Sessions

A bright southern globular that fits the 37′ field with room to spare. Free, 30 minutes, and the best first processing run.

; Vault Observatory — 47 Tucanae — T33 · RCOS 12.5
; 30 min, LRGB, dithered
#FILTER Luminance,Red,Green,Blue
#BINNING 1,1,1,1
#COUNT 3,1,1,1
#INTERVAL 300,300,300,300
#DITHER
NGC0104 00:24:05 -72:04:53

How to run it

1. Wait until the scope shows Available — not Reserved or Day Time.
2. Open the telescope console from the Launchpad.
3. Run Scripted Plan, paste this, start the 30-minute run.
4. Download the FITS from the Data Archive when it finishes.
5. Process: calibrate, stack, background, colour, stars.

The most forgiving colour target in the sky. Fits T68, bright enough for 30 minutes, and looks like the pictures.

; Vault Observatory — M42 Orion — T68 · RASA 11
; 30 min, colour, dithered
#INTERVAL 120
#COUNT 15
#DITHER
M42 05:35:16 -05:23:22

How to run it

1. Wait until the scope shows Available — not Reserved or Day Time.
2. Open the telescope console from the Launchpad.
3. Run Scripted Plan, paste this, start the 30-minute run.
4. Download the FITS from the Data Archive when it finishes.
5. Process: calibrate, stack, background, colour, stars.

During the 10 days when the moon is 75–100% illuminated, live imaging is free on every telescope. Gibbous, not full, gives the best crater shadows.

T68 or T14 for the full disk. T21, T24, T30 or T33 for terminator close-ups.