The Pleiades cropped version added

[gregbradley]

2nd light for my new AP110GTX. The Pleiades. I have imaged this before but was never happy with the results.

Taken over 3 or 4 nights, AP110GTX with tricompressor/corrector giving F5.
Paramount ME mount, QHY600m, Gen 1 Astrodon filters. Taken at my home observatory south coast NSW. Very good seeing (it seems almost always to be excellent seeing). I used flats and darks.

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/175190284/large regular size

https://pbase.com/gregbradley/image/175190284/original large file



Greg.

[CoolhandJo]

I just looked up your new scope. looks good and gets good write up. This image is a testimony to its light gathering capability. The red is rarely seen on this target. :thumbsup: The stars pinpoint.

[Bodon]

Very nice indeed! Dont know how you got those subs though; Im down the road a tad and the nights here are cloudy...grrr

[Startrek]

Greg,
A really nice composition of an object seldom presented on this forum.
Detail and colour is excellent
Well done from down the coast a bit further.
I found seeing quite poor of late from my place. On the rare occasion of a clear night , stars have been scintillating like crazy and it reflected in my guiding too. You must have a lucky stable patch of sky !!

Cheers
Martin

[gregbradley]

Thanks Paul.

Yes the AP110gtx certainly punches above its weight.
The exposures were taken a few weeks ago.
Clear nights have not been common.

Greg

[gregbradley]

Thanks Paul. Yes the AP110GTX punches above its weight Possibly the finest set of optics
I have had so far.

Greg.



Thanks Martin.
I did the exposures a few weeks ago.

Greg

[strongmanmike]

Nice one Greg, seeing the red hues is unusual too, shows up well here :thumbsup:

In over 40 years of doing this caper, I've never imaged the Pleiades :shrug: :confuse3:

Mike

[Ryderscope]

Good work Greg. The Pleiades is a surprisingly difficult target partly due to its northern declination and subsequent low altitude. I like the way you've managed to capture the surrounding red (Ha/dust?) around the Pleiades :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike. I can see why you haven't imaged it. It's a kind of slippery object in that it's already quote west by the time you have finished with other objects before it. I have several times missed it and thought well next year I'll get it.

I checked my earlier version of this from about 10 years ago and its pretty yuck.

Happy with this one though

I had seen the extensive background dust in others' images at times.

I should post a crop version which shows up all the tendrils and filaments, some quite delicate.

Greg.



Thanks Rodney. Nothing like a good widefield eh?

Greg.

[gregbradley]

Cropped version showing the filaments.

https://pbase.com/image/175219093/large

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Ah, lovely blue, nice :thumbsup:

Mike

[Paul Haese]

I like the first framing the best I think. The reflection nebula is a nice palette. I do think you could sharpen the detail a little bit more though.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike and Paul.

I looked at it again and agree the crop isn't that attractive. I've replaced it with another one which I do like.

I tried sharpening it more but it didn't seem to sharpen further.

Same link.

Greg.

[AdamJL]

Awesome! Especially for a target that isn't easy to shoot for us.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Adam.

It is in a bit of an awkward spot. I have often missed the opportunity to image it.

Greg.