NGC 7293 Helix Nebula from Bortle 8 Sydney

[Startrek]

Captured the Helix over 2 nights this week in Sydney Bortle 8 with my trusty old 6” f6 Bintel GSO newt on the EQ6-R mount
68 x 3 minute dithered guided subs
No darks
No flats
ZWOASI2600MC camera with Ascom driver set to Lowest Read Noise ( Gain 100 offset 50 ) first time Ive used this setting
Camera cooled to -15C
ZWO 2” Duoband Filter
EQMOD and new Ascom supported Stellarium 0.20.3 with new USB2A to USB2B cable from laptop to mount (Navigation and Goto)
Captured in APT
Stacked in DSS
Processed in Startools V1.6 Linear OSC data set

Gave the dual speed focuser an overdue service, so smooth and precise now especially carrying that big ZWO OSC camera which weighs around 720gm

Comments most welcome
Thanks

[PKay]

Hard pressed to improve on that M.

Perfect focus and exposure.

Maybe stretch the dark a bit less, maybe...

[RyanJones]

Very clean and crisp Martin. Nice subtlety in the colours too. I’ve been giving this one a run too. I’ll be a happy man if mine comes out like this.

Cheers

Ryan

[LostInSp_ce]

Nice work again Martin. I'm tempted to have a crack at this one too from the backyard. Although I get the feeling the stock DSLR might struggle to overcome the LP. I did a test sub about 2 years ago I think and it basically came out white but I can't remember if the moon was out that night. If I have time I may give it shot this weekend. If I'm able to capture at least half of what you've got here I'll be happy. Congrats on another fine image!

[Startrek]

LIS
Thanks appreciate the kind comments
I tried to image the Helix a few years ago with my stock Canon 600D DSLR
Captured about 3 hours of data and all I could extract out of the image was a noisy faint blob
Unless you have a very low noise DSLR with a NB filter in forget it
My old Canon DSLR is no match for my new cooled 2600MC with the Duoband filter for emission and planetary nebula under Bortle 8 skies

Cheers
Martin

[Robert_T]

love the radial detail you've got in the main body of the Neb here and your colours. Great work!

[vin_ap]

Really nice, well processed. Stars look amazing and good natural colour too...

I'm been looking at a fair few images from the IMX571 chips and they are quite exceptional, especially given that there are no darks or flats the image quality is very good.

Nicely done !:thumbsup:

Cheers,

Vin

[Anth10]

Martin,
Lovely fine details within the great eye of the helix- colour is spot on too.
Anth

[Startrek]

Thanks Robert , Vin and Anth

[Nikolas]

Very nice fine detail in the iris there.