Eta Carina HaRGB - first decent QHY9 colour effort

RobF (Rob) · #1 26-04-2010, 11:43 PM

I know, I know - another Eta
I know, I know - everything I'll be doing for a while will be first QHY9 something or other...

But, poor Brissy weather has really prolonged the learning curve getting the QHY9 integrated into my imaging routine. Friday night was very decent here, so I took the opportunity after the moon went down to take a couple of hours of RGB subs which I've later used to make a HaRGB merge effort (about 35% Ha mixed in with red channel).

Ohh - something else that was a first - used 8x50 Finderscope as a guider with Starshoot Autoguider - thanks to Brendan for making up an adaptor for me. Tracking not perfect, but quite a bit better than I usually manage I believe.

Ha data was 19x5min subs (no binning) = 95mins
RGB data was 5mins subs (no binning) = 35:25:30 mins

Processing in DeepSkyStacker (calibration), PixInsight (Deconvolution, RGB merge, curves, saturation, stars) and resized in PS.
QHY9, QHY Filters, MPCC/IDAS LPS all through 8" Newt on HEQ5Pro

Thanks for looking,
Rob

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #2 27-04-2010, 03:36 AM

Nice effort indeed.

The guiding from this image size (jpg reduction) seems pretty much on the money. Im glad that the finder worked the way it should makes for a more productive night when everything is nice

Keep up the work mate youll be punching out show stoppers before too long

brendan

peter_4059 (Peter) · #3 27-04-2010, 06:30 AM

That's looking good Rob. Looks like the finder/guider is doing the job.

Peter

telecasterguru (Frank) · #4 27-04-2010, 07:25 AM

Very nice image. Lots of detail.

Frank

gregbradley · #5 27-04-2010, 07:44 AM

That's a very good Eta image. Nicely done.

Greg.

multiweb (Marc) · #6 27-04-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

Nice effort indeed. Keep up the work mate youll be punching out show stoppers before too long

brendan

You're a hard customer to please Brendan

Rob, this is outstanding work. A remarkable, truly superb picture. The blend is very well done as well. Keep'em coming.

bmitchell82 (Brendan) · #7 27-04-2010, 08:07 AM

im always a "hard customer" and the hardest customer unto myself. No use just saying that everything is the best that you can get it you might as well pack up and trundle on your way

I think its what makes us human, always striving to be better at what we do

... though i did say his guiding was pretty spot on

multiweb (Marc) · #8 27-04-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

I think its what makes us human, always striving to be better at what we do

Not me. I'm ok with average as long as I'm having fun doing it and I'm a happy camper

I leave the "striving for perfection" to others anyday . It's a hobby mate

Tilt (Michael) · #9 27-04-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobF

I know, I know - another Eta

Rob, firstly I honestly don't mind how many images of NGC 3372 are posted up on IIS. It's a spectacular deep space system and your images are very good.

Michael

RobF (Rob) · #10 27-04-2010, 07:26 PM

Many thanks guys. Really appreciate the encouragement. I'm quite happy how this one cooked up in the end.

Brendan and Peter - also appreciate the assistance and input re the guider. I agree Brendan this is likely to improve productivity (less discarded subs) as well as giving (hopefully) tighter tracking.

Must admit I try not to be too obsessive with hobby and always trying to keep the fun in it. Trouble is I think we're all a bit obsessive compulsive in the first place for even trying to do this stuff......

There always seems to be some new improvement or goal to shoot for thanks to the gang here at IIS.

danielsun · #11 27-04-2010, 08:05 PM

Rob, That is just beautiful and really love the 3rd Ha image.

Cheers Daniel.

mill (Martin) · #12 27-04-2010, 08:09 PM

Rob that is looking very very good

I made my own finder scope guider and yes they work wonders because the flexure is totally gone and it is very light weight

danielsun · #13 27-04-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

Rob that is looking very very good

I made my own finder scope guider and yes they work wonders because the flexure is totally gone and it is very light weight

Martin I have also turned up an adapter for my finder scope too. I tried guiding with my starshoot through the finder and it worked fine and my PHD graph RA and DEC was almost flat lining which seemed good but I have gone back to the 70mm guide scope because it shows any variations more clearly or more sensitive than guiding through the finder. Guiding through the finder will be handy for when I image through the 8" to minimise on weight.

Cheers Daniel.

batema (Mark) · #14 27-04-2010, 08:34 PM

Hi Rob,

These are great images. The weathers is absolutely terrible in the south east and since we have bought our schools QHY-9 we have been able to use it about three times in 7 weeks. You could frame that hydrogen alpha shot on its own. It looks fantastic.

Mark

RobF (Rob) · #15 27-04-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsun

Rob, That is just beautiful and really love the 3rd Ha image.

Cheers Daniel.

Thanks Daniel - I should have made clearer in my post the Ha data was originally collected earlier in the year (late March). I love being able to shoot Ha from the 'burbs now (or if Moon is about) with the mono CCD

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

Rob that is looking very very good

I made my own finder scope guider and yes they work wonders because the flexure is totally gone and it is very light weight

Thanks Martin. I've got a long way to go to catch up with those great images you bagged at your last star party. Surprising its taken so long for many of us to cotton on to such a simple guiding solution. Who cares if it works!

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielsun

Martin I have also turned up an adapter for my finder scope too. I tried guiding with my starshoot through the finder and it worked fine and my PHD graph RA and DEC was almost flat lining which seemed good but I have gone back to the 70mm guide scope because it shows any variations more clearly or more sensitive than guiding through the finder. Guiding through the finder will be handy for when I image through the 8" to minimise on weight.

Cheers Daniel.

Mmmm - I suspect I was chasing the seeing quite a bit at F10 before, but also getting flexure from cheap plastic focuser on the old guide refractor. Being as close to HEQ5 weight limit as I am, any weight saving is a bonus though. Agreed finder has to be less sensitive to guiding variations in some ways. I expect it will take a few months to really get to know best settings and possible performance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by batema

Hi Rob,

These are great images. The weathers is absolutely terrible in the south east and since we have bought our schools QHY-9 we have been able to use it about three times in 7 weeks. You could frame that hydrogen alpha shot on its own. It looks fantastic.

Mark

Cheers Mark. I've enjoyed doing Ha, but have really been hanging out to get some decent colour work done. I see the high pressure systems are inexorably rising higher on the continent now. Only a matter of weeks until we get reliable imaging weather (I hope...!). Jetstream will probably start up with a vengance then

Hagar (Doug) · #16 28-04-2010, 09:36 AM

Nice images Rob, you have to be happy with these. Great detail and colour.
Like you I will be revisiting all the standard targets for a while.

RobF (Rob) · #17 28-04-2010, 07:34 PM

Thanks Doug. I had a lot of fun on this one, learning the gear and seeing deeper than ever. Looking forward to exploring the sky more this year - old friends and new.

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #18 28-04-2010, 08:08 PM

Simply Stunning Rob!

All ripper shots, I even love the Ha one at the end (and I DONT like Ha as a rule!)

Fantastic results. Well done!!!

Cheers

Chris