M 83 from Astrofest.

[batema]

Hi,

Taken with 60Da using my W/O Flt 110 at ISO 800. 10 min exposures for a total of 2 hours with darks, flats and bias frames.

Comments welcome.

Mark

[jjjnettie]

Looks like you got some quality data on this one . :)

[ozstronomer]

Nice capture Mark, lots of detail in the galaxy

[Peter Ward]

Focus is a bit off, not enough image scale, stars are bleached and the galaxy colour is too yellow.

Guiding is good.

Stick with it :thumbsup:

[alpal]

I think that is a bit tough Peter:

The focus is probably the best you'd get with a Bayer matrix.

The image scale is what the FLT 110 gives.

Yes - the processing could be changed but you could say that about any image.

Bad guiding can still give round stars but those stars will be bigger so
how can you quantify the guiding?
I have heard stories of people being amazed after using an ASA DDM60 mount
& getting much sharper images than a cheaper mount.

There is also the question of seeing - although at short focal length
it probably wasn't a problem.

Anyway - it's a good effort & I hope to see more. :)

[batema]

Thank you all.

[gregbradley]

Nice tight shot Mark and great work with a DSLR.

Greg.

[allan gould]

Nice one Mark, just a pity you had to go back early from Astrofest but Los Vegas made up for it. Good to see my tax dollars being put to a worthwhile and uplifting experience for our renaissance men.
Allan

[batema]

No worries.

[RickS]

Nice shot, Mark! Nice to see M83 in its natural habitat :thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

I just call 'em as I see 'em. I thought most would know I'm not PC.

By scale, I mean galaxies need FL....which the 110 doesn't have a lot of.

OK bad guiding *can* give round stars, but IMHO it almost always manifests itself as eggy/trailed stars.

The WO110 can produce needle like stars....which I'm not seeing here..and as for the Bayer matrix bit....seriously? ....I'm still not seeing 12 micron stars...

But they are round..which is good.

M83 is mainly blue in colour.

As I said, stick with it Mark, work on the focus, colour balance and you'll soon be getting top shelf results..

[batema]

I am always up for feedback Peter. Could you offer a suggestion on the bleached stars. Is that due to my processing or too long exposure at 10 minutes. Also how do people get pinpoint stars with the Flt 110. I thought i had the focus right or is my EQ6pro not a good enough mount in terms of tracking to produce such stars. I wonder if people are producing pinpoint stars with better mounts.

[Peter Ward]

The full well capacity of most DSLR sensors is not great, hence I'd look at 5 minute subs and a lower ISO to keep the noise and star colours under control.

The EQ6 is probably accurate enough, just keep your guiding intervals down to about 1 second, and lower the aggression on the corrections so you are not chasing the seeing.

The 10x live-view on your 60Da should be more than enough to nail the focus..but access to a larger screen (eg Laptop) certainly helps.

[batema]

Thanks Peter.

[firstlight]

Great work Mark,

Here is my own effort with a WO 110 Megrez, modded 450D, 5 minute subs, 800 ISO, darks and flats, 2 hours. I think you have the better of it, just need to colour balance it better. Attached is also a full size crop, did you crop your original? Also mine might be a little too blue.

Cheers
Tony