Wide field Tarantula nebula in 6nm Ha - NGC 2070

[whale]

A wide field image of the Tarantula nebula with a 6nm Ha filter.

Go here for the full image
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholasjones/8630318775/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Details:
Three by 120 second subs using an Astronomik 6nm Ha filter
Auto guide: SBIG ST-i
Location: Heathcote, Victoria
Date: 6th April 2013
Camera: QSI583wsg mono attached using a Televue 0.8 reducer
Capture software: Nebulosity
Scope: Stellarvue 80mm Apo Triplet
Mount: Celestron CGEM DX
NGC 2070/2048/2077

[Ross G]

A good looking phot Nicholas.

Sharp with nice detail.

Ross.

[Rod771]

Looks good Nicholas, nice shot. :thumbsup:

How are you finding the mount?

[whale]

Thanks Rod! :thumbsup:

Yeah the mount seems pretty good although I've only used it for shorter focal length imaging so far.

I'm interested in your Edge HD-Hyperstar setup. How do you find it? Could you point towards some pics you've taken with it?

I'm considering going down the same path. I'm told my QSI583 would be ok on an Edge HD11, but I think I'd be pushing it on my Edge HD925.

cheers

Nick

[whale]

Thanks Ross!

cheers

Nick

[Rod771]

Yeah same here, I haven't done any F10 imaging yet , when I do I think I'll be purchasing the HD focal reducer. The focal length of my hyperstar set up
is 587mm and the longest subs I've take so far have been 40 sec, so the mount really has been doing it real easy.

Using the DSLR on the Hyperstar produces on huge field of view and is prone to smeared stars in the corners, its probably optics but could also be
the collimation of the hyperstar. It can act like a bit of a princess sometimes.

I'm perfectly confident that the field of view will be nice and flat when doing
prime focus imaging.

I've just been imaging for 2 months so my pics are all first attempts at each
target. I'm happy with what I'm getting for just a novice :)

Here's some links, Orion is the best so far (no surprise). It was taken from Home (Sydney suburb). The rest are from IISAC at Lostock.

M42
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=104403

M20
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=105992

Tarantula Nebula
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=105900

M8
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=106029


My big problem is with the Nexstar+ hand control. The goto is very good and it tracks in EQ south fine.

When I try the polar alignment procedure and sync on a eastern star (for example) the mount should slew away a bit from the star in order for me to adjust alt and az manually, but it slews all the way around to the west?? Wanting me swing the whole mount around and point north. It thinks I'm in the North Hemi even though it knows my location?:screwy: I've updated
firmware but problem remains.

Anyway I ditched the nexstar polar align procedure for Alignmaster, it works great.

Here's some good info on the CGEM DX with regards to custom modifications
and PEC training etc.
http://www.astronomyforum.net/telescope-mounts-forum/131925-cgem-dx-review.html?highlight=cgem

Your Stellarvue scope looks very nice.

Cheers

Rod

[whale]

Hi Rod,

thanks so much for the great information!
Your images are great, I agree the M42 looks like the best one, the colours are fantastic. :thumbsup:

I'm not sure what could be up with your DX slewing off like that during polar alignment. When I do the All Star align the mount just slews a small distance away and then returns to star Im using to correct the alt-az. I got my DX from the USA and I had to move the az peg on the mounts base plate over to the other side.

My aim for the next new moon is to do some LRGB on my mono QSI583, targeting Lagoon and Triffid in the one image. I hope the colours come out half as good as your M42. The little Stellarvue 80, combined with a 0.8 provides a very wide field, but I will be wanting to do some longer focal length imaging before too long.

cheers

Nick

[Rod771]

Thanks Mate and your welcome :)

Yeah I got mine from the states too, and had to set the adapter plate the opposite way to get the peg over the south leg. Its good to able to chat with someone with the same gear :) If any problems come up feel free to let me know.

My Lagoon actually had half the Trifid on the edge of frame so I cropped the image a bit. I'll get them in the same frame soon too. :thumbsup:

Cheers

Rod

[jase]

There is a considerable amount information left in the shadows. Would suggest the data is stretched more to let these shine through. Control the highlights as you stretch the data to avoid clipping. The data looks the goods - round stars, crisp details, just spend some more time with it. Looking forward to seeing more.