Dietmar observed

While walking around last night after the imaging workshop, Dietmar noticed a few things. He reminded people not omit steps so to improve their astroimages. And he thought it worth repeating.

1. make sure your telescope is leveled
2. have your scope properly balanced
   
3. obtain the best possible polar alignment
   
4. do a 2 or 3 star alignment
   
5. go to a bright star and precisely focus—and don't touch the focuser again
   
6. go to your target and shoot away

Isn't that interesting...