Ngc6559 tec180

[gregbradley]

Its been a while between images. From building my new observatory to computer problems I haven't been able to get any new images done.

This is first light for my new observatory.

NGC6559, which is right next to the Lagoon Nebula.

TEC180FL at F7, FLI Proline 16803, Astrodon Gen 11 LRGB filters (I had no trouble with LRGB combine this time), ST402 guide cam, NJP mount.

LRGB 170 70 50 60 for a total of just under 6 hours. 10 minute subs.

I shot some Ha as well but not enough. The weather pattern has been clear skies for the first few hours then cloud has come over.

This was taken over 2 nights.

http://upload.pbase.com/image/127465615

Greg.

[Octane]

Greg,

Mate, looks like you've got some fab data there.

One criticism; on my calibrated screen, it is coming across as a neon sign -- it is /way/ too saturated. Try turning it down around 25-30% and it'll balance out quite well, I think.

H

[gregbradley]

I think you're right. I toned it down 30%. Its getting pretty late!

Greg.

[Octane]

That simple adjustment has made a world of difference!

Very good!

H

[gregbradley]

Yes it does, thanks Humi.

Greg.

[Alchemy]

I've just had a look, very nice, I like the blues, I never seem to get those like that with a OSC without ruining the color balance.

Clive

[avandonk]

Very nice detail Greg especially in the faint nebulosity.

Here is an animated gif of your upsized image with the same area from my large Saggitarius Mosaic. 7MB.

http://d1355990.i49.quadrahosting.com.au/2010_08/gb1.gif

Click anywhere on the image to see it full size.

We are comparing a 300mm FL effective 84mm diameter at f/3.5 using a DSLR to 1260mm FL 180mm diameter APO at f/7 using an astro CCD.

You can see why the Canon 300mm F2.8L is held in such high regard by me and many others.

Bert

[gregbradley]

That's a facinating overlay Bert.

As you say your 300mm is a fabulous performer.

I really like my TEC180. Its a massive scope.

I cleaned the lens the other day using
the Tak manual on how to do it. It came up beautifully.

These TEC180's to me are like what was available in the 90's when you could still buy an AP scope without massive wait.

Yuri already no longer makes Maksutov Cassegrains, the 200mm fluorite (which was never advertised in the first place) and 200mm ED versions.

The 180 production may not last forever. The scope makers seem very sensitive to glass supply and quality problems with the glasses they get.
Its their number 1 problem. Yuri also makes a 160 fluorite new for less than you would have to pay for an AP160 2nd hand (if you could; find one). They are most likely very comparable scopes. I have tested my TEC180 against my AP140 and they are very very similar after taking into account the image scale difference. Yuri is "cheap", APM scopes of the same size sell for the same and they aren't fluorite and they don't seem to have the enthusiastic followers like AP and TEC and Tak do. I am sure they are great scopes but I noticed that aspect about them.

The good thing about a scope like this and the camera and filters is that I can take my attention of my gear and just image. If it turns out a dud then its me or the conditions (the conditions of course!!) its not the equipment.

By the way I like these Astrodon Gen 11 filters, expensive but good. Baaders are good too but I often had trouble getting a proper LRGB combine with them and other times not. Not sure what the difference was. The Baaders also seem a bit too biased towards the red (good for nebulas though). So far reflections seem better controlled with the Astrodons but its a bit early to say for sure (the Baaders were good, the Astronomiks are better in that regard).

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Nice image Greg. Well detailed but only one small thing for me. The image looks a little brown to me with shades of green and the blues are a bit understated. Personal taste I guess. Still a nice image all the same.

[Martin Pugh]

That's a very fine image Greg.

cheers
Martin

[renormalised]

Bit hard fitting one of these in your filter wheel!!!:eyepop::P:D

It's an Astrodon, a relative of Brachiosaurus, that lived around 90-120Ma in the Cretaceous Period.

I think he'd be a little too heavy to balance your scope for!!!!:D:P

On a more serious note, great shot there Greg:) I like the way the reflection neb sort of "clings" to the edges of the emission neb and the vibrant colours really stand out.

[Moon]

Great image Greg, beautifully resolved details.

And a very instructive comparison Bert.:thumbsup:

James

[gregbradley]

Thanks Clive. I pushed the blue a little bit as I had one less sub for blue due to clouds.



Very clever Bert and yes for a 300mm to come so close to 180mm scope is amazing.




There are only 6 blues versus 7 reds and 5 greens. Luck of the clouds there. I did run a bit of that anti-green plugin but it made no difference.
Colour balance is always a tricky thing. I mainly had my attention on the centre reds/blues.



Thanks Martin I appreciate it.



I found it easier to achieve using these Astrodon dinosaur filters.



Thanks James.

Greg.

[David Fitz-Henr]

Beautiful image Greg! Nice colours and nice natural look to it!

[gregbradley]

Thanks David. I am happy that my new observatory is showing decent resolution and contrast even though the skies are not as dark as my dark site. They are still reasonably dark.

[jase]

Have to say Greg, this is one of the finer images I've seen come out of your TEC180. Solid processing, balanced and with colour confidence that suits the region very well. Productive imaging ahead with your new observatory. Looking forward to more. Well done.

[Bassnut]

Cool pic Greg, but diffraction spikes on a refractor?.

[marc4darkskies]

Some lovely colour in that shot Greg! Very nice indeed! :thumbsup:

Cheers, Marcus

[strongmanmike]

What a lovely region that is, you, that fine scope and amazing camera have done it some justice Greg :thumbsup:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Thanks Jase. The Astrodon filters seem better matched to the Proline. Focus is probably more exact as I now have the proper mounting bracket (which is a lot thicker than the standard one) plus the focus shaft connector is the correct one for the Feathertouch).

Also the RGB is 1x1, I think that makes a difference with this scope.



Yes that reflection is a bit odd, that's the new Astrodon lum filter. However at least the star is still relatively smallish even if it has a weird reflection. I looked at other images and that star is usually quite bloated - so 6 of one half a dozen of another.



Thanks Marcus. I like your 6744 as well. I can't believe the resolution you get with your Tak. Wide air spaced triplets are great. Greg.



Thanks Mike. The TEC is also now more versatile as I successfully imaged last night finally with a 4 inch Tak FS152 reducer making it F5.25 with stars good to the corners. That would work on your AP as well as they are very similar (only 60mm different in focal length and both oiled triplets). I had to get 2 special adapters made and then I had an extender adapter jammed on another (Microline and Proline chips are set 10mm different distance from the front of the camera). I got an oil filter removal tool from Supercheap auto and it the jammed joint had been sprayed in WD40 for several days and it finally came off.

Nice little tool that the oil filter remover for this sort of work. No damage to the adapter at all.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

I'm late chiming in on this one Greg but that's a lovely image.

Cheers

Steve

[avandonk]

Greg the diffraction spikes around the bright star are produced by non uniform edges of the metal holding your optic elements. It usually is a mixture of specular reflection and diffraction. Any diffuse reflections will lower the overall contrast.

If you get an aperture laser cut that is a few mm smaller than the entrance aperture of the scope and mount it in front the bright stars will be far cleaner.

Even though this is a tiny fraction of the incident light as sensors and filters get better it then rears its ugly spikyness.

To test this just cut an aperture out of black card or paper and take a few test exposures of very bright stars.

It is about time that top telescope makers put an exterior baffle or aperture to eliminate any light hitting the edges of the element holders.

The basic rule is to eliminate any light not contributing to the image before it enters your optical train.

I use an exterior aperture on the 300mm lens and an extended dew shield. The lens only 'sees' an area of sky just a bit bigger than the area being imaged. The increase in contrast is quite noticeable and is the difference that gives detail in dim dust. This is because a lens is not as well internally baffled as a high quality APO. Any off axis light that is not from the area being imaged gets scattered inside the lens and lowers contrast.

Bert

[multiweb]

That's a great shot. Colours and details are terrific. Your finest to date I reckon. Text book processing. :thumbsup:

[Tom Davis]

Wow, I almost missed this one. What a wonderful image with such rich color and nice framing! Great setup!

Tom

[gregbradley]

Thanks Steve.

Cheers Greg.



Thanks Bert. Great tip. I will try that out with some cardboard and if it makes a difference I'll get one made up.

I did a similar thing to my 12.5 inch RCOS on its primary. I think it made a difference with it.



High praise, thanks Marc.



Thanks Tom. I may even try a few dusty areas now I can image at F5.25 with it!

Greg.

[TrevorW]

Nice one Greg maybe a tad oversaturated IMO but well done

[richardo]

Top image Greg!
This is just such a fantastic area to image and with this particular imaging setup of yours, with huge amount of hi res real estate crtainly gives us a taste of how busy things are in this area of our galaxy...
Some thing for every one... young clusters, HII emission, reflection, dust, dark nebs... it's a 'gol darn' feast:lol:

Now, how's your RC going???
Am really looking forward to some images from this baby!

All the best
Rich

[marco]

Really good picture Greg, I really like the way you make this lovely nebula shining out :)

It's not easy to avoid to over process areas so crowded of stars having the nebula standing out at the same time, well done!

Clear Skies
Marco

[gregbradley]

You should've seen the first edition! I personall prefer the colours rich and I have been prone to oversaturate no doubt about. I have checked othes images on this area and you're right mine is probably a tad brighter than others. Its a hard standard to work out - what is to rich? I suppose its a G2V star measure would be one way. I haven't done that yet.



I'm in the pocess of sorting out the little setup issues, software, drivers.

I got the mount balanced and a finder scope installed. And am now going through the connecing it up to run with the software whic hopefully won't be too tedious but hit a few barriers already. A day or so I imagine.



Thanks Marco.

Greg.

[gregbradley]

This one made Anacortes Picture of the Day!

http://www.astromart.com/forums/viewpost.asp?forum_post_id=699845

Greg.

[spearo]

lovely
frank

[gregbradley]

Thanks Frank.

Greg.