SMC from Qld Astrofest - 200mm Pentax prime on 450D

[RobF]

Early in the week (Mon and Tue) at Astrofest I shot the Small Magellanic Cloud with my DSLR through a 200mm Pentax k-mount prime lens. Ideally I would have had the QHY9 on the lens, but changing adaptors and refocusing is time consuming and I wanted the QHY9 on the 80mm refractor to try for M31 just after midnight each night. I found it very interesting to see Rick's wonderful rendition (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=95576), shot with an STL and FSQ106. This one has none of the Ha areas coming through alas - the unmodded camera has always shown greens and blues in emission nebs (e.g. M42) over the traditional red hues we usually lust for. Noise and some banding were a bit of a problem too, even given the low temperature. I guess I'm spoilt with the CCD now.

Still, I was happy with this FOV - far wider than anything I could ever hope to mosaic with the 8" Newt, and getting FSQ resolution was never in any way expected. Thanks to Peter and others that helped me get the side-by-side configuration balanced and working (haven't ever done that before). The lens sitting in guidescope rings drew a few quizical glances and comments over the week, but although difficult to adjust focus it still seems to have worked, with some perseverance.

This is 19x1.5mins + 40x2mins = 108 mins all shot at ISO1600

(Can't recall why I was shooting such short subs at a high ISO - think guiding may have been misbehaving). Had hoped to get a bunch of my AF shots up this weekend, but Pixinsight is the best way I know to process these things and the debayed DSLR files were each 144mb, which strained the PC a bit :eyepop:, so another single image :ashamed:

[jjjnettie]

I'm probably going to get shot down for saying this, but those overly red hues don't do much for me. I love the blues and greens of an unmodded camera. They give an image life. (says she with the new modded cam LOLOL)

This is a lovely rendition of the SMC Rob. It's a great FOV.
Thanks for sharing.

[ozstronomer]

Nice work Rob, the short subs have kept 47 tuc from blowing out in the center.

[h0ughy]

i like it Rob, great shot

[RickS]

Very nice, Rob! A great FOV for the SMC and I like the colours you got with the DSLR.

Cheers,
Rick.

[RobF]

Thanks Jeanette. I used to like the blue/green effect on some objects too must confess. The humble DSLR is still a formidable weapon. Expecting to see some great stuff from your new beast too!



Thanks Geoff. You wouldn't believe it but just organising the data a bit more found 3x10min subs with the same gear taken after these. After swearing at myself I looked more closely and you're perfectly right - 47Tuc is white with spots on the outside, and a jet has gone right through one of them anyway. MIght just move sideways to the "out pile" as don't look like they'd add anything .....:whistle:



Cheers David :D



Thanks Rick. Enjoyed catching up and looking over the FSQ - wonderful scope. Would have been an interesting experiment to get some Ha. Hmmm, there's always the backyard one night I guess :question:

[RickS]

Not tonight, alas. I was planning to spend some time testing ACP and then grabbing some Ha subs but the clouds aren't going away.