Stars everywhere

[multiweb]

Here's 4 panels of 40min each from last night in Infrared on the eta carina nebula area. Pretty wide field stitched together with Registar. Camera was QHY9 on FSQ106N with G11/Lodestar OAG. 20x2min subs. Gotta work out the bandpass better so I can go longer subs and not bloat the stars. At the moment I just cut off anything before 740nm but collect everything onwards. I have a set in the mail to cut off around 10nm bands increments which should allow me to do tri-color palettes.

Seeing was pretty good. Moon was up but it didn't seem to bother the southern side of the sky too much. Clouds rolled in heavily around 1:00am.

I have a 70% version here (http://www.astropic.net/astro/NGC3372_IR_FSQ_fff.jpg)[8MB]
and a HD version here (http://www.astropic.net/astro/NGC3372_IR_FSQ_HD.jpg)[2MB]

Enjoy the view. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Wonderful. I got an Edmunds Optics infrared filter for guiding and its something like that.

Greg.

[omegacrux]

Nice I like these kind of pics
Yup lotsa stars

David

[Placidus]

Millions of stars!

[Peter Ward]

Cool.

I've tinkered with infrared, but to date have had mixed results.

I suspect there is off band leakage (eg UV) that causes star bloat with some filters.

You might want to try a UV cut in the image train as well :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Good work Marc, just for getting out there, the use of IR makes it a bit more interesting too :thumbsup:

Mike

[multiweb]

Thanks Greg. This is a broadband Astronomik 2" 740nm but I'm getting some 1.25" from Edmunds.




Thanks guys. Different take on known objects. Good for moon nights too.



Thanks Peter. You are absolutely right about the UV leakage. I normally use a UV and IR cut to narrow the bandwidth but need to work out where to chain the filters in the imaging train with the new scope. With other scopes I used GSO tube extensions and they have threaded end which are convenient to add filters.


Thanks Mike. Yeah, anything that allows me to image under my bright orange skies.

[atalas]

Good to see you out there enjoying your FSQ Marc.

[multiweb]

Thanks Louie. Yes I surely am. Still trying different things and sorting out adapters. Getting there now. The focus changes so quickly with temperature that it is not practical at this stage to expose any longer than 5min. One of the things I need to figure out.

[NOMH]

Nice image Marc. My TOA-130 is very sensitive to temperature changes. Using that scope is what drove me to automation just so I could get some sleep at night. I was focusing every 20 minutes at times during the first hour after startup and every hour or so after that. I think all Tak refractors are like that.

JB

[RickS]

A lovely big FOV and a nice alternative view, Marc!

[DJT]

A different and very very nice take on the area.
Interesting to see how you get on with the different cut offs:thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Thanks mate. So what did you end up doing? Focusing based on temperature?


Thanks Rick. :thumbsup:


Thanks David. :thumbsup: Yes, I'm keen to see what the results are too, see if tri color will make for an interesting picture.

[Ross G]

Hi Marc.

Something different...looks great.

Good to see you're pushing the limits of your new equipment already!

Ross.

[Stevec35]

Nicely done Marc. I've done a bit of infrared myself and it's a fascinating area.

Cheers

Steve