LMC second and proper light - now with annotated version.

[strongmanmike]

After my quickie first light SMC (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/smc_and_47_tuc) I decided to hit the LMC properly, well with 4deg X 4deg field available, about half of it anyway :P

While this is presented in essentially true colour, it is in fact a HaOIIIRGB blend to specifically accentuate the ionised gases (the whole region is permeated with strands of HII and lots of OIII too).

To say I am very happy with how the mount, camera and scope performed ie. absolutely flawlessly, is an understatement (not one sub was chucked!)...it's a great feeling :) After hearing about the notoriety of the FSQ and focus shift with temperature changes, I have found that the focus actually holds pretty well as far as I can tell and here is what the guide graph looked like (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166503125/original) all three nights all night and often even better! Other than what happens when applying DDP, I used no specific processing on the stars, this is them out of the scope, I also used no noise reduction at all (just darks and dither guided) so very happy with this chip/camera. With such tiny stars across such a big field, registration is critical at this size chip, particularly when displaying at 100% full res...and critical inspection shows it is veeery close to spot on, so happy bout that :). Worth noting I have had to do no shimming or tilting or spacing adjustments, this is how I put it all together, first time, out of the boxes :prey2:

With lots of weird shaped nebulae strewn all over the scene and dozens of open clusters and globular clusters to find, this image needs to be viewed at full resolution:

Tarantula region LMC (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166606120/original)

However, to appreciate the whole field at once here is a smaller file (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166606120/large).

For those who enjoy the B&W contrasty look of the Halpha only (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166487432/original)

EDIT: Here is an annotated version (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166622787/original) to identify the large number of catalogued objects (Courtesy of Sakib Rasool)

Remember, all capture details are under the image ;)

Enjoy

Mike

[RickS]

Beautiful, Mikey-Mike! An overwhelmingly rich field of brilliantly coloured NB bubbles :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Star Catcher]

That is nice Mike, I do favour the straight Ha :)

Ted

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
that's one of the most impressive pictures you've ever taken.

cheers
Allan

[niharika]

Nice FOV and impressive image Mike.
Crawling from one corner to the other takes forever 😭

[Atmos]

The FOV is just staggering! Very nice Greg.
I’ve never considered test images or images taken while fixing issues as being first light so your first light is :thumbsup:

[Slawomir]

Fantastic image and brilliant framing Mike :thumbsup:

Really happy to hear the mount and new telescope-camera combo work flawlessly. Impressive guide graph!

[Stevec35]

Excellent Mike. Little else to be said.

Steve

[Andy01]

There's a benchmark image!
I'm currently working on an SMC/47tuc mosaic which is a challenge with my smaller fov - I can only dream of your WF new setup :eyepop:

Stupendous quality - you gotta be happy with that! :thumbsup::party2:

[SimmoW]

Yes, this sharp and uniform so early? Scary good. That cam looks a definite keeper Mike!

Any info on the sub length?

[strongmanmike]

Thanks heaps everyone :thumbsup: I'm really happy with this one and really excited about the scope (could you tell :question:)

Simon, I used 10min subs for Ha and OIII and 4min subs for RG&B

Mike

[DavidU]

Gawddamn !!!! awesome work Mike.:eyepop:

[Placidus]

Oh, wow! The H-alpha shot in particular is just magnificent. :bowdown:

All our favourites, crystal clear, and many bits that we've not really seen before in context and such detail. Definitely time for :party2:

Best,
MnT

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Dave...while I could pretend to be deluded...it's mostly the scope and camera, not me :thumbsup:



:lol: he he aaah yes, we do trade subservient emoticons when required huh guys? Says a lot, fun stuff :love: :D

Mike

[IanP]

WOW .. WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But ---
Before we rest on our laurels, there is a slight sign of achromatic aberration --red --

:hi:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Ian :thumbsup: ...now, as for the "red" achromatic aberration, I don't think so?..what you are seeing on close inspection is almost certainly simply a registration and saturation issue :)

Mike

[alocky]

Hi Mike, what a stunning pair of razor sharp images!
That FLI must be about the heaviest thing you could put on the back of it, and if you're just using the robofocus to drive the standard Tak rack and pinion I'd say you don't suffer from the dreaded focuser sag. I used to see a lot of thermal shift in mine, especially when sitting out by itself in winter, but found putting a dew strap in the middle as well as on the objective really minimised that.
Anyway - what a cracker of a setup, and I can't wait to see what you do with the Orion Molecular cloud.
cheers,
Andrew.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks heaps Andrew :thumbsup:

The focuser on this thing (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166421195/original)has a rack on both the top and bottom of the 4" focuser so not sure if that was the same on earlier FS106's?.. and so far I see no obvious evidence of focuser sag..? Perhaps in other parts of the sky at different altitudes there may be some evident so we will see...I suspect not though. The Robofocus works fine too, moves everything nicely and holds. I guess I am used to mostly babysitting my rig and checking focus every hour or so anyway but I haven't noticed any troublesome focus shift yet :shrug:. All in all the first 4 nights using this new rig has been bloody enjoyable (touch wood :prey:) :)

Mike

[gregbradley]

Nice image Mike. Ultra wide angle imaging is fun eh? Good timing with Orion up now.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Aaah the'oool "nice image" comment...?...nice! :P

I agree, t'is fun alright, my eyes have been looking at small galaxy and PN fields for 4 years :eyepop: now and I don't have to turn my dome as much either :prey2: :lol:

Yeah hanging for Orion, dunno what to shoot first :question: :help:

Mike

[Atmos]

I would have thought that with the wider field you’d have to turn it even more often!

[strongmanmike]

Nah, with just a 600mm wide dome opening, I think the significant smaller aperture wins out :)

[RobF]

Nailed it. Incredible FOV and tightness.
Love the final processed image - you make it look way easier than it is Mike.

[DJT]

Man, I love the RGB Version. Absolutely pops. You are going to have so much fun with that setup.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Rob and David, yeah and coming up to the festive season and the associated increase in social activities that comes with this, I think I may have some frustrating nights on balconies, in backyards at BBQ's and at various other functions, looking up at clear skies while quietly grumbling inside :sadeyes: :lol:

Mike

[LewisM]

As I once said as my signature line - "Once you go Tak, you never go back".

See, I knew you'd love the FSQ...there is nothing to dislike!

[strongmanmike]

Just added an annotated version (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/166622787/original) (done by Sakib Rasool) to identify the mass of different objects in the field

Enjoy :)

Mike

[cazza132]

Wow - really nice work Mike! :thumbsup: Loads of goodies there with good detail.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Troy, it's a fantastic area to image, could probably do a couple more shots to cover other fields of the LMC....maybe...even if I don't exactly mozaic'em, would still all be great fields in their own right :)

Mike

[Geoff45]

Great work Mike. I normally go for B&W, but this time I prefer the colour version.
BTW just be glad you don't live on a planet there. That big, bright, headlighty Tarantula would totally ruin all your imaging of anything else.
Geoff

[Octane]

And, that's how you do a proper first light for an FSQ. :D

Totally awesome, Mike. Makes me pine even more for a 16803-based sensor!

H

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot Geoff and H and yes Geoff, that big cluster in the centre of the Tarantula, R136, would fry us all anyway :lol:

Mike

[multiweb]

Very cool reference. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Marc and that's less than 1/2 of the LMC too :eyepop:...should mozaic it huh?..at this stage I have moved on though...itchy imaging feet :lol:

Mike