A quick M104 Sombrero 25 mins

[Screwdriverone]

Hello again,

I say a quick one, as this was at the end of my imaging night on the 11th, I noticed the Sombrero had come up and I thought, why not?

It definitely needs more data as this is only 25 mins total exposure and a satellite decided to spoil the party. I removed this track with PS.

Thanks for looking, any tips or critiques are welcome.

Image details:

Target: M104 Sombrero Galaxy
Acquired: 11th Jan 2013
Camera: Atik 314L+ OSC CCD
Scope: Skywatcher BD200N Reflector
Mount: HEQ5Pro
Guide: PHD guiding using EQmod and DBK21AU618 on Orion 50mm guidescope
Total Time: 25 mins
CCD Temp: 0 degrees Celsius
Exposures: 5 x 300 sec
Darks/Bias/Flats: 20 x 180 sec darks, no flats, 10 x 180 sec bias.
Capture Program: Artemis Capture
Processing: DSS, Startools, Photoshop CS3

Uncompressed Image : Link (https://www.dropbox.com/s/yayvq5xlyhoznq3/M104%20Quick.png) (5Mb PNG file)

Cheers

Chris

[Larryp]

Gotta get me an Atik, Chris-great result!

[Screwdriverone]

Thanks Laurie,

Its a quick go at this target, only 5 x 5 min subs, but MUCH better than my previous attempts, being so close makes it so easy on some of these objects, but tracking is more critical.

They are a beautiful camera, just tell em I sent you when you go to buy one. ;)

Cheers

Chris

[mithrandir]

For years I've had an Atik 16ic that normally serves as a guide camera. I could be tempted by a 428EX or 460EX plus an EFW2 to replace my QHY8 but the management might be upset.

[Screwdriverone]

The Atik's have the same Sony chips as the QHY series but I think the value side of the pixels/$ rest with the QHY's. Although I think the Atik wins on the simplicity and compactness, which I think makes them great starter CCDs as they are very easy to setup and use.

I was going to buy a QHY8L at one stage, but got tempted with the immediacy and review on the Atik I read in AS&T. Originally I bought the $899 314E but when it turned out to be mono, I switched up to the $1499 314L+ (shhhhh, be vewy vewy quiet!) which has the set point cooling and slightly larger pixels, but mainly because it was there and I was set to try and use it over XMAS.

Cheers

Chris

[Ross G]

Great galaxy photo Chris.

You have really mastered the new camera.

Ross.

[Screwdriverone]

Thanks Ross,

I am certainly getting enough practice in with it....

Here's to many more clear nights, so I can add to the tally which its mounting rapidly.

Cheers

Chris

[RobF]

Nice Chris. Sounds like you're enjoying the Atik investment.

One question - how are you focusing? I know you'll have cropped in a fair way, but stars on a Newt could/should be touch tighter (depending on seeing too of course I s'pose).

[Screwdriverone]

Thanks Rob,

The shot isn't cropped, its the native FOV of the Atik / Newt combo.

I use a bahtinov mask for focusing, it may have slipped before I took this, I check it regularly, but it could have been out.

I have noticed the stars bloat slightly compared to the DSLR, probably due to the longish exposures and the increased sensitivity of the CCD.

Chris