M8 + Helix with ED80

[FOOTPRINT]

Hi All,
Thought Id best do some imaging before I forget how, its been overcast and wet here for ages, finally had a clear night so tried M8 which is directly overhead now, and the Helix nebula about the same using the ED80 at F-7.5 which is fine for M8, but the Helix nebula is only a small object in it, ill try this object with the LX200/10" at F-10 and use the ED80 to guide, anyway it gave the gear a run.

Both pictures are cropped, M8 was 4 Exp. at ISO-400 DF removed, Helix nebula was 5 Exp. at ISO-800 DF removed, The Helix has a satellite trail across the middle of it, also a dust mote on the right red nebulosity (must clean things).

Ed80 for imaging-EOS300D (modded) Camera, guided on LX200-10" + MX7C.

cheers.....Jim

[RB]

Wow Jim, great images especially M8.
Also great colour in both.

Thanks for sharing.

[rat156]

Hi Jim,

Great shots, love the lagoon.

In order to get rid of the satelite trail, try a median combine rather than adding the stack together, I've found it works well, and with five frames should work great.

Cheers
Stuart

[Ric]

Great shots Jim,
Love the colour in M8

top stuff

[davewaldo]

Great images! I'm looking at buying an 80ED scope to create images just like yours. What mount are you using or what would you recomend?

[tornado33]

Great pics there.
Scott

[Lee]

Nice images - I like the satellite trail - certainly doesn't detract from the object in any way IMO.....

[h0ughy]

I love what you got! Looking forward to image these again before summer kicks in with avangance

[FOOTPRINT]

Hi Davewaldo,
I use the LX200-10" Scope on its mount + plus a wedge, and piggyback the ED80, but you could use an EQ5 mount or one of many other mounts available, depends which way you wish to go, and your budget, also you will need a guiding camera/software/computer if you want to autoguide, just the mount if not- for shorter duration pictures.

cheers....Jim

[FOOTPRINT]

Hi All,
Many thanks for the comments, and HOUGHY yes I thought id get M8 before its too late, I cant image anything west of overhead due light pollution, I try and get all my objects as they rise in the east over the sea no light pollution there as yet, But yes M8 is a real photogenic subject, sort of next to Carina and M42. There is a large area of nebulosity a few degrees to the east of M8, but its quite faint, and if you go for it, it generally overexposes M8, but its a challenge, not long to go and M42 will rise by 10 PM.

cheers....Jim

[Striker]

Nice work Jim,

Flat frames will get rid of the dust.

[FOOTPRINT]

Hi Tony,
O.K. thanks for that, I must give that a go one day, ive never used flat frames only darks, sounds like it might be worthwhile.

cheers....Jim