M8

[atalas]

This is a 10minute guided shot of M8 I shot last Friday night ,SXV-H9C single shot colour CCD camera through an ED80 in mag 4 skies.

Louie

[RB]

What a beaut image Louie,

Getting better and better.
Mate had a great time on Saturday night, your setup is awesome to watch in action.

:astron: :party: :clap:

[Mick]

Beautiful Louie, I had a good look at m8 last night. :)

[seeker372011]

Nice shot indeed. Is this a crop or the full frame?

[atalas]

Thanks Andrew and Mick, yes Andrew our meets are always a lot of fun, Mick that M8 is one of the nebs you just never get sick of looking at ! a good one to show nubies too a
big Wow factor.

Louie :jump:

[atalas]

Thanks Narayan,no mate Its not cropped just reduced image size in PS. The chip in my SXV- H9C is a lot smaller than the DSLR chips.


Louie

[Striker]

Nice one Louie.

How difficult are you finding the Starlight camera.....Louie.

Can you take some shorter exposures and stack them like the DSLR's...say 20 x 1 minute exposures or 10 x 2 minute or wouldn't it work out....can you get very much detail even with say a single 1 minute exposure.

[acropolite]

Nice work Louie, what's the pixel count on that camera???

[h0ughy]

i love it mate, its a wonderful shot

[atalas]

Hi Tony, the Starlight cameras are cooled CCD so you don't get the same noise as you would from the DSLR. Being that the case long exposures are better than short for signal to noise ratio. I could do 30 x 1 minute exposures but that would not be as good as 30 minutes straight shot. A single 1 minute would work on something bright like M42 or any other bright DSO like globs and things. How difficult is the Starlight to use ? Its not Tony,Its an easy and fun camera to use,the secret being longer exposures ! as I get more comfortable with camera and guider I will look at combinning many 30 minute shots and taking flats to produce better images.
You really dont get much time on your gear in Sydney ! between work and bad weather It sometimes seems like weeks before you get to shoot. Of cause It gives you time to read up on things but Its time at the telescope that you need more.

Louie :astron:

[davidpretorius]

this is good stuff!

[atalas]

Thanks David and Phil, the SXV-H9C has a 1392 by 1040 pixel array and a 8.98x6.71mm
chip size. These chips have excellent quantum efficiency ! this means you don't need to take DARKS ! unlike my Sbig ST7 which was plagued by hot pixels. You still should take Flats which deals with other issues like dust and vignetting . For these cameras to perform well you need exposure time ! being a single shot colour camera .

Louie

[atalas]

Cheers Davo !


Louie

[davidpretorius]

any pics of the starlight and rough prices???

[iceman]

Nice one Louie, as I said on Saturday night, I think it's your best shot yet!

Always a pleasure to see you Louie!

[atalas]

Thanks Mike and love the IIS Pen ! I have to put security cameras around It ,my kids are eyeing It up already ! and Its always a pleasure meeting up with you and the guy's Mike,you are one of the big reasons this site has become so successful !

Louie :innocent:

[atalas]

Davo google Starlight Express you'll get all the info you need . The SXV-H9C goes for about $2800.00 US new. The best price I could get from Australia was from Telescope & Astronomy, he could get It for me for $4050.00 au If memory serves me, but best send him an email If your interested .


Louie

[asimov]

Lovely image Louie.

[atalas]

Thanks asimov !


Louie

[davidpretorius]

thanks louie.... cough splutter......i may just wait a little while.... holy bat droppings!


i will go and make up with my toucam!

[ving]

great one louie... looks like a great desktop pic ;)
yeah the pen looks good hey...

[atalas]

Yes hirts a bit Davo :scared2:


Louie

[atalas]

Thanks David,great idea that IIS Pen ..... I was just about to light It up cause Mike told me It was a cigar :doh:


Louie