QHY6Pro first night - short exposures

[fissionchips]

Hello to all,

I recently purchased a QHY6Pro Camera from the Au distributor at took it for a shakedown run, not so much to image seriously, but to make sure the new ccd worked.

The camera installed like clockwork (did that earlier in day) and performed flawlessly and returned images straight away. No wrestling with drivers and setup. CCDCAP just did its job.

I have issues with the mounting (home made split ring wooden mount with stepper motor drive.) including vibrations from the stepper motor resulting in oval star shapes. Tracking is poor leaving me with just 8 seconds exposure before errors. Focusing needs work too.

I dream about doing 5min exposures that many others do routinely... (sigh)

But I gain on aperture: 12 inch f5 newtonian which comes down to f3 using a focal reducer.

Captured with CCDCap (it came with the camera) and used Deep Sky Stacker to stack them following a suggestion from AlexN.

M8: lagoon 10 x 8 sec.
M20: trifid neb: 10 x 8 sec.
ngc104: globular 10 x 8 sec.

The images are nothing special but I can see that the QHY6PRO has potential in the right hands.

I am very happy with the results.

Tony

[strongmanmike]

I recon you had a smile on your face when these came down on your screen so easily Tony :thumbsup:

Mike

[theodog]

Nice start Tony.
You should be happy with those images first off.

[Kirkus]

Jeepers! 80 sec. total on each? I think they're really nice.

[AlexN]

Since going at them with DSS the M20 shot definitely shows a marked improvement! :) Looking very nice indeed Tony..

[peeb61]

Great images and a great start Tony...I want one! As Kirkus says....such low exposures for big gains.

Paul

[Inmykombi]

All images are a credit to your technique.
I love the Trifid.
Keep 'em coming.

Geoffro.

[Gama]

Even i was stunned for the 8 second subs.

Theo

[winensky]

Great Trffid. Thats a lot of data and very little noise for 8s subs! Can't wait to see more once you get your tracking fine tuned.

[fissionchips]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement.

I am working on a different tracking motor to eliminate the vibration but it will take a while...
Meanwhile I am glad that the camera is sensitive and that I can throw a 12 inch telescope at it!

I am just amazed at the images everyone produces with with the newer CCD cams and DSLRs and are shown here. Keep them coming!

Tony