Crescent Neb from Astrofest

[peter_4059]

Here's another of my Astrofest images - the crescent nebula NGC6888. This image is a stack of 17x4min subs with ICNR and flats, taken with the 400D, paracorr and Newt.

Comments welcome.

[h0ughy]

looks good, not seen this one myself before

[TrevorW]

Nice image Peter good stars

[peter_4059]

Thanks Trevor.



This target was Mr Ponders idea early one morning (thanks Paul).

[h0ughy]

ahhh that ponders fella - worth my weight in stardust ;)

[jjjnettie]

Very nice work Peter. I remember you imaging that.

[Octane]

Peter,

Oh noes, something's happened to the stars. The halo around them is all washed out like as if is a 256-colour image. Not sure what's happened.

Hopefully you can sort that out as I think there's some potential in there. :)

Regards,
Humayun

[[1ponders]]

Hmmm....definitely one I'll have a try at next year. Very nice first go at it Pete. Looks like it could use about another 10min / shot though. Have to get that 'flexure' sorted out. ;) One definitely worth spending some more time on. :thumbsup:

[ozstronomer]

Peter,

Great looking image, you have done well considering how low it was.

I'll have to try it at the next DSO

Geoff

[peter_4059]

Catching up on posts here - thanks JJJ, H, Geoff & Paul. On the flexure issue I'm planning to remove the secondary and check it is not flopping around in the holder. New focuser also in the post to give me a bit more travel. I'm also thinking about changing the dovetail for something with some more meat in it.

[AlexN]

Given the weight of your setup Peter, whilst its expensive, I would strongly recommend getting the ADM 'EQ-G SAD' which converts the EQ6 to Losmandy D-Plates. The losmandy plates are 4" wide, and solid as a rock.

It will cost you a lot of money though, you'd need the saddle, D plate for each of your scopes and a D side by side plate.. Otherwise you could go for a D plate with a D and a V saddle, put a D plate on your two imaging scopes and a V plate on your guider to save a little bit of money..

That is -The- way to rule out dovetails as part of your flex problems...

Now, onto the major topic on my mind... Great image! I didnt think the crescent nebula was even possible from our neck of the woods.. Fantastic. I hope to have a go at this one some time.. :)

Top effort.

[peter_4059]

Thanks Alex. I was toying with a conversion to Losmandy plates although as you say it is a lot of money and I'm not convinced that this is where the flexure is at this stage. I am thinking about changing the vixen dovetail on the 10" to a heavier version (same as my s-b-s bar without the clamps - see bottom of this page http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/). I would also need a larger bearing surface between the tube rings and the bar to make it worthwhile.

The crescent was very low in the North when I imaged this at Astrofest.

Peter

[RB]

Mate you've done very well.
With just over an hour's worth of data you've captured some very nice detail there.

:thumbsup:

[peter_4059]

Thanks Andrew. It probably would have been better if not for the dew. The primary mirror was covered in droplets most nights by this stage. I think that is why the brighter stars have halos.

Peter