NGC3372 (Carina Nebula) in Ha

[Ryderscope]

This is the first published image from my new hardware configuration so I will be interested in a critical review. The new hardware consists of the ZWO ASI6200 CMOS camera and my recently acquired, pre loved, Takahashi FSQ106 EDXIII. The ASI6200 is based on the Sony IMX455 full frame CMOS sensor with 3.76 micron pixels. The specs when married with the FSQ106 come in quite nicely at approximately 3.9 degrees x 2.6 degrees at an image scale of 1.46". I chose the Astronomik, 50mm round filter set (Deep Sky LRGB and 6nm Ha, OIII, SII). This choice was based on a balance between price and performance.

Whilst the larger field of view and increased resolution are great, the camera is very critical of any optical aberrations and tilt in the image train which I continue to work on. See this post here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=189402) where I have been discussing some issues found with the FSQ106. This configuration is now showing the benefit of the effort put in and looks to be a nice workable combination.

This is also the first image for me to post the starless version as my preferred option, notwithstanding the fact that my normal position is to prefer a 'starfull' version. In this case I feel that the extended nebulosity in Ha is better presented without any stars to distract the eye. I have presented both versions here.

I have just about finished capturing data in OIII and SII and will begin work on a narrowband version as soon sufficient data is in the bag.

This image consists of 25 Ha subs at 1200s, image acquisition in SGP Pro and post processing in Pixinsight. Attached are thumbnails of the image and a photo of my new hardware set up.

Link to the starless version in Astrobin image is here (https://astrob.in/i4l03b/0/).
Link to the starfull version in Astrobin is here. (https://astrob.in/i4l03b/B/)
Click in image in Astrobin for a full resolution version.

Clear skies,
Rodney

[multiweb]

Great result. Beautiful fov. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Yeah that is a great result Rodney and the correction of tilt has gone very well. Your patience and persistence has paid off.

I think its probably about as god as you are going to get it with tilt. Its very good in most corners and the weaker corner is still quite good.

Lovely Ha response with this camera and widefields are a perfect match for it.

Greg.

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Marc and Greg, I'm looking forward to more work with this new set up.

[Andy01]

Nice work Rodney! :thumbsup:

Your comment regarding the starless image hits the nail precisely on the head... the joy and beauty of a starless image does exactly this - revealing subtle details often masked by the presence of foreground stars. :D

That's not in any way stating that all astro imaging should be presented starless, however it is a technique that when done well, can extend our perception of the shape and form within certain subjects.

Having spent the best part of a year chasing and finally eliminating tilt from my APS-H format camera, I felt your pain when you started on that same journey. However, the stars in your image look very good now!

For those interested in resolving tilted camera sensors, Diego at Sidereal Trading helped me out enormously with rectifying this recently. He cleverly built a test bench with a laser located at its' base, and a transparent panel sitting exactly parallel above.

The camera is then placed on the panel with its' shutter open. The reflected laser beam clearly shows any misalignment, which is then easily corrected by shims or a tilt plate in a matter of minutes - during daylight hours!
The process is similar to collimating the primary mirror on a Newtonian 'scope. Accurate, fast and eliminates the need to waste precious clear skies at night time! :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

A well imaged object...imaged well, quite spesh :thumbsup:

Mike

[Ryderscope]

Thanks Andy/Mike. It is a well visited area of the sky and a challenge if you wanted to do anything different. It is a great object when trying out a new rig as from our latitudes we can image the area for almost 8 hours a night if the sky is clear.

[Peter Ward]

A wonderful result.

Re; Andy's comments above....there is some evidence to suggest (https://photofocus.com/video/beware-lasers-can-kill-your-cameras-sensor/) bouncing lasers off sensors is a really bad idea (kills pixels or worse).....
how is possible damage being mittigated?

[Andy01]

Sorry to hijack your thread Rodney, but Peter whilst certainly a valid concern, a concert laser is a considerably more powerful beam than the tiny laser used in a Cheshire - bit like comparing an aircraft landing light to a headtorch! :D
That said, that article was written 8 years ago and imaging technology has changed a bit since - also worth mentioning that my sensor is a CCD not CMOS.

[Peter Ward]

Indeed. New topic started.

[Ryderscope]

No problems, will follow the new thread with interest :)

[Placidus]

I'm not on such solid ground when admiring wide-field shots like this, but to my untrained eye it looks magnificent.


The area just anticlockwise of Gabriela Mistral is especially fine, with multiple concentric shock fronts hinting at repeated supernova activity.



Mike