NGC1365 with a cooled DSLR 22.16 hours

[rmuhlack]

Another image with my cold-finger modded DSLR , this time of NGC1365 in the constellation Fornax. Image data collected across 5 nights from Sept 28 to Oct 18th. Given this galaxy is part of the Fornax Galaxy Cluster I was expecting there to be a few background galaxies, however I was surprised to see that when cross-referencing with the SIMBAD (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/) and NED (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA/IPAC_Extragalactic_Database) databases there are more than 600 galaxies within the full frame.

Capture details:
Telescope: Vixen VC200L with f6.4 reducer
Camera: DIY modded Canon 1000D with regulated peltier cooling @ 10C
Guiding: Lacerta OAG with QHY5L-II
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ6
Exposure details: 133 x 10mins @ ISO1600

As well as the close-up crop and full frame view, I also have here (just for fun) a comparison with Martin Pugh's APOD from 2012 (which also shows SN 2012fr) as well as an animated annotated view from the Aladin Sky Atlas showing the cross referenced SIMBAD/NED galaxies.

Hi res here: http://www.astrobin.com/full/129160/0/

PS I am aware that some of the star shapes are not perfect. Collimation and polar alignment could probably do with a little tweak.

[Amaranthus]

Very nice Richard - I'd hardly have noticed the star shapes if you'd not put in the comparison to Martin Pugh's APOD! Overall excellent, but perhaps a little too red-purple in the spiral arms? You're getting great service from the modded DSLR.

[Rod771]

Well that's just awesome if you ask me. :) Your DSLR technique holds up quite well when compared to Martin's image. Well done Richard! You should be proud with that one.:thumbsup:

[alpal]

A great picture Richard.
You've gone really deep to get so many other galaxies.

cheers
Allan

[RickS]

A great result, Richard, and well worth the time you spent on it.

Cheers,
Rick.

[PeterEde]

Awesome

[Placidus]

Very fine. Pleasing colour.

[NOMH]

I really like the second image the best. Interesting galaxy and you have captured it well with a tricked out home modified camera. Good stuff!

JB

[IanP]

Beautiful picture, Richard.
The only thing I'd do, that is if you use PixInsight, I'd create "ring mask" and reshape stars .. ;)

[gregbradley]

You are really putting out some super DSLR images Richard. These are outstanding. The long hours is really helping.

Greg.

[Camelopardalis]

That's a beauty Richard :thumbsup: one of my favourite galaxies :D

[Paul Haese]

Nice image Richard. You have been picking up similar seeing to me obviously.

I like the colour and the detail. Nice to see a smooth background. We really must catch up some stage.

[cometcatcher]

Superb Richard. Especially since the 1000D is getting on 6 years old now.

[LewisM]

That's a cracking image, no doubting that!

[marco]

Nice one Richard, despite the non perfect stars you managed to get some nice details and a remarkable color balance, I am always amazed by what you are able to get out of your DSLR :thumbsup:

Regards
Marco

[h0ughy]

awesome result - excellent work in what you have achieved

[Rex]

That's an awesome image Richard, one to be very proud of, congrats mate!

[Andre27]

Awesome image well done.

[Shiraz]

:thumbsup: very attractive image Richard

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Great work Richard!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbs up:

No doubt about it, your squeezing every last drop out your setup.

Cheers,

Justin.

[SkyViking]

That looks superb, really impressive work with a DSLR! And the colours are very good. Pushing your equipment to the limit is the way to go :thumbsup:

[Ross G]

A great looking photo Richard.

Amazing work!

How low does the cooling on your camera go?

Ross.

[rmuhlack]

Thank you all for the encouraging feedback. :)

From a tech perspective, i'm keen to push the limits and in this respect the benefits of a permanent setup (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=1107017&postcount=36) with automation have certainly revolutionised my imaging, as now all I have to do is queue up the targets and SGPro takes care of the rest (GoTo, plate solving, auto meridian flips, auto focus etc). In the morning all I need to do is close the obs roof - too easy!

All this makes it so much easier to rack up the subs on a target, which seems to pay dividends when using a DSLR, especially if the goal is to "go deep". The cooling mod also helps a lot, as now I can take longer subs without having signal swamped by thermal noise. Temp regulation also means that my subs and darks are well matched, resulting in better calibration and smoother images.

Speaking more generally, working as researcher and now more recently in higher education i'm passionate about 'discovery' and science communication (particularly to young people), and that's the inspiration for me in projects like this one: to catch a glimpse of the scale and abundance of our universe and to share that with family and friends (and perhaps even their friends and children) - that they might be also inspired by discovery and the wonder of our universe.

[rmuhlack]

Initial testing showed the max delta T to be around 25-30C below ambient (Temp regulation is via a simple on/off thermostat, with a temperature sensor positioned next to the sensor as part of the mod). However that typically will take the sensor significantly below the dew point which results in heavy condensation (despite having fitted a nichrome dew heater wire to the front of the sensor as part of the cooling mod). Because of this I have been operating the camera during winter and early spring at a regulated set point of 10 C. This has been above the dew point, but still substantially lower than the typical operating temp of the sensor during long exposure imaging. I may look in the future to see if I can fit a dessicant pack to the internals but for now the current setup seems to work okay.