Has been a while since I posted an image here, but I have been busy with construction and commissioning of a new permanent obs for my two scopes. What I present here are the first light "test" images from these two scopes in their new home.
The first I would consider a "completed" image: 12.1 hours across 9 nights of NGC6188 and NGC6164 (91 x 8min subs). Captured with a 130mm f5 newtonian and a DIY modded Canon 450D with regulated peltier cooling (via cold finger) at 10C. I had a lot of trouble with condensation inside the camera (in spite of a nichrome dew heater which I fitted to the camera interior) however this problem is solved by running the temperature controller at a setpoint of 10C - above the dew point, but well below the normal operating temperature of the camera even in winter and so I am seeing nice consistent temps throughout an imaging run. Hi res here:
http://www.astrobin.com/full/112149/0/
The second image - taken with my Vixen VC200L with reducer and a modded Canon 1000D with regulated cooling (as above) - is still a "work in progress": 3.5 hours (21 x 10min) subs of the Helix Nebula. I am very pleased with the detail that is showing so far, and comparing with
this touchstone image I even have some of those background galaxies already! I am planning to continue with this target following the current full moon and will post a completed image at a later date. Hi res of this WIP here:
http://www.astrobin.com/full/112176/0/
Both images processed with Pixinsight, utilising its new DrizzleIntegration process (drizzle factor = 2).
See this thread for details of the observatory build and equipment used:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=123368