Sat 19-07-2014

[Mosc_007]

The weather has been bad on Viewing nights for about 8 weeks now. It wasn't looking good today either. Clouds most of the day. Still, I took the risk and went up to Linden anyway.

About 6pm all the clouds diss-appeared. The viewing was pretty good. At least until about 1:00am when the clouds came back in force.

Managed to get my First Galaxies. The Helix Nebula was cut very short by the clouds. All taken with my Meade SC8.


Centauris A Galaxy.
15 Subs at 2 Min each. Stock Canon 100D

Dumbbell Nebula.
My second attempt at this object. Last time it was about 10 degrees above the horizon looking over Sydney. I could only manage 30 sec subs and I forgot to remove the focal reducer. This time it was much higher in the sky. 10 Subs at 2 Min each. Modded Canon 1100D.

Helix Nebula.
This was cut short. I only managed to get 3 subs at 5 Min each before the Clouds came back. I will be doing this one again. Modded Canon 1100D.

Southern Pinwheel Galaxy.
15 Subs at 2 Min each. Stock Canon 100D

Sombrero Galaxy.
15 Subs at 2 Min each. I think I needed longer exposures. Stock Canon 100D.


Charles

[cometcatcher]

A good night's work Charles. They all came out well. The Helix is great!

[BruceG]

Wow! A very productive nights work! You should be very pleased with the results. Helix is on my todo list. Really like yours. Great work!

[LightningNZ]

Very impressive! The Helix looks smashing.
-Cam

[BruceG]

Charles, did you need to use any LP filter or sky glow filter with the Helix shot? I know I can get away with 3 and 4 minute subs before the sky glow becomes an issue but I guess I am a lot closer to the highway lights than the observatory site at Linden. I'm about 1o minutes drive west of there, but only around 400 metres from the highway and it's dreaded mercury vapour lights

[Mosc_007]

Thanks,

I am very happy with what I achieved. Been so long since I had good weather I wanted a number of objects. My First Galaxy has been on the list for a while.

I didn't know how dim the Helix Nebula is. But now I can see why it's called helix. Can't see the helix in the Hubble photo's because the Blue/Green hides it.

I will use the Focal reducer next time to speed up the scope. I can't do much more than 5 min subs with the DSLR's.


Charles

[Mosc_007]

Thanks,

I realy hope I can improve the Helix. If I use my Focal reducer that will speed the scope up noticable. I didn't know how dim it was.


Charles

[Mosc_007]

Thanks.

I didn't expect anyone to be impressed with the Helix. I thought it was not very good.

But not knowing how hard an object it is to Image I now understand. I will be doing more work on this object and hopefully improve it a lot.


Charles

[Mosc_007]

I did buy a CLS-CCD filter for using in the suburbs of Sydney. I have left it in the 1100D just to block the IR even when I am at linden. It's a full spectrum mod. All my Nebula shots have been with the CLS-CCD filter installed. The Galaxy and star shots with the 100D are without any filter.

The 100D can do 5 min subs with low noise. I have done some shot's with the 100D at 5 Mins and no Filter at linden. Linden Observatory is VERY dark though.


Charles

[cometcatcher]

Yes the Helix is a difficult object. You even have some of the faint outer loop of the helix. Some more subs should bring it out better.