IC1805 - The Heart Nebula in HST palette

[Paramount]

Hi
This image has taken over a month to complete with a couple of false starts during that time (set up, framed, focused, auto guider running and then clouds appear). I shot the SII data on November 5th with fireworks going off for the first few hours, thankfully they don't emit light in the SII 5nm bandwidth.
This was taken with the Takahashi FSQ106ED at f5, FLI ML8300 on a Paramount ME, auto guided by a SX lodestar and OAG using dithering. Processing was curves/levels, contrast and selective colour.
Exposure details are 19x30 minutes SII, 10x30 minutes Ha and 14x30 minutes OIII combined so SII:Ha:OIII = R:G:B
I tried this subject a few years ago with a TMB115/SX H36 combination, this can be seen on my website http://www.imagingtheheavens.co.uk for comparison
There is a full size version of this at the following link
http://www.pbase.com/imaging_the_heavens/image/147204744/original
Thanks for looking
Best wishes
Gordon

[Stevec35]

That's a great narrowband image Gordon. I recently did a deep Ha on this and was planning to do HaRGB but I very much doubt if I'll be able to get anything as good as this.

Cheers

Steve

[strongmanmike]

Hi Gordon, that's a great result.

Where can we see a picture of your setup?

Mike

[pluto]

That's beautiful, amazing work! :thumbsup:

[multiweb]

Very nice shot. The highres is gorgeous. :thumbsup:

[Larryp]

Fantasic, Gordon! Beautiful image.:thumbsup:

[TrevorW]

Nice one Gordon

[Paramount]

Hi Mike
Here we go, it spends most of the year outdoors under weather proof covers and is a "semi-portable" set up. The Tri-pier 2 is on a set of custom made wheely bars so that I can put the system in a locked shed when we are away.
Best wishes
Gordon

[venus]

your blue heart is beautiful...

[strongmanmike]

Nice!...under covers huh? Does that include the imaging gear too?

Did you have a Meade on that before..?

Mike

[Paramount]

Hi Mike
I thought bad language wasn't allowed on the forum:D
I've never had a Meade on this system although I used to have a complete Meade system (that's another story), originally I had a Celestron C14 on it, everything stays under two weather proof covers including the imaging gear. I use tele gizmo covers, the first is a shower proof cover and then the outer one is the heavy duty all weather cover, even with rain and snow and sunny weather (a rarity here) there has never been a problem with any form of condensation, ice, etc.
Best wishes
Gordon

[strongmanmike]

Ah yes, I meant a Celestron :P

I have done similar before with my telescope gear under covers but I was always concerned about putting bags over a CCD camera (and telescope) all covered in dew...?

Must be ok :thumbsup:

Mike

[Paramount]

I have never had problems with dew although I do use a dew heater just in case so this is probably why I've never had a problem, my back yard, where I do all my imaging from is concrete slabs and gravel so there is no moisture coming up from the ground. I think it would be different if the system was set up on grass.I have been using the weather proof covers for 5 years now without any issues
Best wishes
Gordon

[Ross G]

Great photo Gordon.

Amazing detail.

Ross.