M8 Lagoon Nebula under a Sydney Full Moon

[Startrek]

Over the past week or so I’ve been testing and trying to sort out calibration issues with my set up in Sydney and finally found a workable solution.
Here’s my test subject M8 Lagoon Nebula which I used as a test model during full moon phase ( over 2 nights )

6” f6 Bintel GSO newt
EQ6-R pro mount
Baader MPCC coma corrector
ZWOASI2600MC set in Ascom to highest dynamic range Gain 0 cooled to -10C
Optolong L Extreme filter
50 x 3 min dithered guided subs
40 x Flats
40 x Bias
Goto and tracking EQMOD and Ascom Stellarium
PHD2 Multistar guiding ( 0.70 to 0.80 arc sec error total )
PA was out a bit as I hadn’t checked it in 3 months ( rigs been covered over in backyard whilst I’ve been down south at my NexDome Obs )
Captured with APT
Subs reviewed in Astap
Stacked in DSS
Processed in Startools V1.7 OSC Linear data set


RGB OSC version
Synthetic Luminance version
Compose OSC Bi colour SHO versions using the Matrix presets

Comments welcome
Thanks

[gregbradley]

That turned out very well. You calibration seems to working very well now.
Flats can be tricky eh?

Greg.

[Andy01]

The first two look very good to my eye - natural looking colours with a broad dynamic range. :thumbsup:

Not exactly sure what I'm looking at with the other six versions - could you educate me please? :question:

[Startrek]

Thanks Greg
I exhausted every combination and finally settled on Flats and Bias which worked best with the 2600MC
Cheers
Martin

[Startrek]

Thanks Andy

I just followed Startools Compose OSC (narrowband) Bi colour

Have a read of this .....

https://www.startools.org/modules/composite

Kudos goes to the developer Ivo Jager

Cant wait for the final stable version of 1.8

Cheers
Martin

[Andy01]

Oh I see now, thanks Martin. :thanx:
Unfortunately my licenced version of Startools no longer runs on my current mac O/S (11:6 Big Sur). and it used to crash all the time on my old mac (el capitan) - usually just when I was at the end of a session :sadeyes:
Anyway glad it’s working well for you, looks good! enjoy! :)

[multiweb]

Cool set of pics Martin. Well done. #1 and 2 for me too. :thumbsup:

[Startrek]

Thanks Marc
You know my little 6” f6 newt cost me only $290 just over 4 years ago and never goes out of collimation , no coma and a nice clean clear field
When I bought it from Bintel it was advertised as a visual scope not recommended for DSO imaging. Well I’ve imaged everything up there under Sydney’s crappy light polluted skies and it hasn’t let me down ever. Coupled with the 2600MC it’s a real joy to image with
Cheers
Martin

[multiweb]

Too right. I imaged with a 5" F/6 newt for years and it was a lot of fun.

[TerryC]

Excellent work Martin

[Startrek]

Terry,
Thanks much appreciated
Martin

[strongmanmike]

A very nice lagoon that the first one Martin :thumbsup:

Mike

[Startrek]

Thanks Mike,



No the first one was with my Canon 600D and 6" newt back in 2017



Only exposed about 20% of this image ( just core area ) along with all that noise too, but got me hooked into the hobby


Cheers
Martin

[matlud]

A great image Martin 👍