Final M8 Lagoon for 2020

[Startrek]

Snagged a rare clear night in Sydney during the week so captured a quick final image of M8 Lagoon Nebula before it gets too low in the west
6” f6 Bintel GSO newt
EQ6-R mount
ZWOASI2600MC with ZWO Duoband filter and Baader coma corrector
Ascom control set for Highest Dynamic Range ( Gain 0 offset 50 )
Cooled to -15C
30 x 150 sec dithered guided subs
15 x darks ( didn’t use them )
No flats
PHD2 guiding at 1.20 arc sec error
Goto and tracking EQMOD StellariumScope and Stellarium
Frame focus and capture with APT
Fits files ( subs ) reviewed in ASTAP
Stacked in DSS
Processed in Startools V1.6 OSC linear data set
Cropped and enlarged by 20% to show more detail and less interstellar star field

Lately I’ve been having trouble with the dual speed focuser on this scope ( focusing out or up ) using my JMI remote focuser as this new ASI2600MC weighs 720gm with spacers compared to the old Canon 600D at 570gm. So after 3 years of use I decided to pull the focuser out and give it a good service.It had almost no grease in the main bearings so cleaned it up with turps , re greased with lithium grease , a fine coat of wax on the flat of the draw tube, re adjusted tension, re installed and now works beautifully, should have done it a year ago

Comments most welcome

[multiweb]

Really nice M8 Martin. One for the cool wall. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
I got one of these duoband filter recently and I'm keen to do some deep sky with my QHY8. Seems to work great looking at your results.

Good job on the focuser. A bit of tlc goes a long way to get the most out of your gear and it also helps understand how it works.

[Robert_T]

great detail here and subtle too. great processing. ok you've inspired me to have one last go at a lagoon- triffid tonight see if i can get another hour or so of data to add to my last effort

[RyanJones]

Very nice Lagoon Martin. Well done 👍.

[Decimus]

An absolutely beautiful image of the Lagoon, Martin. Well done!

[Sunfish]

Top notch.

[jahnpahwa]

Detail that you've kept in the core there is really fantastic. I like the whole thing very much :thumbsup:

[Startrek]

Thanks so much everyone
Appreciate it !
Not bad for an old $300 6” Chinese newt ( sorry Taiwanese )
It sort of proves the theory you don’t need to speed a zillion dollars on a scope
She’s a bit banged around and the primary mirror got a few smudges around the edges but I wouldn’t swap it for anything. It just works on everything Visual and Imaging (DSO and Planetary)

Thanks again

Oh and having a super dupa new camera ( ZWOASI2600MC ) helps a bit too.........

[Fernando]

Really nice, Martin!

[LostInSp_ce]

Very nice Martin. :thumbsup:

[Startrek]

Thanks Fernando

Thanks LIS

M8 isn’t M8 until you get in nice and close and see all the detail in and around the core areas
This little 6” newt is a ripper, I must be the only bloke using one for imaging on this forum ?