What's with this cloud! Skull & Cross Bones Nebula first light 103 apo

[CoolhandJo]

Hi all.

I can't believe the cloud. I'd say the worst run on non clear nights ever! I took 3 hours of the Skull & Cross bones nebula before this cloud blanket was rolled out! Its about 15 Ha 15 Oii and 5 Sii with 533mm Antlia filters and my new Askar 103 APO.
From what I can see so far the scope did a good job of gathering light in a small amount of time. Flat from edge to edge and stars perfect. On a side note when in installed the filter wheel I noticed I had installed it backwards so all my previous images since I moved to mono were not quite right. Lol. Backward filters make your images prone to halo and warp the light slightly.

[strongmanmike]

"Bloody clouds, someone should blow clouds up!" (T. Bullpitt 1980)

Good looking, smooth result on the Ol' Terminator there Paul :thumbsup:

Mike

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks!

LOL Ted Bullpitt :lol:

Yeah I hope to make it with more detail next week if the forecast holds!

[gregbradley]

Very nice Paul. I like that orange part, it really stands out.

Your scope/camera combo looks to be a keeper. There are lots of targets for a 4 inch APO.

Greg.

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Greg. Yes I think the Askar series of refractors do ok considering the lowish cost. I have the 0.6 and 0.8 reducers for this scope as well. Coupled with the askar v 6 different configurations that's 9 different focus lengths between the two scopes. Lol..


Makes my small.square 533mm with 1.25 filters much more versatile without the need (yet) to upgrade sensor size.

[Startrek]

Paul,
Really nice rendition of this rarely image faint nebula.
Colours look super
Well done !!
Yes gotta be the worst Summer on record for clear nights. Although to be fair January is our second wettest month of the year on the East Coast.

Martin

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Martin! Yes worst summer in nsw for cloudy nights for sure

[AlexN]

Fantastic stuff Paul!

I've got this in my list of things to do now that I'm running a mono camera too!

How great are the Askar APO's for the money! I thought my 65PHQ was good but this 120APO is incredible!

I was SO skeptical when I got the 120mm.. a 120mm F/7 triplet for $2600 with the flattener shipped to my door? the Skywatcher or WO equivalent is nearly double that without the flattener, and lets not even talk about the steps up from there!

And yes - death to the clouds! We've all collectively had enough...

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Alex! Your 120 apo is producing some really nice images. I like the ic447 you did. I wonder what the 120 will do with reducer on the Skullxbones:question: be a lot of detail id say

[Ryderscope]

Nice work Paul. The colours have worked well and excellent field :thumbsup:

[CoolhandJo]

thanks Rodney. Last few nights was clear so adding data right now!

[Nikolas]

Very nice and smooth result mate an the colours are spot on

[CoolhandJo]

Thanks Nik. Clear Skies! so added loads more data!

[CoolhandJo]

I managed to add 25 hours of data!

Its a first light for my Askar 103 Apo. It has a apparent magnitude of 7.1 making it classed as not very bright. I was delighted to have more clear nights I managed 28 hours total integration time over many nights.

Astrobin High res here https://app.astrobin.com/i/e9lvlw