Murthys law versus M83

[Garyh]

Hi all again people...:hi:,
I thought I was going to be clouded out last night but to my supprise it stayed rather clear as the sun went down..Soo out came the gear and I set up to image M83 before the moonrise....
Little did I know that Murthy had been watching me quietly in the shadows..:scared::scared::scared:

After getting focused and M83 in the field of view all was going well till after 3 frames came a big pop sound!!! Out popped the coma corrector from the focuser...nearly letting my camera freefall..This happened twice during the night.. this is a constant problem I have with it..so if anyones got a fix I would love to hear about it!!!!!!
Ok a few more frames into the night came another big thud!!! scared the cr$# out of me...:scared: there purched on top of my OTA was a big frogmouth owl...:eyepop:, he just sat there till I gave him a push off....:lol:
I managed to get a few more before my guidescope totally dewed up..(forgot to plug the dew heater in) :mad2:. Bummer...
After nearly 2 hours I managed to get 12 descent frames with 2 being discarded for trailing....
After everything I still managed a nice M83 and sent Murthy on his way!!!!..

OK Image is 10 x 5 min (iso 800) with 2 DF subtracted and then processed in PS..
Cheers Gary..:thumbsup:
Will try again next time!!!

[erick]

Gary, if that's what you can achieve when everything goes wrong............I cannot wait until everything goes perfectly for you. Nice image!!

[duncan]

Wonderful shot!!
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Fantastic image Gary, and a very humorous and fascinating insight into the trials and tribulations, as well as the life and times, of a DSO astro photographer! It is not an easy affair or apprenticeship eh?

Cheers

Dennis

[gbeal]

Me too, if that is the result of all that fun, then boy you will be disappointed when things go smoothly. Nice shot, very nice.
Tell us more about the focuser, and the Baader MPCC. Got a picture or two.
Gary

[matt]

Great stuff, Gary:thumbsup: Really nice image.

Congrats, and well done despite the hurdles you had to jump;)

[Garyh]

Thanks Eric, Duncan, Dennis Gary and Matt!!!..:thumbsup:
Its not a easy path to follow hey Dennis! but wouldn`t be a challenge if it was easy...and sometimes we get that perfect night to boot!!..:)

Gary I don`t have any pics at the moment but I shall take some later today...
I have heard that people have the same problem with the compression ring style focusers and the MPCC..Doesn`t matter how tight I do it up it tends to want to pop out on one side..worse when the camera is on a downwards angle. Tried some tape on it but that just makes it all sit crooked...

[Ric]

Hi Gary, it sounds like a very interesting imaging session that you had. The Owl is a classic.
but after all these little tests you have captured an excellent image with lovely colour and details.

Cheers

[gbeal]

Gary,
why I asked was that with a certain 2" extension tube and my 20D I have had a few melting moments like that myself. I normally drape the camera neck strap arond the finder stalk just in case, and on one occasion I needed this, as it came loose. I actually prefer now the set screw, sure it marks the crap out of your tube or adaptor, but that is a small price to pay.
Gary

[Dr Nick]

Wow!
I might have to try making everything go wrong for me next time! ;)

[richardo]

Hi Gaz,
that sounds like an interesting night out.... always great to interact with the evenings nature/ fauna....:rofl: Although the idea of your camera bouncing off the ground isn't so great!!
Very nice image with very good colour!!

I think that's 'Murphy's' law you're thinking of ?? some thing like................
"If there's a probability of it gonna happen, it will"!!

I had this trouble with my 2" compression ring and the MPCC, so decided to go back and use the standard single screw setup on my Moonlite focuser... works very well. The correct sit very square and firm.
Another thing you can if you don't have a standard single lock screw option... and I've been told by a few folks who've done it, is to drill and tap another screw opposite or 120 degs around from the existing one in your compression ring, this will give you even compression on both sides and evidently works with the MPCC....

Your a lucky guy to have a Tawny frog mouth visit.... you must have some animal magnetism... either that or it wanted a bite from your late night snack :lol:

Cheers for now:thumbsup:
Rich

[skeltz]

Nice detail in the core and arms there gary,are you sure murphy didn,t bring the whole family along??:)
AND maybe it should be..I love chichen and lamb and owls::D

[atalas]

Great shot Gary ! lots of detail and the colour looks good,well done.

[Garyh]

Thanks for that info Gary...I might have to do that to it...rather some scratches than a busted camera....
Cheers

Thanks Nick, Rich, Skelty and Louie for the comments....
Yeah that owl sure gave me a scare...:rofl:but I was more woried about him leaving a deposit on the mirror as he was purched right on the rim with his bum on the wrong side....:lol:..

Thanks Rich for the info on the compresion ring fix....:thumbsup:
I shall take yours and Gary`s advice and I shall drill another hole and tap it for a locking screw...Should fix the problem..fingers crossed
Thanks again everyone for the feedback...:thumbsup:

[iceman]

Brilliant image Gary!

[FOOTPRINT]

Hi Gary,
A very nice picture there, great colour and good detail, this is one of the best Face on galaxies for photography, M-33 is great also but much dimmer, Ive been trying here to get M-83 for a few days using the new QHY8 Camera + LX200-10" at F-10, but the cloud wont let me, I wonder which Scope you were using as I dont think you mentioned it in your post, anyway well done.

cheers....Jim

[rogerg]

Great image and good story to go with it too :)

[John K]

That's a great image and an inspiration to get into deep sky imaging, well done and thanks for sharing!

[Garyh]

Thanks Mike, Jim, Roger and John for the replies!!
Thanks for reminding me Roger about the scope....taken with my 6" f/5.6 newtonian and modded 300d..
I`ve since toned down the saturation lightly and adjusted the levels slightly as well..
Cheers Guys!!

[leon]

Gary, if you can get those results with what happened to you during your imaging session, all i can say is "WOW", very nice indeed. :eyepop:

Imagine what will happen next time with out the Owl :lol:

Leon :thumbsup:

[RB]

Gary I'd just like to echo everyone else's comments.
Well done on a wonderful image under unusual circumstances.

:D