Ha Helix

[peter_4059]

I've finally decided to give off axis guiding a try after many years with the guide scope - mainly because Marc said I should give it a try! I've added an Orion Thin OAG to the front of the QSI683 and strapped my ZWO ASI120mm to the guider. With the guide camera binned 2x2 I have 1.35 as/pix, down from the 3.09 I had with the guide scope and camera at 1x1. This past week I've been playing with PHD2 settings and getting used to guiding with the OAG. I think it has had a positive impact on my guiding performance with tighter peak errors and about the same RMS and I'm getting more reliable results with longer exposures than what I'd usually go for.

Just to have something to show for the clear nights I've been capturing some Ha Helix. This is 18x10 min, no darks or flats so processed to within an inch of its life.

Here's the big version:
https://www.astrobin.com/full/367014/0/

Thanks for looking.

[strongmanmike]

Wow, that's looking pretty good huh Peter? you must be happy with that :thumbsup:

Mike

[cometcatcher]

Good Ha image of the Helix Peter. Looks like this will be my target for the next few nights too.

[peter_4059]

Thanks Mike. I think it is better than what I could achieve with the guidescope and considering I'm shooting it from inner city Brisbane and fiddling with guide settings, I'm quite pleased with how it is coming together. I've also got 3 hours of OIII however I haven't processed that yet.

[RickS]

Very schmick, Peter! That's a nice looking Ha Helix.

[troypiggo]

Nice mate! Certainly looks the goods.

[peter_4059]

Thanks Kevin. It is one of only a few objects I can image at this time of year due to the encroaching trees growing taller each year.



Cheers Rick.



Thanks Troy. Things are slowly falling into place.

[Atmos]

Looking good for a brief 3 hours :)

[Placidus]

Looking good absolutely, and astonishing for 3 hrs from the suburbs.

Sharp detail in the bright inner rays, and first hints of the outer chevrons coming up nicely.

Bravo!

[strongmanmike]

I got much improved results with my AG12 rig once I switched to OAG :thumbsup:...with my piggyback configuration, I couldn't do more that 5min subs and even they trailed pretty regularly :(

Mike

[multiweb]

Looks really good. Peter. No more flexure. :thumbsup:

[ozstronomer]

Looks great Peter, OAG is working well :thumbsup:

[peter_4059]

Thanks Colin. I can remember when three hours was a long exposure.




Thanks M&T. It's surprising what can be achieved from the city with quite modest gear. The technology has come a long way in the past five years.



Cheers Marc. It is nice to not have the object march across the screen over the course of the night. The OAG s a bit trickier to find a guide star sometimes thought.



Thanks Geoff. Definitely worth it for the Newt.