Acquiring the Image

Abstract

Whether you image from your backyard or from a remote dark sky site, you should try to simplify your preparation. If you have a portable setup, you must transport your equipment, assemble the mount, attach your telescope, connect power cables, polar align, and attach your camera, before you even begin to search for your target. Should inclement weather appear, each step may need to be reversed hastily, adding to your frustration. A permanent setup avoids these inconveniences. If you live in a rural or suburban area, this might be an option at your home. The simplest arrangement is a permanent pier, either on a deck or in a yard. A pier will be more stable than a tripod, already leveled, and can be oriented or marked to speed polar alignment. You can run underground conduits to your pier containing electrical supply and cables for remote control on cold nights.