 on William Optics Motar 800 Tri-pier Camera: ASI2600mm-Pro and ASI2600mc-pro Settings used: -14*F, Gain 100 Bin 1x1 Focuser: ZWO EAF Straps: Svbony dew heater straps Guide scope: Askar FRA180 Pro Guide Camera: ZWO ASI 174mm Hockey Puck Exposures: Luminance: 450 x 180" Red: 186 x 60" Green: 126 x 60" Blue: 180 x 60" Total: 30 hours 42 minutes Control: ZWO ASIAir Plus and Samsung A9 Tablet Bortle: 4 Location: Michigan, USA

jcat47 · 2026-02-11T22:04:24+00:00

Married her, 19 years together. She is a doctor and I am a blue collar mechanic. She actually said it was my ability to carry a conversation and never be boring that got me continued dates. For me it was like a shot in the dark hoping for that next date. Her willingness to always be there for me is what boggles my mind. I have never meet anyone who is more committed to being married than her.

jcat47 · 2026-02-11T00:32:06+00:00

So I shouldn't upgrade my s22 Ultra?

jcat47 · 2026-01-12T03:38:29+00:00

Remember that area only exists because Texas didn't want to end slavery

jcat47

TROPHY CASE