Helix Nebula

[ChrisV]

Captured over 6 different nights with OSC camera, ASI071 with STC duo filter, on an 8" newt. Captured with SGPro and processed in PI

I've got about 25 hours of 5min subs so far. I'd like to try longer to see if I can pick up the outer Halpha - its just starting to come through even though you can't see much in this image.

Comments please, I've had some difficulties getting the processing right. I'm sure I'll have several more iterations of processing paralysis

Thanks for looking, Chris
https://www.astrobin.com/6bd4ql/

[gregbradley]

A ripper image. 25 hours - quite an effort.

Greg.

[RyanJones]

25 hrs and 6 nights ! No wonder I haven’t seen you around ! You’ve really captured the iris pattern nicely. I’ve started on my Duo Helix too but I’ve been a little sidetracked with M17 . It’s suited the cloudless times better but Helix will come soon.

[multiweb]

Oooo.... that's very nice! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[ChrisV]

Thanks Greg Ryan and Marc. I'd like to get more on it.

Finding it hard to bring out the filaments - I suppose that's mostly due to my cgem mount and guiding. Also, it's difficult to get a sharp transition between the inner OIII and outer Halpha. Kept thinking I was getting close. But then I'd look at Andy's apod from last year and give up ....

[Cosmic]

Excellent! I looked at this camera, was very close to going with it.
What a great result. How dark are the skies for this capture?

[ChrisV]

Thanks. I'm about 19km north of Sydney City centre in the suburbs. Lightpollutionmap says my sqm in 19.6 - for what it's worth.

For this I used a STC duo which cuts light pollution by a lot!!

[ChrisV]

Now up to 40 hours and it doesn't look any better than the original 25 ...
https://www.astrobin.com/6bd4ql/
The limits of OSC and a low sensitivity sensor?

Think I'll give up on it after seeing Sauvi's

[Slawomir]

As I wrote elsewhere, it's a very nice image of the Helix Chris :thumbsup:

As long as you are having fun collecting data, then I would say do not stop here. There are some dedicated astro-imagers who, with their excellent images of the Helix, have set up the bar very high for all of us, like Paul, Andy, Mike and Trish for example.

[strongmanmike]

Well, for an image of an object once considered pretty faint, especially those outer areas and taken from the suburbs of a city with a population fast approaching 6 million!! :eyepop:.... I'd say that is pretty damn good Chris and a testament to the digital age we live in really, nice work :thumbsup:

Mike