Tarantula in Ha

[Hagar]

NGC 2070 Tarantula Nebula
5 X 10 minute exposures (50 minutes in total)
Telescope Vixen VC200L at F9 1800mm
Camera QHY9 Mono cooled to -20 degrees
Filter Baader 7nm Ha filter

Not much to say. I do think this camera is a keeper. I fired up the filter wheel to see how it all fits together and works (No filters Yet). Works seamlessly with the camera and is a very nice piece of work.

Hope you enjoy.

[Omaroo]

Very nice Doug - that new camera looks like it's a good'un. :thumbsup:

[Matty P]

That's a ripper Doug. The QHY9 is definitely producing the goods. :)

Got to get myself one. :D

:thumbsup:

[Garyh]

I really like this one Doug!
:thumbsup: Looks like you shall be having fun with the new toy!
cheers

[renormalised]

QHY9...I'm sold:D:thumbsup:

Great shot, Doug...the detail in ol' spidey is exquisite:D

[theodog]

Nice one Doug.
Plenty of detain from that set-up.
Well done.

[bluescope]

Lots of nice detail right to the core Doug ... I think the slower F9 VC200L also helps with images like this as opposed to a faster scope which would tend to burnout the centre. Nice work !

:thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Looks very sharp Doug! Great detail..

[TrevorW]

Well that blows that and I was going to post a colour version, stuff that don't want to be embarrassed this is super :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thum bsup:

[Craig_L]

Very nice DOug. Lots of detail and little noise.

[Hagar]

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

TrevorW, never be embarrassed about posting an image. You do it for you not for everyone else but you post in the hope and with anticipation that someone who looks at it can give you firstly a little praise for your efforts, secondly, some constructive crytisism on maybe what you are doing wrong and lastly, some assistance and advice for future imaging exploits.
Keep posting Mate, you are improving with every image.

[Prickly]

Outstanding Doug.

Those VC200Ls are just great instruments arent they. Coupled with the QHY9 a great combo.

Cheers
David

[TrevorW]

Dougie I posted anyway just droolling over your image thats all

Cheers

[monoxide]

nice Doug, looks a fair bit more sensitive than the QHY8

are you going with RGB or narrowband filters?

[Hagar]

Hopefully both in time. The cost of filters fairly shocked me.

[gregbradley]

That's a ripper Doug!

Greg.:thumbsup:

[monoxide]

i just added up the QHY9 + filter wheel and filters in my head and it shocked me too :P

there is a narrowband set of baader filters for $1100 from myastroshop that includes a Hb filter also, could re-sell the 7nm Ha filter it comes with since you already have one.

[Hagar]

Thanks TJ. I will be looking at a set of RGB filters as a first step then I will look at suplimenting them with a SII and OIII when funds allow. Still a lot to learn when I get a set of RGB so narrow band can wait a while.

[skeltz]

Nice one doug ,looks like you are having heaps of fun..keep it up!!

[Hagar]

Hi Rob, I don't know about fun but it is certainly something unusual for me. I look forward to the learning curve ahead and hope I am up to the challenge.

[Tandum]

Wadda ya mean you got no filters, you obviously have one :)

Does the wheel and camera work with the focal reducer or do we need an adapter?

[Hagar]

At this stage the wheel and camera don't come to focus with the focal reducer on the Vixen but I haven't really made much of an effort yet.
I will let you know when I sort it all out.

[strongmanmike]

Ah ya havin some fun huh Doug ;)

You'll never look back to DSLR's now mate :thumbsup:

Some good detail in theTarantula mate

Mike

[lesbehrens]

very nice

[Hagar]

Hey Mike. I think by the time I get a full colour image I won't have time to look back. May be Ok on those nice looong winter nights but it seems to be a bit of a process during the short summer nights when I have to work the next day. I am hanging on to the One shot colour for the moment in case I find it all too complicated.
I am certainly happy with the cameras performance at the moment.

[AlexN]

I got dibs on the mates rates QHY9 should it be too complicated :D yay!

[strongmanmike]

Yes you are quite right, LRGB imaging, particularly with traditional F5 or more often much slower scopes, can be a bit time consuming - not a good thing when you only have 6 hours of true darkness :scared:. If the cloud rolls in and all you have is the Red and the Green you have to wait for the next clear night to get the blue or you can't even make a colour image :doh:

The up side of course is improved resolution and it's worth it IMO

Mike

[renormalised]

Someone needs to try a hyperstar equipped C8, 11 or 14...or a Meade 10" or 12" with a good OSC or a FLI/QSI/SBIG on the larger scopes. Just imagine a C14 at f/1.8 - f/2.0....nice widefield and whopping light gathering capability, especially compared to a 6" refractor. Even if you had a 40% obstruction, you'd still be gathering far more light than a good refractor could:)

[richardo]

Congrats Doug on the new ccd.
and a dedicated one at that.... coooool!
Off to a great start..
Look forward to more images.

All the best
Rich

[strongmanmike]

Yes would be good to see..? Not sure how well the Hyperstar would correct over the 43mm image circle needed for a 35mm chip though..? I guess even if it was just good over say a 25mm circle that would be useable?

Faster and more aperture is deffinitely better for LRGB imaging particularly if you are portable and don't have the luxury of being able to easily come back to targets over multiple nights. This was why I wanted (and recieved) the 12" F3.8 astrograph in 2007, to me it is the perfect scope for LRGB imaging and makes deeper imaging at a still healthy 1100mm FL in a single night, quite doable....alas twas not to be...:(

Mike

[renormalised]

Mike...here's the site if you want to go and have a look... Hyperstar (http://starizona.com/acb/hyperstar/index.aspx)

[AlexN]

Mike - What was wrong with the 12" F/3.8 (im going to assume it was an ASA imaging newt?) Did you cop a sloppy focuser? or do you just despise diffraction spikes that much! :)

[Hagar]

When we get some longer cooler nights I can't wait to see what results I can get. Considering the temp control has a 50 degree delta darks will not be too much of a problem but I am still going to put together a library of differing temp darks. Something to do on cloudy nights.

[strongmanmike]

Yep, bad astigmatism from the secondary, sloppy focuser, focuser broken on arrival, cooling fan plug unassembled on arrival and the Robo Focus was even faulty and had to be replaced.........all before I even did a proper image.

They didn't even bother to star test my scope before shipping :doh: :screwy:

Ah sigh.........live and learn as they say

[renormalised]

After having them do that, I'd have rolled over the scope with a road roller, packed it in a large envelope and mailed it back to them. Then I'd ask for my money back, saying look what happened in transit!!!:P:D

[Ken]

That's a great image Doug plenty of fine detail in the Nebula. I also just received the QHY9 and also don't have any RGB filters thanks to the crazy prices. I have some old 49mm coloured glass filters, thinking of mounting them somehow in the filter wheel. This new camera will be a steep learning curve for me. Keep posting more images:)
Clear skies Ken

[Hagar]

Thanks Ken I think you will love the camera. It is far more sensitive than my QHY8. Can't wait to get some filters and give it a real spin.