M8 Lagoon Nebula

[doppler (Rick)]

Hi all, just finished a Rowan belt mod conversion on my Heq5, much quieter when slewing and the guiding has improved and is more consistent. Here's the results of one test run.
13 X 3min subs @ iso 800, unmodded canon 1100d, 10" f4.8 newt guided on Heq5.
Full field and a couple of cropped "closeups".


Rick

[casstony]

Very nice - subtle colours and detail.

[xelasnave]

Really nice Rick so ralistic.
Alex

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

That's sharp Rick! My HEQ5 has a back and forward wobble to it. I should get this belt mod too.

[Anth10 (Anthony M)]

lovely shot there Doppler.
Smooth image well processed, hats off for doing the belt mod too!
I’m with you Kev, we all should have a go at it I’m starting to see my neq6 feeling the effects of wear and tear.
You’re set Rick

[doppler (Rick)]

Originally Posted by casstony

Very nice - subtle colours and detail.

Thanks Tony, my camera is not modded so that's the colour that comes out of the camera, I try to go with that and keep it natural, as the eye would see if the nebula were close.

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Really nice Rick so ralistic.
Alex

Thanks Alex, that's why I do astrophotography, the camera shows a lot more than the eye so you can see what is really there.

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

That's sharp Rick! My HEQ5 has a back and forward wobble to it. I should get this belt mod too.

Thanks Kevin, the belt mod is not that hard to do. I tuned my mount a while ago and moved the motors and cogs tighter which made a big improvement in the slewing noises, the belt mod was another step forward. As a bonus Rowan doesn't do Australian GST and has a cheap postage option, plus it was only 8 days from order to Mackay.

Originally Posted by Anth10

lovely shot there Doppler.
Smooth image well processed, hats off for doing the belt mod too!
I’m with you Kev, we all should have a go at it I’m starting to see my neq6 feeling the effects of wear and tear.
You’re set Rick

Thanks Anthony, anything you can do to improve tracking is a bonus on the path to good images, especially when you are pushing your mount beyond it's limits.