Helix Planetary Nebula

[Alchemy]

The helix..... not much need be said as we all know what it is

Scope- 12 inch F5 Newtonian
Mount- Losmandy G11
Camera-QHY8 Cooled 6 megapixel CCD
Guidescope-ED80 with PHD 1 sec updates @.5 sidereal and 20% aggresive
Total exposure 2 hrs 42 mins -- 6 minute subs

[Tilt]

Wow, thats nice :thumbsup:

[Tamtarn]

Wow also !!! This would have to be one of the best QHY8 images we have seen IOO (In our opinion) :)............... Fantastic Clive ..........capturing the outer halo as well :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[spearo]

very nice
well done
frank

[iceman]

Wow clive, that's really really good! Excellent work! Lots of nice exposure.
When did you get those clear skies!?

Well done.

[leon]

Ah Frank that is a beautifully captured Helix, great colour and plenty of nice detail, well done indeed.

leon

[peter_4059]

Wow. Very crisp Helix. 2 3/4 hrs sure makes a big difference.

[Lester]

Excellent image of the Helix and outer nebulosity, nice scale too.

Also got the galaxy within the Helix.

[jase]

Clive, Lovely work on the Eye of God. I find it interesting that you've used 6min subs, yet others such as Doug go 15min subs. Is the reasoning purely gain related or environmental (sky glow)?

[2020BC]

Excellent.:thumbsup:

[Garyh]

Excellent result Clive!
Starting to push that new camera now! ;)
cheers Gary

[Ric]

A beauty Clive, the colour and nebulosity look fantastic.

Top stuff.

[skeltz]

Nice going clive,well done!

[renormalised]

Nicely done, Clive.

[Kirkus]

Yeowza! That's just beautiful.

[Alchemy]

thanks everyone for looking,

2 questions asked

iceman.... i have had the imge for a little while and had several goes at processing it, all cloudy here... i do have another 4 or 5 images will put up later most arent that special so will do all at once

Jase.... in a word FLEXURE. Somewhere in the system theres some movement enough to out of round the stars on 15 min exposures, Dougs Tak probably has a focal length less than 1000mm this and is a refractor, weighs about 1/2 or less what mine does , if i had his scopes id go longer too.
a guidechip located on the main axis such as the SBIG cameras would be the answer but (i dont have the required funds for that sort of gear) its a bit of a bug i havent been able to nail.... not for a lack of trying, and a off axis guider creates more problems of varios kinds Inc more surgery to the focal length., so i have gone the path of more images and doing some creative processing to try to compensate.
From a quick off the top of my head i cant think of anyone else shooting at 1500mm or more with a side by side setup, most are sub 1000mm Photon collectors gone the refractor, O Dog and his 12 inch is using an Sbig as is Peter ward and Martin and your Gras ones are as well. Most of the rest of the pack are using ED 80 type gear with the odd 8 inch, Oldmanmikes 6 inch, terry shoots his VC200l at 6.3 thats about as close but this is an extremely lightweight scope for its FL ( i sold one recently) Bit of a ramble but covered all the bases.

Tilt,frank, leon, peter,lester, gary, ric,Bill, thanks for looking

RPS, Renormalized and Kirkus thanks too.

Tamtarn... going to take up your challenge and shoot that nice Ha object youve just done, thanks for your comment

hope i didnt leave anyone out.

cheers clive.