M7 open cluster

[middy]

Well I did get my barndoor mount fixed yesterday and I was ready to have another go at M31. I spent 30 minutes setting everything up outside and aligning the mount and wouldn't you know it, out of nowhere a large band of cloud crept across the sky :tasdevil:.

Anyway, I quickly abandoned M31 and swung the camera round to the tail of Scorpius which was getting quite low on the horizon by that time. I stumbled across M7 and started shooting 15 second exposures. I didn't have time to test any longer exposures as the cloud was moving across that way. I packed away when M7 succumbed to the clouds and just to annoy me, by the time I had packed up the cloud band had almost passed and I could see clear skies on the horizon again. I took it as a sign that I should have an early night instead. :)

So here is 23 x 15 seconds of the M7 open cluster in Scorpius. 70 mm FL. Stacked and gradient removed in Iris. Levels adjusted in Photoshop.

There are a handful of hot pixel streaks that the dark frames didn't remove for some reason, and there is a black region in the top left. I don't know if that is a feature of the sky or dust on the CCD perhaps. :shrug:

[xelasnave]

That is a fine effort Andrew... someone has to seed that cloud.

Just to bring me up to speed... you mention barndoor ..so that was your mount..that makes your effort remarkable.

Top stuff... I get some funny things happen when stacking so dont worry too much about the hot pixies foot prints ... what you have achieved is a fantastic effort..

alex

[middy]

Thanks Alex. Yes, I used my barndoor mount, or StarTracker as I call it. This old thread has some pics:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=12063

I built it out of scrap wood I had lying around the place. It is not pretty, but it is functional. (I used to be a scientist so I am used to building things on a shoestring budget :lol: ).

[Campus Dweller]

I'd say all the dark regions are real. It's a very good shot of a not much imaged cluster:)

[xelasnave]

I looked again at your image when it got dark and it was much more impressive.
I love your approach and as I said in a reply elsewhere... it is folk like you that are heros in this game.
Many who come here and never post must take heart from your efforts and be motivated by the inspiration you provide.
There is another thread calling for one to ost their best photo... I can not find my "best"photo but it was one I took with a little 2 meg camera held at the EP of my 150ar with a red filter in place... not much by most foks standards but it was the best because it got me going... in that instant I realised one could get something if one only had a go.

Your photos are the best posted here in my view because you must by example show to newcomers that if they have a go with what they have at their disposal they can get a result they will be proud of.

best wishes and keep up your great work.

alex

[jjjnettie]

Nice one Andrew.
You've captured the dusty bits too!
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one here still using a barn door.
Mine's not motorized, but I don't mind sitting down with a timer turning the handle.

[middy]

My barndoor mount is about to get a surge in use again now I have my DSI Pro and an adapter for my old SLR lenses. I had reached the limit with my previous imaging device (Kodak Z730 point and shoot camera) so I hadn't bothered using the barndoor for quite a while.

I also didn't mind turning the handle at first for about 4 or 5 months then I began to tire of it. Luckily I had an old stepper motor I had ripped out of an old dot matrix printer a couple of years earlier, just sitting in my toolbox waiting for an application.

[middy]

Gee, thanks for those kind words Alex :)

I hope I do insire some newcomers to give it a go. You really don't need that much to get some decent images of the sky (a couple of planks of wood hinged together, a simple camera, some desire and a lot of patience).

I'm just happy that I now have a setup that I can have a go at some galaxies with. It will hopefully keep me satisfied until that day far into the future when I am able to purchase an EQ6 mount. :)

Exciting times are ahead. Stay tuned for some DSO work over the coming months. :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

I look forward to following your progress.