Horsehead from Burbs with Orion AG10

[cventer]

After a 4 month imaging drought since I got my new toy I finally got some data over xmas new year period and getting around to processing it now.

This sort of makes this image my official 2nd light for my AG10 from Orion Optics.

very nice to capture data quickly at f3.8

This is 2 nights worth of HA RGB.

What made this very challenging was 2nd night I forgot to turn on the chip cooler so all images on 2nd night were at 22 degrees above 0. Doh....Had to take darks at that temp as well.

Will post up larger version later. This is full frame of the SBIG STF-8300 without any cropping.

Composition is not ideal, but its what I have.

[alpal]

Some nice detail there.
Well done.

[strongmanmike]

Congratulations Chris, looking good :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

I was wondering when you would post an image from that setup. Nice image. A tough target from the burbs though. You did well.

Greg.

[RickS]

Good to see some results from your AG, Chris. Must be my turn next :)

[Larryp]

Nice image!:thumbsup:

[cventer]

Thanks everyone for nice comments. good to get back in the saddle.

[cventer]

Thanks Greg

I have so much data from this scope, but just have not had time to sit down and process it. The actual imaging is no longer the issue. With my setup mostly automated now with CCD Autopilot and automated roof, I can gather data faster than I can process.

Have Rosette, Helix, M42 and a few others in works. When you dont process often and deal with the number and size of files we do processing is a huge comittment. The last 4 months of 2012 were just overwhelming in terms of work, business trips and social functions...

Got to find more time this year to process. The more I do it the faster I will get.

One thing I have found with these fast scopes is you must take flats every session. slightly out of focus night to night from temp changes and flats are no good from previous night.

Also dealing with a wicked light flair at moment. mostly on OIII. I wonder if I have filter in backwards ?

Once I have processed this lot the STF8300 will take a holiday and the 16803 will get some time on the AG10

[gregbradley]

Also dealing with a wicked light flair at moment. mostly on OIII. I wonder if I have filter in backwards ?

Once I have processed this lot the STF8300 will take a holiday and the 16803 will get some time on the AG10[/QUOTE]

A nice problem to have. Automated imaging even if the observatory is in your backyard sounds appealling.

Yeah bring on the 16803! 8300 may have trouble with seeing at times at that focal length - or close to it.

Greg.

[cventer]

Someone pointed out after hours of staring at this that I needed to lower the black point I did this and added more noise reduction it. looks much better now.

Attached original and updated