Rho Ophiuchi Complex

[Crushellon (Tim)]

Been a while between images. Got a new tracking/guiding setup to run my DSLR & Lenses. So noisy compared to cooled CCD imaging... Light polloution massively limited sub length (ended up going for f8 with 3 min subs where i was planning to go f4 but the subs were just washed out, so instead of dropping the sub length I upped the f stop to get sharper results instead) so I'm sure I could get a much less noisy and more signal image with a dark site. Now just to wait for the moon to go away.

Canon 5DIII, Canon 70-200mm f2.8L @ 3200iso f8
180sec x 50

Higher Res: http://www.astrobin.com/305257/

[rcheshire (Rowland)]

Very nice Tim.

[doppler (Rick)]

That's come out well, wide field is fun hey.
You could drop the iso to 1600 to get rid of a bit more noise. I haven't tried it yet but I've been told an external aperture stop reduces the star diffraction spikes in long exposures with wide field lenses.

[Crushellon (Tim)]

thanks guys.

I don't mind using the aperture stop, the diffraction spikes don't bother me. I'm just happy to have a tracking/guiding system again. I don't want to spend any more cash on DSLR/Lens systems for astro because my next step at this point is saving for an asi1600 and a fast 80-100mm APO. I really like the look of the TS 130mm F5 but I think 650mm is a bit long for what I'm after and it also doesn't have many reviews out for it and I want to be certain that what I end up getting will have a nice flat field and tight stars.

[jimmyh1555 (James)]

What do you use for tracking/guiding? And did you shoot your Canon in RAW or JPG? Also what stacking software do you use? I've got a Pentax DSLR and hope to get similar quality

[Crushellon (Tim)]

Originally Posted by jimmyh1555

What do you use for tracking/guiding? And did you shoot your Canon in RAW or JPG? Also what stacking software do you use? I've got a Pentax DSLR and hope to get similar quality

I ran a HEQ5 on ASCOM with an ASI120MM on a 50mm guidescope. Sharpcap for polar alignment, PHD2 for guiding and APT for capture. It was shot in RAW and processed with Pixinsight. I used to get better results with a Canon 550D 1.6x crop, but I pushed this a bit harder considering the 5DIII is a much better quality camera, so I think if I tone town the ISO a bit I should get some nice enough images.

[jimmyh1555 (James)]

Thanks, Tim! That is almost what I am intending to do! I have a 50mm mini scope and HEQ5 and will use ZWO ASI034 with PHD2 and I have SharpCap V4 which I hope to use to stack. My Pentax does .DNG format though so I hope it will work. I have a 200mm Pentax lens F2.8 which I will use.

[RickS (Rick)]

Nice result, Tim.