NGC 1300 The Sprinkler Galaxy

[strongmanmike]

This is the proper first light using my new StarlightXpress TriusPro-814 Blue edition camera, the smaller pixels yielding a finer image scale, dropping from 0.84"/pix to 0.68"/pix... and I have to say, it is a bloody fantastic camera and well worth considering if you are looking for a small pixel camera :thumbsup:

NGC 1300 is a classic barred spiral galaxy located about 65 Million light years away in the constellation Eridanus. The galaxy is about 110,000 light-years across.

So, why "The Sprinkler Galaxy?"...it reminds me of the overhead view of a two armed lawn sprinkler, spraying out two rotating streams of water

The conditions were really excellent across two of the three nights with clear calm transparent skies and excellent seeing, crossing the meridian some subs were hitting a FWHM of 1.3" but most sat consistently around 1.5"-1.6" (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/175007880/original) the other night saw FWHM at 2.0" which is a little below the Eagleview average, so I utilised this period to collect some of the RGB.

See the image at:

AstroBin (https://www.astrobin.com/gq80od/)

PBase (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/175010484/original)

And, for those who love surfing full frame deep galaxy images, marvelling at all the tiny background galaxies (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/175010487/original) :D

So was the camera upgrade worth it..?? Well, the increased resolution is certainly very evident - SEE HERE (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/175010534/original)

I'm very happy with this result...of course, I now have to reimage EVERYTHING! :lol:......:help:

Mike

[alpal]

Wow - nice picture Mike
and certainly a large improvement compared to Wallaroo.
You've also picked up detail in the nucleus
which is hard to do without Hubble:
https://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ngc13.htm

cheers
Allan

[Dave882]

That’s extraordinary Mike. Some stunning detail and yes the final result is a substantial improvement. Congratulations!!
I look forward to a revision of ALL your previous images :P

[TrevorW]

Great pic Mike, I can see that watering the lawn :)

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Allan, yeah I have of course, for fun, compared to images shot with larger scopes, from places like Mt Lemmon and the Andes/Atacama etc with more traditional longer FL RC's/CDK's and it holds up surprisingly well, even exceeding in some ways, very satisfying, the finer/greater image scale is definitely working favourably :)

Mike



Ha ha yeah, I will probably reshoot a couple but I have more incentive to go for the smaller blighters now :)



First thing that jumped out at me :lol:

Mike

[Startrek]

Mike,
Another beautiful Galaxy image from your Obs up on the mountain.
Detail , resolution and colour is superb
You must be happy with the new camera

Cheers
Martone

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot Martone :thumbsup:

Yes the new camera feels like a keeper :)...now I just need to get that 1.5" seeing everynight, so the smaller pixels can be useful...:prey: :lol:

Mike

[gregbradley]

That' a terrific result and a really nice improvement.
Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Greg, yeah I know right...and to think I recall I was reasonably happy with that previous effort too :eyepop: :bashcomp: :lol:

Mike

[Leo.G]

That's a beautiful image Mike!
Better than I'll ever be able to get with my Player one Neptune (IMX178) colour camera (no, I'm not silly enough to expect the quality you have captured with my little toy) and, my Nikon D810 is dead in the water till it gets to Nikon service centre (and I'm very upset by that, I've never had a camera fail in over 50 years and still have the thing I was given 53 years ago which was already old then, still in working condition).


:(


I'd upgrade if I could afford a faster get away car, I don't think the old Falcon is up to it, those new BMW's accelerate like crazy, lol.....

[CoolhandJo]

Another spaceship adventure brought to you by Strongmanmike! lovely field reminds me of the hubble deep field.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Leo, I have found while the thought is daunting, the ensuring ranting after the fact, dies away and is eventually forgotten (scary though... :help:) :D



Thanks Paul, space ship adventure, yeah, galaxies images can create that feeling, huh? :)

Mike

[Bodon]

Wow beautiful and heaps of detail, good stuff!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot Steve :thumbsup:

Mike

[Ryderscope]

Good on you Mike presenting us with a fine galaxy image from the new camera. Your results definitely show the benefit of moving to the smaller pixel camera. We are excited as to what awaits us :)

[strongmanmike]

:) Nice to hear, thanks Roddles :thumbsup:

Can only imagine the improvement, were my scope to have no astigmatism...? :shrug: :sadeyes: I suspect the true FWHM is probably hitting nearer 1.2"-1.3" on many nights up here, so an aberration free, good size aperture operating at say, around 0.4"/pix (?), would be quite an amazing performer on those nights.

Mike

[PRejto]

Very nice image, Mike!

I think a fairer comparison might be to take one hour of luminance data on the same night/same target with both cameras. It certainly wouldn't be that difficult to swap back to the old camera for a conclusive test.

Peter

[strongmanmike]

Yes, I agree, for a quantitative comparison, that would be a good way to get a clear comparison but I do hate fiddling in the dark, loath it in fact :lol:...but maybe, if I can be bothered :question::thumbsup:

For now, the noticeable improvement is confidently determined by finely honed instincts based on expertise, experience and good judgement :D :thumbsup:

Mike

[Leo.G]

The Starlight cameras certainly put out good results, along with your processing expertise Mike.
I believe they've always had a good reputation but I could never get my old express to focus, probably more me than the camera. That was with the suggested camera lens fitted before moving to a telescope. It could have been something with the serial (DB9/RS232) to USB adapter but I don't believe that would affect my visual focus through the computer.

I have thought about putting a much later sensor and USB-3 connection in with the cooled body though but I hate the thought of destroying anything photography.

[strongmanmike]

I have used five SX cameras, three SX autoguiders, two SX FW's and two SX OAG units now, since June 2003 and they have all given me nothing but please and no negative issues, none. They show no fixed patern noise, are linear, with no amp glow and no gain adjustments are required, heck they dont even need dark frames. I have had much success with them too, so I love'em :love: and can only say good things about them :P :thumbsup:

Mike

[Leo.G]

Certainly not saying anything bad about the old Starlight express Mike, I've always heard they were exceptional cameras but I always had issues finding focus which I put down to my inexperience and possibly now thinking about it a spacing issue using a camera lens and adapter.
I've always wanted to get it operational, I should read the manual again, it was the only name I ever knew going from my SLR and I always wanted one and it was the first astronomy camera I ever bought (very old when I bought it but in amazing condition).
Plus I was always trying to achieve focus on distant mountains with the Starlight book suggesting landscape learning. Moving trees don't focus so well at higher zoom levels, it could have been that, it could have beenmany things including the possibility I'm just too stupid to use a good camera.
I still have it in it's original box with manual and cables and must try again one day, the unit looks in new condition and that's EXACTLY why I have not tried to modify putting a different camera sensor into the cooled body. I fix junk, I don't destroy good stuff, ever.
I'd rather give it to someone than risk destroying it.

[joshman]

It's a fantastic image Mike, and that camera is definitely a good improvement over the previous. I'm really looking forward to seeing what mischief you can make with this!

[strongmanmike]

Hey no worries, didn't think you were :thumbsup:




Which SX camera is it? Sounds more like you were trying to setup your image train with the incorrect spacing figures..?



Thanks mate, happy enough...now just need to change the telescope :D......:sadeyes:....:help:

Mike

[PRejto]

I will only make a short barb....goood thing you stayed away from the early SX-46!

[strongmanmike]

Yes, I recal you had some issues, never fun :(. For big chip work, I was using the FLI Pro Line16803 from March 2010 (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/proline16803), it is also amazing, can cool to 60C below ambient, which was great during summer, I could stay with -30C darks all year round! :thumbsup:...haven't given it a run yet from Eagleview, too keen to utilise the excellent seeing I get now and it only provides a coarse 3.5"/pix on the TakFSQ106, to which it is attached....

Mike

[Leo.G]

I'll have to hunt it and check which model, I know I put it away somewhere safe so it didn't get damaged. I do know it's a colour unit and it came with the original book and everything was done to what was printed in the user manual. It was so different to my old D80 (I guess as is my D810 strangely enough, lol).
You may have seen mention, I collect cameras (other than astronomy) and have been for well over 50 years, I look after my gear. But my baby is broken (D810 aperture error with any lens (except for automated G lenses)), the repair centre sent me a shipping label today and they cover postage (with a minimum repair fee of $99 and that's fair enough) and I have to pack it up tonight and get it sorted. I feel broken without it.
compliment to the company whose name I can't recall at the moment, they even emailed instructions for correct packaging of the camera body for postage and while I spent enough time working as a parts interpreter (a step down from the tools as a forklift technician) I shipped enough products to know how to safely package sensitive stuff but many people don't and it was a nice touch.

[AlexN]

Beautiful image Mike! (surprise... give the big man even better resolution and he produces even finer detail...)

I remember lusting after the SX25C when I had a QHY8 in 2008~2009.

They both carried the same sensor, but the Starlight Xpress model had proper setpoint based cooling, and somehow, even cleaner electronics. Not to mention, it did not exhibit the garish reflections the QHY8's optical window caused...

I am a sucker for old tech though... I'd still prefer a 16200 over any of the current CMOS sensors... or a 16803 if I could ever find one at a price I was comfortable paying for a used camera... Even the KAF8300 that I sold in December last year was still chugging along beautifully after 13 years of service...

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Alex :thumbsup: Yeah the SX and FLI CCD based cameras are still awesome and if I get the conditions on the left half of this graph (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/174978495/original) I have a galaxy machine now :D :thumbsup:

It was recently one year since our son Ben passed away, so it's been a bit somber and we have been dealing with the associated stuff :(. Hopefully the New Year will bring me a new image :prey: :thumbsup:

Mike