Helix Nebula - NGC7293

[athua]

Managed to capture the Helix Nebula last night.
The image is made up of approx 150 x 40 second subs at ISO1600.
Taken with an unmodded Canon 60D DSLR with a f6.3 focal reducer.

Having difficultly getting accurate enough polar alignment for longer subs without any guiding on a C8 SCT.

[raymo]

Good job. Even with super PA you will struggle to get consistently round
stars over about 60 secs with the C-8.
raymo

[athua]

Thanks Raymo.

I'm going to try guiding using a OAG soon so hopefully I will be able to get some longer subs once the guiding is setup and working.

[MGTechDVP]

Pretty good for 40 sec subs...

A OAG (once you get a guide star which can be quite tedious at times) will allow you to definitely be able to get longer subs... I'm consistently doing 30minute and occasionally 45 minute subs when imaging narrowband... that was possible only with the OAG... even a guide scope was causing drift due to flexture and mirror movement at these durations.

[Somnium]

Great colour in this image, well done. investment in guiding equipment pays off big time. what method are you using to PA, have you thought of downloading a plate solving tool like astrotortilla and using their polar alignment system? i haven't drift aligned since i started using it and it would probable be a lot more accurate

[athua]

Thanks for all the positive feedback.

I am currently using the Polar Alignment routine built into the Celestron AVX mount which seems to work ok. I'm sure its not as accurate as Plate solving hence the relatively short subs that I am currently able to get. I have downloaded AstroTortilla but have not tried using it to control the mount as yet. Will familiarise myself more with it and maybe give it a go one of these nights.