SBIG ST-8i first light on NGC2070

[Omaroo]

Well, going from a DSLR to a cooled CCD is a bit of a shock. This NGC2070 is pretty rough, but it is a step in the right direction. I'll try to get better within the monochrome realm first, and then later progress to LRGB colour. Wow - so much to learn.

[turbo_pascale]

Chris,

The central area of the frame seems a bit clouded (and not from the nebula).

Did you do darks & flats etc? Have you baked the dessicant?

I wish my first light with the ST7 looked anything like that. Great first effort especially on the steep learning curve.

Turbo

[theodog]

Yep, nice start Chris.

Now you're in the realm of real astrophotography. Start looking for mag 20+ asteroids.;)

Have you ever heard of Herbig-Haro objects?:lol:

Lots to learn -yep -good fun 'though.
:D

[Omaroo]

Thanks Rob

The cloudy area is natural from what I can tell, and it was certainly in the data as it appeared. I took several frames at 3x3 binning first and these didn't have it.

I've used darks from a library I've built over several days - at timings from 0.5sec to 3,600sec and at various temperatures. I matched the library darks with the lights individually. I hadn't taken any flats for this one - yet.

The dessicant has been recently baked, so that sould be OK.

[Omaroo]

hehe.. thaks Jeff.

Yep - HH47 next on my list. :lol:

[Matty P]

Nice Chris, you're well on your way now. :) Not far off from LRGB imaging. ;)

Well done. :thumbsup:

[Hagar]

Nice Chris, It is something of a learning curve isn't it. RGB will be another big step I feel. Just been reading about colour balance with RGB filters. God help us.

[Hagar]

Some interesting reading Chris.

http://www.woodlandsobservatory.com/true_colour_imaging.htm

[Omaroo]

Thanks Matty :)

Excellent - thanks for that Doug :thumbsup:

Yep - I'm looking at a steep hill in front of us, but ultimately the view will be worth it. :D

[[1ponders]]

Nice first up Chris. :thumbsup:

Still might be worth checking for frosting. It took me 3 bakes to get my ST7 from frosting up and it still does if I drop it right to the bottom in one go. I now drop to -5 and then further by 5s over about 45 min while I'm setting up.

[bloodhound31]

That's got a real 3D look about it. I think colour might even spoil it.

Thanks Chris.

Baz.

[Omaroo]

Thanks Barry :)

Paul - I only went to -5 and no further. At -5 it was already at 54% or thereabouts, so ambient was pretty high. I'm running a little 50w 240-120vAC step-down at the moment, and that little thing gets pretty warm so I don't want to push the cooling cycle too hard just yet. Frames I took either side of the Tarantula look clear, so I don't know what the cloudiness is - extra nebulosity? :shrug:

With the shutter closed, how would you know if you were in fact frosting? Take an exposure, shine a light down the scope and take a look?

[gbeal]

Nice shot.
My guess is frosting too though. Hit "Expose" while you have the camera at temp, and with it off the scope, so you are looking into the chip. you will see it at a glance. Like has been said, it can take a while for the descicant to "work".
Gary

[strongmanmike]

I think you will do better than that very soon Chris :thumbsup: enjoy the move to the good side...;)

I know it would have cost a tad more but did you consider an FLI camera? You would have no trouble going very cold even on warm nights then. The second night I imaged my last bit of the Vela SNR for example the evening temp at session start was still a balmy thongs and t-shirt +25C but my FLI still got down to a -35 chip temp (just), once it cooled a tad more soon after the camera just chugged away all night, like it does all year round, at a frosty -35C :D

Mike

[bluescope]

Hi Chris

My ST2000XCM is recommended to run at approx 75% for optimum cooling so you have a fair bit of headroom still to go if you are only running at 54% .... it's all fun from here on in mate .... enjoy the ride.
:thumbsup:

[Omaroo]

LOL! Always considering an FLI Mike! They're (and the STL11K) a bit expensive for me right now though. I will certainly end up with either one before too long, because my appetite is a tad insatiable.... :sadeyes:

The SBIG I have is an old ST-8i and is ex Magellan (Zane), and I condsider it an appropriate stepping stone to a larger model. It's probably a very good learning machine.... :thumbsup:

[Omaroo]

Thanks everyone :)

I'll tackle the frosting problem - or at least see if it is that, tonight. I'll also go down to temp in steps.

Thanks!

[strongmanmike]

Ah ya'll have none'o that with an FLI ;)

Worth considering....I love mine!

[Omaroo]

Right - dessicant canister has been baked for 4 hours at 175C. Let's see what happens tonight! :)

[rogerg]

Oo... nice camera :thumbsup: .. my upgrade path is to an ST8-XME (from my ST7).. in my dreams :lol:

Nice start, you're obviously getting a good depth of detail detected there. :thumbsup:

[Omaroo]

Thanks Roger :)

Is it not more worthwhile to upgrade that actual ST-7 of yours to an ST-8 these days? Surely it has become more affordable given their age....or doesn't it work that way at SBIG? :shrug:

[rogerg]

Upgrading to a new ST8-XME would cost me about $6500 if I can sell my ST7 for $1000.. second hand I'm not sure, it's not often I see a self guiding ST8 with USB come up (if I upgraded I wouldn't want parallel).. it's all money :)

[turbo_pascale]

Don't forget that it takes time for the dessicant to do it's magic. I believe that 24 hours is "safe". If you just plug it in and off you go, it's not going to make a difference (after all, while you were baking, lots of moisture got in!)

Turbo