Stacking 200 frames of the Orion Nebula
Short subs at ISO 800 kept the core from blowing out. Dark frames mattered more than expected once the sensor warmed past 20 °C.
Panstar
Field notes on night-sky photography, small telescopes and the weather that ruins both.
Polar alignment without a clear view of Polaris
Drift alignment is slow, but on a balcony with a wall to the north it is the only method that works. Notes on a 15-minute routine.
Light pollution maps vs. what the sky actually looks like
Comparing three Bortle estimates against a sky quality meter over a month of readings. The maps are optimistic by about half a class.
A cheap dew heater that does not drain the battery
Nichrome strip, a PWM controller and a temperature probe. Draws under 1 A at the setting that keeps the corrector plate clear.