Faint IC 2118 but I'm happy

[Quark]

Hi All,
Thanks to all on IIS that replied to my call for help with imaging IC 2118.

Last night I had my third attempt at this object, minus my polarizing filter.
The Hag is faint and obviously I need more data to capture this with the only lens available to me a 17-85mm EFS.

This image was taken with an unmodified Canon 450D with the previously mentioned lens at 85mm F5.6 and ISO 800. Used IP 3.60 Camera control, focused with the focus metric in IP, tracked by hand with my DMK and IC Capture using Als Reticle.

Took 11 x 7 minute subs, 6 x 7 minute darks, 16 x 1/30th sec ISO 100 flats and 16 x 1/4000th sec bias frames. Processed in IP 3.50a.

Thanks for looking
Regards
Trevor

[Hagar]

Its very faint but it is in there. Keep at it with many more hours and you will have a wonderful image.

[renormalised]

It's there, Trevor. Keep at it....a few extra subs like you've been doing and then stack the lot. Should help:D

[bojan]

It's there for sure..
you also have Horse head in the corner :-)

[Craig_L]

I'd still try 10 mins @ 1600 to see what you get. Might be a bit noisy in these temps but see how you go. Skies at Broken Hill should be as good as Stockport.

[Craig_L]

Hey Trevor,

Worth having a look at Doug's effort with a 40D and a Canon 280mm @ 5.6 if you missed it.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=39554

[RobF]

What a great start Trevor! - I'd be stoked to have gotten that far. No challenge in it either if you get perfection the first time.... ;)

[Matty P]

Well done Trevor. It is really faint but it's there. More exposures will really help to bring out the Witches Head.

Keep at it.

Well done. :thumbsup:

[leon]

That's what it is all about Trevor, If you are happy with your results, you have achieved what you intended, well done.

Leon

[Quark]

Hi Craig,
Thanks for the link, I take your point, at f5.6 it looks like ISO 1600 and about 3 hrs of subs at 10mins seems the minimum requirement for this f ratio lens. And yes, I would say Broken Hill is as good a location as Stockport.

I think it will be a project for next year. Around the end of October, imaged from about midnight to about 3am.

Currently I can image this object from about 9:45 to 11:15 before I drive my scope tube into the floor of my observatory. I could flop the tube and start about 10:30 but I have problems with trees in the North West.

Regards
Trevor

[Quark]

Thanks Leon,

I admire the work you do, loved your Rosette and of course would like to aspire to images of that quality.

This DSLR imaging is all new to me so I thought I would approach it by trying some star trails, which worked out ok, then some piggyback work on my scope.

The 17:85mm EFS is my only lens and I realized that IC 2118 was a very dim target, but I was interested in establishing the limitations of this, pretty basic lens. I was disappointed that my first two attempts resulted in, not even a hint of IC 2118. The problem, I believe was the polarizing filter that I forgot to take off of the lens.

When I say I am happy with this result, of coarse I would have liked it to be better, but as dim as the Witch is in this image it gives me the encouragement that with enough data even this basic Canon lens is going to be capable of producing a reasonable image of The Hag.

My next step is to go prime focus, I just need to build a light box for my flats. The recently posted article on the subject of darks, flats and light box's by Eddie could not have been more timely.

Regards
Trevor

[Quark]

Thanks for the reply Bojan,

The HH was a total accident, but now I am aware of the relative size of the field of this Lens I will try framing IC 2118, M42, IC 434, Barnard 33 and The Flame neb.

It is all a learning experience.

Regards
Trevor

[Quark]

Thanks Matty,

I am just so pleased that with enough effort I will be able to capture this object with the only lens I have.

As soon as I build my light box I will be into some prime focus work. I am really looking forward to what the 450D will be able to produce on a 16" f4.5 system.

Regards
Trevor

[Quark]

Thanks for those sentiments and encouragement Rob,

I really think the struggle along the way to success is really an incredibly worthwhile learning experience.

All of us, whenever we want an image of any DSO, could just go to the Hubble site and download it. But there is no such satisfaction of producing the image yourself and the struggle along the way is what makes the end result all the more satisfying.

Regards
Trevor

[Matty P]

Me too!!! :D :thumbsup:

Can't wait. ;)