Ceravolo vs Hubble - the Hourglass Nebula

[RickS]

I'm now testing the Ceravolo 300 Astrograph at f/9 (2700mm focal length). We had a brief spell of clearish weather on Friday night so I grabbed some Ha subs of M8 and got about an hour's worth which weren't too badly affected by the thin (and thick) clouds that kept rolling through. Seeing was pretty ordinary as well. Still, at least it wasn't raining like the rest of the new moon weekend here :mad2:

The first image compares a small crop containing the Hourglass Nebula with a Hubble image. I'm pretty happy with the result, especially considering the conditions. The body of the Hourglass is only about 25 x 15 arcsec. I've seen this same comparison done before by others, most notably Rolf Olsen, so thanks for the idea!

The second image is only slightly cropped from the full field of my Alta U16M camera at this FL. I'd like to get some more data, including colour, if the skies ever clear.

Thanks for looking...

Cheers,
Rick.

[Satchmo]

Both Hubble and the Ceravolo appear to be performing to their theoretical limits for ground based and spaced based telescope.

[Octane]

Wow, the detail in the Hourglass Nebula... I feel like diving into it!

H

[strongmanmike]

Yeh excellent Rick nice work indeed, I like these comparisons, fun to compare and find stuff in your own data :thumbsup:

How easy is doing the change over in FL's with this scope?

Mike

[RickS]

Thanks, Mark. I think Hubble is probably closer but I'm doing my best :)



Thanks, H!



Thank you, Mike. It has been a bit of a stretch going from an image scale of 3.5 arcsec to 0.67 but with an OAG and some practice at deconvolution I think I'm getting the hang of it. I probably should have spent some time in between with the AG12. That's my next scope commissioning project :thumbsup:

[RobF]

I love these sorts of comparisons - its just blows your mind away what amateurs are capable of these days (if you guys could be called "amateur" - certainly not in quality).
This beast is looking incredibly promising Rick. Looking forward to drooling next time I see you in action (or the AG12, or both!!).


I'll delete this if you wish but the best clear skies and seeing I've ever experienced were Wiruna in 2010. Didn't get any Ha data and the lum is blown out, but a tight crop of the RGB from my 8" Newt gave this. I shudder to think what the Ceravolo could do from such steady skies.

[RickS]

Thanks, Rob. Hope to catch up some time soon. Perhaps at Astrofest?

What was the focal length of the newt? I presume it was at something of a disadvantage there.

Cheers,
Rick.

[RobF]

Its a bit sad that's it almost Astrofest and we're still struggling to get a decent new moon weekend! :sadeyes:
Hoping to get some time away with the kids next month - fingers crossed. I'm travelling for work around AF alas this year Rick. Might save me some money though not seeing what you have :P

The M8 was with the QHY9 (among first serious pics I took with it) with 1000mm (F5) focal length - FOV would normally frame M8 nicely but nothing like the arcsec/pixel you have. Peter Ward has commented before about the first 80% of engineering being relatively straight-forward, then to get more you're really have to pay for quality. Ahem - I think my image is struggling to be 20% of your first light snaps rather than 80% :)

[marc4darkskies]

Nice result Rick! That Ceravolo looks like a keeper and having a dual FL system is a real bonus!

Cheers, Marcus

[RickS]

Catch you another time then, Rob. And I wouldn't want your kids to be without shoes because I introduced you to another sexy scope :lol:

Good gear definitely makes a difference and allows you to get decent results with less effort. Either way, getting the best result with any set up is hard work and that challenge is what it's all about for me. Oh, and I'd definitely rate your image better than you do :thumbsup:



Thanks, Marcus. Very happy with it so far. Any news on the delivery of your new drool-worthy beast?

[marc4darkskies]

End of August at this stage. Pain really, much of September I'm not going to be around so with the configuration I need to do (wiring, software etc) first light may not happen until Oct :sadeyes: Excitment is starting to build though! :D

[RickS]

I'm sure you could find somebody who would mind it until you get back :lol: Look forward to hearing how you go and, of course, seeing some images!

[Larryp]

Great result, Rick

[ozstronomer]

Very nice Rick, great comparison.

Just think what data you could collect at Astrofest. :)

[SkyViking]

Nice comparison there Rick, the resolutions looks good.
It's great fun to do these and see what we as amateurs can squeeze out :)

[gregbradley]

A remarkable result Rick. That scope seems to be really hot. Dual focal lengths is a very smart feature.

Greg.

[RickS]

Thanks, Larry.



Thanks, Geoff. I hope to spend a few days at Astrofest and it would be great to get some decent weather.



Thanks, Rolf. It is surprising what it's possible to achieve with relatively modest gear despite weather and air mass.



Thanks, Greg. Yes, it's a versatile scope and seems to perform well at both focal lengths.

[astronobob]

Unreal Rick, i for wonder about these hubble images, hour glass, cats eye, eskimo neb etc, they seem impossible to reach for some of us; so, with guys like yourself doing these incredable works, it does put the expance of space and size into an understandable perspective, tho, not just that, but also the perspective to what gear you use for this scale of imagary and work into producing them, compared to us little 'astro folk :)

And ill admit, I never knew the hourglass was even in the Lagoon :lol: !

And thanx also to RobF for the view in the 8", good stuff, I have now found it in one of my images, tho be it from an ED80 from a few yrs back, Lol, ,
Chalk one up for your self Rick :cool:
Great show ! ! !

[multiweb]

Great close up Rick. Really cool. :thumbsup:

[naskies]

Very nice, Rick! I'm sure you'll be getting some very impressive results if the weather ever clears up around here.

[John Hothersall]

Great to have the F9 up your sleeve for closeups, great for planetaries. Decent amount of detail you've got. When will the cloud, rain and wind end?

John.

[RickS]

Thanks, Bob. You are too kind :D



Thank you, Marc.



Thanks, Dave. I'm sure we're all hoping for some better weather!



Thanks, John. I'd love to unleash the scope on some small targets when the weather finally turns good.

Cheers,
Rick.

[David Fitz-Henr]

Super detail Rick! The comparisons are always interesting as well.

[RickS]

Thanks, David!

[Peter Ward]

Ceravolo *knows* optics, so I would not have expected anything else.

Superb result! :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Thank, Peter.

[Ross G]

Great looking photo Rick.

Amazing detail!

Amazing telescope!

Good luck.

Ross.

[RickS]

Ta, Ross.