Bit of Deep LMC now + 1 Panel

[avandonk]

This is actually panel one of a mosaic I am doing, weather permitting.

Camera Canon 5DH, Canon 300mm F2.8L at f/5, Hutech LPR filter. Fridge at -10C.

Exposures 20x( 1m, 2m, 4m ) and 26x8m at 1600 ISO. Usual HDR method.

Twice native resolution 13MB
http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/2009_10/lmcpan1.jpg

It shows the full frame with crook bits due to vignetting.There is also more dust than you usually see.


Bert

[jase]

Ambitious imaging projects are what distinguishes men from boys. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one will pan out. The FOV is massive so more panels will add an interesting dimension. Looking good so far Bert.

[avandonk]

It won't be easy Jase so thanks for the words of encouragement..

Below are three images. The first is from here on APOD

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080409.html

and shows how far the LMC extends.

The second image has my full frame image superimposed. The third has a cropped version suitable for a mosaic as the vignetting will no longer interfere with matching colour etc.

It looks like I will need at least nine panels.

Bert

[DavidU]

Thats going to be one big image! I look forward to it.

[strongmanmike]

Nice start Bert

You can see the LMC tidal stream in the APOD shot, cool.

I remember seeing this in film shots taken using the 8" F1 camera at Mt Stromlo taken..?..way back when.

Mike

[avandonk]

I hope you do not expect me to follow the tidal stream as well Mike?

Bert

[strongmanmike]

Why not :shrug:

:thumbsup:

[avandonk]

You're on!

Bert

[AlexN]

:) Looking forward to that! :)

[avandonk]

Mike where is it? As I am not quite sure. There is H gas all the way back to our galaxy (radio data from H emission). There seems to be two streams of faint stars....

Bert

[avandonk]

Thanks David. I will put up a full res image for anyone to download.

Bert

[spacezebra]

Great Bert - Im looking forward to the final image. One of our members is undertaking an astroimage project of LMC too.

Cheers Petra d.

[avandonk]

Managed to get panel two last night. Same as panel one for exp info etc.

11.5MB


http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/2009_10/PAN1&2.jpg

Bert

[jase]

Great going Bert. Lets hope for some more clear nights as this looks like it will end up a pearler of an image. Good stuff.

What are your overlap calculations? Or are you just "winging" it? Mosaics start well before you enter the observatory to collect data - planning is critical.

[avandonk]

Jase I have a GstarEX behind a Canon cmount F1.8 16 to 160 mm zoom. I have a mark on the zoom when it exactly shows the same field as the Canon 5DH amd 300mm F2.8L. I have a LPR filter over the GstarEX's sensor so light pollution is no problem. I can see the Helix Neb in real time when integrating 128x and at f2.8 in 7" LCD monitor mounted on the zoom lens. The same goes for the Flame and HH nebs. I use Registar to do a final check before an imaging run to the data already collected.

I can rotate the Canon lens and camera as it has a lockable rotating mount. The fridge limits this rotation so I do not bother.

The twelve panel mosaic of the Vela SNR was done this way.

The whole lot is guided by 90mm Mak 1150 FL and GstarEX camera. Can't find a guide star? Just up the integration! It is important to slow the autoguide correction interval to match the hysteresis of integrations above about 32X.

You will also notice the lens has Kendrick dew heaters wrapped around it. These are thermostatically controlled so the lens retains perfect focus all night everynight as the lens temperature is always at 20C. I have not needed to refocus for three months as I leave the heaters on 24/7 which also stops any chance of condensation on cold wet nights. The PID ( black box at rear of Peltier fridge) controls the Peltiers and the fridge's temperature is held at plus or minus 0.1 C to the set temperature. This means darks match lights exactly for noise subtraction.


Bert

[jase]

Cool. Sounds like you've got it under control. I like your concept of marking the same FoV as the 5D w/300mm lens. At the end of the night, more overlap is better than gaping big holes, void of stars!

[gbeal]

Great project Bert,
glad to some with the courage to undertake it. I am fiddling with a camera lens shot of the LMC at the moment too, but nothing as ambitious as a mosaic.
From your shot of the gear though, man I thought I had cable problems.
Gary

[DavidU]

Bert, that is one hell of a nice setup ! As usual a very well thought out system.

[AlexN]

Lookin good Bert.. The second panel seems to integrate seamlessly into the first...

Im glad I came back to check out the second panel... I noticed some things in an image of NGC2070 I did last night that I thought must have been some issue with my flats or perhaps a processing stuff up, but the same dark areas are present in your image too.. :)

Keep the panels coming!

[gregbradley]

Exciting project Bert. I look forward to the final result.

Its interesting how imaging does improve our knowledge of these objects. As the APOD mentions the LMC does start to look like a barred spiral galaxy. Who would have thought?

Greg.

[avandonk]

Greg I have been looking at the sky since Sputnik in 1957 and I am always treated to new things I have not seen. My interest in doing high quality widefields is to try to put all the fantastic deep sky images into some sort of context. Even the images Hubble produces should not stop us from imaging as everything we all do can only complement them.

Bert

[pmrid]

Am I right that you have all this on an EQ6? That certainly looks like the polar scope cover I can see peeping out from under ann that amazing kit.
Peter

[avandonk]

It certainly is an EQ6 but instead of gearboxes it has toothed belts between the much larger than standard motors and worms.

[bluescope]

As Greg said it's the first time I have seen an image of the LMC which actually shows the barred spiral structure as shown in the APOD image that you posted ... have fun doing the rest of your mosaic ... I look forward to seeing the end result.