Horsehead Nebula Ha

[Atmos]

After the clouds parted just before 3:30 am this morning I decided that I'd shoot the Horsehead Nebula for the first time. The moon was a bit closer than I'd have liked so it's probably reduces contrast a bit (a lot!).

I had plans on re-collimating my focuser earlier but it clouded out before I had a chance earlier on in the evening. It isn't showing up too bad in this one but I quickly did the Helix earlier and it is showing it a lot worse.

This is 12x600s, mostly wanted to test my FOV (not quite enough to get in the Flame Nebula [calling for a mosaic]). I think I went a bit hard removing the moon gradient but that can be fixed with less moon hit data :)

Full Res (http://www.astrobin.com/full/264907/0/)

[Slawomir]

Looks very good Colin! You must be very happy with your new mount :thumbsup:

[glend]

Very nice Colin.

[silv]

yes, very nice.
This b/w version is actually the first image from which I can understand the name "horse head".

[Atmos]

Thanks Suavi, loving the mount! Just need the moon to go away! Thinking of getting out the laser collimator at some point this week, hopefully get the focuser redone before Snake Valley :P



Thanks Glen, the ASI1600 has a nicer FOV :P



Thanks Annette, there are a LOT of better shots out there of this region :) Just starting the Ha for a HaLRGB shot of the region later on in the season.

[batema]

Beautiful. Can't wait to see the colour version.

[SimmoW]

OMG THE waves! Great Colin, really sharp and detailed, good promise

[Placidus]

Extra good, Colin. You can make out at least three of those HH objects between the horse and NGC 2023. Well done.

[spiezzy]

that is a awesome image colin very nice it definitely has the WOW factor
cheers Pete :eyepop:

[Tony_]

Nice one Colin!
Good detail in the head. Lucky to get any clear skies at the moment - moon or not. I've only been out once in the past 4 weeks!

Tony.

[vlazg]

Very nice Col, the detail is fantastic

[RobF]

Top stuff - that really is looking very good Colin.
(wish my first HH looked remotely like that! :P)

[Kunama]

Nice one Colin, looking forward to your progress on this......

[Atmos]

Colour version coming in maybe 4 months when it rises at a more reasonable hour :P



Thanks Simon, looking forward to some better seeing and clear skies (aren't we all) to try to get more detail around the horse.



I hadn't actually noticed them, had to compare it against your shot where you've circled them :P Will try and capture that fourth one later in the season.



Thanks Pete :)



The weather really had been terrible! I set up, got in an hour of the Helix and then it clouded out for 4-5 hours before clearing up again early morning. Getting something is better than nothing!



Thanks Rob, I think I butchered it a bit in the gradient removal looking at other renditions around the web. Less more effected data will greatly help remove that though :)



:thumbsup:



Thanks Matt, wonder if we'll be able to get a peek at Tak Attack 2017 :P

[Andy01]

Fire Truck!
Colin,that's a stunning result! :eyepop:

Wonderful detail on the horses mane and the gaseous curtains and clouds are rendered beautifully. :thumbsup:

Very well done :D

PS: Also congrats on the 3:30am start. I too tried to image on Monday night with my new 3nm NII filter - got just 1x30min sub before the clouds rolled in. Never mind I said, the forecast says clear again by 1am. Went to bed, got up at 12:30 , still cloudy, ok, reset alarm for 1:30, fall asleep, wake up at 1:30, anticipating nice clear skies, but noooooo - 100% cloud... aaaaagggghhh - gave up, back to bed, slept in & barely made it to work ontime!

[willik]

Very nice shot good detail a tad early for me to take in Perth.

[Camelopardalis]

That's a cracker Colin :thumbsup: what width narrow band filter are you using?

[graham.hobart]

That's a real good one Col, it must be horsey season already!!
Lovely roiling folds on that curtain of gas.
:thumbsup:

Graz Mc Cloud

[Mickoid]

Wow, fantastic detail. With shots like that Colin, they'll be taking Hubble out of orbit!! :lol: Well done.

[RickS]

Excellent work, Colin!

[Atmos]

Thanks Andy, I am pretty sure I may have removed some of the fainter nebulosity in an attempt to remove the moon gradient. Found it nigh impossible to figure out the actual gradient as there is no region in that FOV that doesn't have Ha!

I do feel your pain, I got in an hour of Helix and then the next half hour was clouded out. Got up every hour after that, looked outside and then went back to bed for another hour. By 3:30 it was predominantly clear, told it to do 12x600" and went back to bed :lol: The worst part is getting up at 5:30 to pack everything up so that the dog has nothing to chew on during the day!







Thanks :) Has nothing on the detail in your SRO version Rick :)



When I get a 2m+ telescope and no atmosphere then I'll try to dethrone Hubble :lol:



Thanks Dunk. Using an Astrodon 3nm Ha. There are times I wonder whether I should have gone with the 5nm to fit in the NII passband but the 3nm certainly keep up the contrast under not so optimal conditions.

[Camelopardalis]

It certainly does seem to :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Quite a nice B&W Horsey there Colin, once again showing great tenacity to get data against the odds, love your enthusiasm :thumbsup:...and congratulations, looks like your image coaxed some old Ward data out of the woodwork too, love it :lol:

Mike

[Atmos]

I actually wouldn't mind comparing them at some point but funds doesn't allow me to buy a 5nm Ha filter just for the sake of it :lol:



Thanks Mike, I'll admit the mount makes it considerably easier to get the data. I just push Start and walk away, it is repeatable unlike the EQ6 was. WHEN it worked it worked well but sometimes it just didn't want to cooperate :P

If I can even approach the detail seen here (http://billsnyderastrophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/IC434-Horsehead-PS-combine-PS3-V2-for-Web.jpg) I'll be happy. I redid my focuser collimation this afternoon, 2" Glatter laser and a big X taped to the dew shield :P I guess I won't really know how that has turned out for... Well... A couple of months the way the weather is going at the moment!

I am keen to see what Mr Ward can get with his 16".

[multiweb]

I'd be stoked with that Colin. Great mount. Green with envy. :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

Okay, so the stars aren't perfect at the corners - so what! This is an excellent shot Colin!

[leon]

I know i am probably a bit late here, beautiful image Colin, ;) you guys who do this stuff really make me jealous, :thumbsup:keep up the great work.

Leon :thumbsup:

[Atmos]

Thanks Marc, I am definitely happy with the mount :)



Hopefully fixed that on Wednesday. Printed out an X at the centre of a circle, covered my dew shield and put my Glatter in the focuser. Hopefully works :)



I know I've certainly learned a lot from the folk on here, just in awe of some of the larger scopes under steadier skies!

[Slawomir]

I am sure many of us here on IIS would love to read your impressions and a review of the mount, or at least I would! No pressure though... :)

[Atmos]

A good idea, have to start working on that :P