M78 and M33 with AstroDMxCapture V.2.5.1 and a SkyTech LPRO MAX filter

M78 and M33 were imaged with Version 2.5.1 of AstroDMx Capture, through an Altair Starwave 60 ED refractor with an 0.8 reducer/flattener and 2" magnetic filter holder with a SkyTech LPRO MAX 2" broadband filter, using an SV605CC cooled, 14 bit OSC CMOS camera. The scope was fitted with a Pegasus FocusCube v2 controlled by AstroDMx Capture via INDI. The scope was mounted on an AVX GOTO mount which was controlled by AstroDMx Capture via an INDI server running on the imaging computer indoors.

The equipment was monitored by a Pan/tilt security IP camera to supervise slews, meridian flips etc.

The IP camera was monitored with a tablet by the imaging computer.

The scope/mount was sent by AstroDMx Capture to the Star Deneb to check focus

The scope pointing at Deneb as seen by the IP camera

Checking focus with a Bahtinov mask

An SVBONY SV165 guide scope with a natively connected QHY-5II-M guide camera was used for PHD2 multistar pulse auto-guiding via the INDI server. The auto-guiding was controlled by a separate Linux laptop indoors.

Using plate-solving, AstroDMx Capture sent the scope/mount to M33 and centred the galaxy in the field of view.

The scope/mount slewing from Deneb to M33 as supervised by the IP camera

AstroDMx Capture captured 55 minutes worth of 5 minute exposures on M33

With a Negative preview

Calibration frames were captured at the end of the imaging session.

Capturing flats

The data were calibrated and stacked in Siril, and post processed in The Gimp 2.10, the Starnet++ and G'MIC Gimp plugins and Neat Image.

M33, the Triangulum Galaxy

AstroDMx Capture then, using plate-solving, sent the scope/mount to M78 in Orion and centred the object in the field of view.

The scope slewing from M33 to M78 as supervised by the IP cxamera

AstroDMx Capture captured 100 minutes worth of 5 minute exposures on M78. A meridian flip was required part way through the imaging run on M78, with plate-solving to centre the object in the field of view.

The meridian flip as supervised by the IP camera

The scope pointing at M78 after the meridian flip

AstroDMx Capture capturing data on M78

With a negative preview

The data were calibrated and stacked in Siril, and post processed in The Gimp 2.10, the Starnet++ and G'MIC Gimp plugins and Neat Image.

The M78 nebula and part of Barnard's Loop of nebulosity

Version 2.5.1 of AstroDMx Capture was stable and revealed no issues.

The use of the IP camera for monitoring the equipment meant that the only time it was necessary to go outside was to fit and remove the Bahtinov mask for focus checking. The surveillance camera also provided additional security for the equipment.

Meanwhile, Nicola seems to have resolved all of the AstroDMx Capture Apple Silicon issues. At least another night of testing will be required to determine whether it is release ready.