The sky was clear! (Enough...)

[AlexN]

This was shot through clouds last night, as a result of the clouds I got about 1/8th the data I would have liked, but it was still enough to create a workable image...

I had the pleasure of using Peter's ED127 for this shot which gave me good image scale and great resolution.. A big thanks for Peter for having me out at his dark site, and allowing me the use of his ED127/EQ6 Pro for the night.

The ST8300M performed really well.. I have a ways to go when it comes to processing data from this setup, but I am happy to say that from an initial perspective, I think I made the right choice going to mono.. I enjoyed the processing side of things, I found to be fairly easy, and imagine it would only get easier with much more data to play with..

Originally I messed the colours up a little, Mr Sidonio was nice enough to help put me on the right track.. So A big thanks to Mike! :)

Full field of view, 50% resolution (http://www.pbase.com/alexn_astro/image/120946389) - 2mb or there abouts
Full field of view 20% resolution (http://www.pbase.com/alexn_astro/image/120946389/large) - 131kb

Details:
ED127 @ F/7.5, field corrected with a Baader MPCC. (although I dont think It needed it.)
ST8300M @ -10C - Astrodon LRGB I series filters.
QHY5/OAG used for guiding.

LRGB (40:10:10:10) All 5 min subs, RGB Binned 2x2.

Cheers..
Alex.

http://www.pbase.com/alexn_astro/image/120946389

[Bolts_Tweed]

OnYa big fella

First up you have to be happy. Looking forward to more (when the sunshine state lives up to its name of course).

M

[Dennis]

Hi Alex

That is a fabulous image – top stuff.:eyepop:

You’ve certainly not wasted any time in getting your new rig up and running; well done to you for producing such an excellent image with brand new gear! You forgot to pay homage to the steep learning curve!;)

Cheers

Dennis

[CoolhandJo]

Very Very nice! Looking good!

[Prickly]

Lovely shot Alex. Nice collaboration too. We should be seeing some very fine shots coming through I can see.

Cheers
David

[Paul Haese]

Well it has been some time since I have seen an image from you. Guiding is superb as I would expect from a wide field perspective. I do think the image lacks vibrancy. However processing looks quite nice. Maybe just a little black clipped on the darker spots at the top of the image. Looking forward to more.

[AlexN]

Thanks everyone,

Mark - Cheers big fella, Considering its the first light of a camera that is so very different to anything I've used before I'm stoked I came out with anything.. I think its turned out well considering the lack of data.. Actually, I questioned whether or not to post the image given the tiny amount of data, but I remembered there are a lot of people waiting to see shots from the ST8300, so I had better give them something.. :)

Dennis - Long time no see mate! :) Yes the learning curve is steep you ar right, the upside is I ordered the mono camera in October, and have been reading everything I can find since then about different processing techniques, proper calibration and the like.. That 2.5 month lead in time gave me a good opportunity to figure out whats what and get my head around a few things...

Dr Paul - Thanks mate.. Sure hope I can produce more like this one! :)

David - Thanks, I was very happy to have had Mr Sidonio give me a helping hand with the processing.. The man certainly has an eye for this sort of stuff! With any luck we'll get some more clear skies next weekend and I'll be able to present something a little more impressive with regards to exposure, depth and vibrance..

Paul - Its been far too long between drinks thats for sure... I've not imaged since mid October.. That has driven me around the bend I can assure you of that.. Yeah, you really can't go too far wrong when guiding with an OAG.. there is very very little chance of things going wrong..
Agreed about the lack of vibrancy... I dare say this comes from the lack of data, or maybe thats just me making excuses for my short comings :D We'll have to wait and see :D

Thanks again everyone, I must say I am very very happy to be back in the saddle doing what I love most.. :)

Cheers..
Alex.

[telecasterguru]

Alex,

It sure shows a lot of promise. The full image is very good with nebulosity everywhere.

Long way to go but great start.

By the way, what did you think of the ED127 eq6 combo. This is the same as my rig and I love the ED127. I was thinking of getting a GSO 10" RC this week. Do you think the EQ6 could handle it?

Frank

[DavidU]

Lex ! colour blindness or not that's a ripper:thumbsup:;):):)

[AlexN]

Frank - I agree, the image shows potential, but it also shows I have plenty of learning to do... I really enjoy learning, so I look forward to it! :)

As for my thoughts on the ED127/EQ6 Combo... I'd buy one tomorrow if I had the cash... Beautiful scope, very sharp.. The detail captured is very pleasing (at 100% size you can see the fickle finger! :D)

I do think the EQ6 would handle the GSO 10" RC.. you would want to organise a very light guiding solution, provided you're camera/guiding setup was under 5kgs I see no reason you couldnt use the EQ6.. It would be a little iffy in the breeze though... Not dissimilar from when I had a C11 on my EQ6 Pro.. I could get good results, however it required near perfect conditions.

Dave - Cheers mate..

[TrevorW]

I like it Alex

VNI

[RobF]

Came out nice Alex! :thumbsup: :2thumbs: :thumbsup:

Great goin'

I hardly heard you go this morning - too busy catching ZZZs after a long night I guess.

[fo.manush]

Very nice Alex.

You did very well to get such detail in the short periods between clouds.

I really liked the mono image you showed on the night but the colour just makes it something else....Awesome. :thumbsup:

[Hagar]

Nice crisp image. Looks like you have the new camera working nicely.

[Tom Davis]

Gorgeous image!!

Tom

[Bassnut]

Given the conditions thats an excellent 1st light Alex. The OAG sure gave you excellent guiding and focus seems very good.

[Omaroo]

Damn you Alex. :lol:

Hmm... time to think about a new SBIG...

[Octane]

Yes, concur with Chris. Damn you, indeed. You pain!

That's another $4K on this hobby. Grr!

It'll have to come after the Epson 7800 (hopefully this week!), and motorised Moonlite focuser, and dew heaters... the list is endless.

H

[Manav]

PM me when you decide to sell your kit! ;)

[rogerg]

nice to see some imaging from the new camera :) nice start :)

[Rigel003]

Great start with the new camera, Alex. That's a beautiful shot.

[multiweb]

Stunning shot Alex. The high-res is awesome. :thumbsup:

[AlexN]

Trevor - Thanks mate..

Rob - Cheers mate...have you had a chance to process anything from the QHY9 yet? I did my best to be quite.. Didn't want to wake anyone.. :)

Dewang - cheers, Yeah I was very happy to get what I did. About 40 mins after you went to bed the sky cleared up for about 40 minutes.. pure clear skies... was great. :) I considered waking you up! :)

Doug - Thanks, Yeah its all running in nicely.. There's still a long way to go though! :) Cable management for starters...

Tom - Thank you sir, It is always nice to get a complement from someone you derive inspiration from :)

Fred - I nit picked over the focus for quite a while, and was checking it every so often between subs.. The OAG sure did its job... It was fiddly to get it focused right to start with, but now that its done, its done... won't be touching that again.. :D

Chris & H - :D teehehe!! :rofl: Worth the money guys.. even after such a short first light, I think it was worth every cent.. the processing workload increase is very dramatic... but I'm sure you two will grasp it easily enough..

H - Epson 7800!! :) oooh!! Ahhh!! I definitely recommend a dew heater if you're imaging with refractors.... Once you get moisture on your lens, dust, pollen and other flotsam will stick to it, and then it dries and becomes a nightmare to clean....

Yugant - hehehe! I'll take that as a complement! :D I dont think I'll be selling up anytime soon... That said - you just never know with me... :D haha..

Roger - Thanks mate.. I've been chasing my tail all week waiting for a chance to point this bad boy up at the sky... The wait was worth it.. even if I do have bite marks in my tail! :D

Graeme - Cheers mate... Looking forward to your first light!! :) Any thoughts of when that might take place?

Marc - Thanks mate.....


Thanks all for the very positive response to this image... I hope to raise the bar in the coming months with some serious exposure time.. :)

Alex.

[Moon]

Great looking image - love the dusty bits near the edge. :thumbsup:
Also very interesting to see the results of the ED127 + Baader MPCC combo.
James

[zipdrive]

Nice work with the new Cam!!:thumbsup:
I think you're about to convert me to OAG on my new setup with an RC8.....

[Tamtarn]

Excellent first image with the new camera Alex. Looks like you definitely made the right decision getting the 8300 :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[richardo]

Good to see what this ccd can do Alex, and considering you were dodging clouds, I think this shows its great potential.... nice!

I have a work in progress just sth of Eta, but with Eta still visible and I must say the anti blooming setup with the St8300 is impressive as to your 5min subs and the way it handled Eta as it did.

Look forward to more of your images.

Rich