Tarantula Ha GSO RC8

[dugnsuz]

Hi all,
Couple of clear nights allowed me some time on the Tarantula in Ha.
Tried pushing 15min subs - this was a test of the GSO RC8 on the HEQ5 Pro mount. Results were mixed as I had to dump a few of the 15min subs due to tracking errors. Dropped time down to 13 mins for a few so this image is made up of a mixed bag of subs.

Total exposure time: 190mins

GSO RC8 + AP 0.67x reducer.
Canon Astro 40D (Avg temp -11º), iso1600
Astronomik 12nm Ha Clip in EOS filter
HEQ5 Pro mount
Guiding: Orion mini guider, QHY5 and PHD
Processing: Nebulosity and Photoshop

Higher Res...
http://s327.photobucket.com/albums/k461/doug-robertson/?action=view&current=29a.jpg

Thanks for looking
Doug:thumbsup:

[LightningNZ]

Gee there's some nice detail in there Doug. Pretty impressive getting 13 min subs with a decent sized scope on an HEQ-5.

Cheers,
Cam

[mill]

Looking good Doug, still a little bit of elongation though but promising.

[leon]

Very busy pic Doug but very good mate, nice shooting.

Leon

[Craig_L]

Very nice and detailed Doug. I'm sure the colour will look great. Pity about the length of the subs. New mount sometime soon?

Craig

[TrevorW]

Nice Doug although I would have thought the central cluster would be more noticeable

[gbeal]

Dug,
I read some of the comments and clicked on the pic expecting a below par shot. I was wrong, this is a wonderful pic, well done. I'd be very happy with it.
Gary

[atalas]

Very exciting detail Doug! you've got me seriously thinking about one of these RC8 now. The AP .67 reducer seems to be working well...is that a touch of camera tilt I can see? but honestly,I think If my BabyQ performed this well at edge I wouldn't complain...for now.

You done a great job!

[Rigel003]

Well done Doug. Terrific detail in the nebulosity - what a fantastic field. The weight of this tube might well be stretching the mount limits for subs this long.

[dugnsuz]

Thanks Cam - it is pushing the envelope a bit I agree!


Cheers Martin


Thanks Lon


I'm already thinking EQ6 - I hoped that the HEQ5 might handle it. It can 'just' but not consistently.


Maybe Trevor - perhaps my masking was a bit over-zealous!


Thanks Gary - appreciate it.



Thanks Louie - yes there is tilt on the right hand side of the image which I'm a bit worried/perplexed about as I can't really see anywhere in the imaging train where any amount of tilt can be adjusted for:shrug:
Or is it flexure!!??
Doug

[atalas]

Flexure?doesn't look like It to me,more like camera not square but looks less of a problem than I had Doug.

I've received my BabyQ back from Tak where they collimated,cleaned and replaced the rack on the focuser, and after a cost of $700 guess what? the tilt hasn't been addressed!

I guess when your in denial that there is anything wrong with your product you ain't going to address the problem.

After wasting $700 on a company that I don't have any faith in any more,I've decide to go with this solution.

http://www.optecinc.com/astronomy/catalog/19380.htm

If Id known about this(just found out from a mate)I wouldn't of been bitten by the same dog again.

[Ross G]

Great photo Doug.

You have captured some amazing detail.

Ross.

[dugnsuz]

Thanks Graeme - I seem to have varying amounts of success with the setup. Totally frustrating night last night trying to capture some of the lovely nebulosity around the LMC - stars trailed on every shot. Gave up and pointed scope to the Rosette and stars were pinpoints! Maybe it's imaging close to the pole that adds the weight problem too?



Cheers Ross, lots there to capture. Ha seems to make all those knots and bubbles of gas 'pop'!!

Doug:thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Gerd neuman makes one too and I think it will handle much larger loads?...not much point having a camera adjuster if the weight of the camera can overcome the pre-load on the springs holding the two halves together at different points acrosss the sky.

http://www.gerdneumann.net/v2/english/eng_ctu_camera_tilting_unit.html

Good result too Doug :thumbsup:.. the Tarantula is always good in Ha :love:

Mike

[atalas]

Thanks Mike...ML ain't much of a load and back focus is an issue with my setup....Sorry for the slight highjack.

[strongmanmike]

Yeh sorry Doug...:question:...so how was your weekend Louie? It was my 18th wedding aniversary so we went to Sydney and eat at this great....

:scared3:

[Paul Haese]

Nice detail Doug. Sorting out tilt can be a problem. Do you have a feather touch focusor? I thought you could adjust those for tilt.

[atalas]

:lol:

[dugnsuz]

Yes I have Paul...
http://starlightinstruments.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=60

But there doesn't seem like there's any way of adjusting tilt with this focuser - did yours allow this sort of adjustment?
Doug:thumbsup:

[dugnsuz]

That made me LOL you bugger!

[Paul Haese]

Hmmm I thought this was a selling point of the focusors. I will look next time I am down at Clayton. Maybe I was mistaken?

[dugnsuz]

Looks like there would be no problem with the Newt version as it has a mounting plate with adjustable screws for tilt - but the refractor/RC version just has an adapter ring with 3 small screws with which to attach focuser to the RC's extension rings. No obvious adjustment mechanism!

Perhaps the tilt in the image represents mis-collimation of the primary??
:shrug:
Doug

[Intergage]

Wow!!! That is awesome. This is the stuff I really want to do, I am currently in the process of getting my first REAL starter kit... 8" Dob, some other bits that Screw suggested I get I also have a Canon XH A1s Video camera and a Canon EOS 5D Mark 2 (I'm a photographer / filmography by hobby)

What mount are you using to hold you camera in place at the scope?

[dugnsuz]

Thanks Matt - the mount I use is a Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro. It's maximum weight capacity is rated at around 13kg. The weight of the scope , camera and accessories is approx 10kg. This is really pushing it a bit for astro-imaging as any breeze, vibration etc shows up as star elongation in the exposures. The EQ6 really is the mount to go for with my setup but alas $$$ are lacking right now!
Cheers
Doug

[Intergage]

Thanks for the reply mate, I really would love to start taking photos and I just bought a GSO 8" DOB so need to find a mount for that! :)

[multiweb]

Wow! Very nice Doug. Sounds like you're enjoying the new rig. :thumbsup:

[dugnsuz]

May have sorted this issue Paul - I think the focuser may have been sitting poorly on the adapter ring. I undid the 3 screws and re-sat it. I think this has fixed the tilt problem.


Cheers Marc - looking forward to bagging my first galaxy too!
:thumbsup: