NGC6302 - A Bug's Life

[cybereye]

Hello everyone!

Well this image is a "proof of concept" image. I've really been interested in determining just how good my guiding is, whether I could image a DSO at a long focal length and if I'd be able to get a decent number of photons to the chip at a large f ratio. So to try all this in one go, I recently bought a 2" 2x ED Barlow to take my f/6 1200mm 8" newt and make it an f/12 newt with a focal length of 2400mm. I then chose a small target which would benefit from the longer focal length, and the target was NGC6302, the Bug(Butterfly) Nebula.

This image is 22 x 5 minute subs captured using a QHY8L attached to a 2" 2x barlow on an 8" newt mounted on a HEQ5 Pro mount. Guiding was done using a PHD Guiding using a QHY5 attached to an ST80. I also used a Baader UHC-S filter to reduce the effects of light pollution being only 12kms from the Brisbane CBD. Processing was done in DSS and StarTools with final cosmetics in GIMP.

All in all I think this image proves that I will be able to image at longer focal lengths and higher f ratios from my backyard in Brisbane.

Cheers,
Mario

[RickS]

Good work, Mario! It's a tiny little bug isn't it.

[multiweb]

Very nice. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Well I think you have proved the concept alright, great result Mario :thumbsup:

Once I am set up again at my new place in Vanberra I was planing to try something similar with the AG12...not sure how successful it will be with a big chip camera like the PL16803 though :question: but I was thinking about having a go...

Mike

[atalas]

Love this PN!nice work Mario.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Great image Mario!

Thats inspired me to modify my 8" F/6 parks scope for AP.

Cheers,

Justin.

[cybereye]

Thanks Rick, it's a tiny target but it was well worth the effort!



Thanks Marc!



Mike, thanks for the compliment and I look forward to seeing the images from your new place in Canberra!



Thanks Louie - it is a nice little PN and was well worth the effort!



Justin - I was hoping to justify getting a new longer focal length scope - CF GSO RC8 - and now I've inspired you with my current setup!! It's making it hard to convince the wife...

Cheers,
Mario

[alpal]

A good effort.
I always wanted to try a barlow lens for imaging.
Out of interest - what brand & model of Barlow did you use
& did it screw into your coma corrector or just sit in the focuser somehow?

[RobF]

Top effort Mario. You really have the rig singing to pull that one off so well.

[marc4darkskies]

Nicely done Mario! :thumbsup:

Cheers, Marcus

[cybereye]

Thanks for your kind thoughts Alan. The Barlow is a GSO ED 2" 2x Barlow that cost me $69 from Andrews in Sydney. I didn't use a coma corrector at all - at f/12 I thought I'd be OK and there wasn't much evident - and I screwed my UHC-S filter to the end of the barlow. I inserted the QHY8L into the barlow as though it was an eyepiece and put the whole lot into the 2" eyepiece holder that came standard with the Skywatcher newt. I didn't buy an expensive barlow as it was my cheap way of testing my guiding setup at longer focal lengths. There was chromatic aberration visible but that was adjusted in DSS. However after this result I'll definitely try it on some other smaller targets!



Thanks Rob! As for my rig there is one mantra that I recite before each session - "collimation, collimation, collimation!" When I'm setting up I spend about 10-15 minutes ensuring my collimation is as good as I can get. I use a laser for the secondary and a Cheshire for the primary as well as ensuring the secondary is centred. I've also added an old computer fan to the end of the scope to get the mirror cooled down quicker.



Thanks Marcus - still a long way to go to get to your standard but I'm working on it!!

[John Hothersall]

Glad to see PN's getting in here, this is one of the best PN's in S Hemisph. You got the extensions well with excellent guiding.

John.

[cybereye]

John, I'm always looking out for the more unusual objects to try my hand at!! Thanks for the compliments,

Cheers,
Mario