M46 and the Jewel in the Crown - Wow! I found a second PN in M46!
I have never imaged this cluster with its beautiful little planetary nebula before, at least not directly
There are very few images out there that reveal all three shells of this little beauty so I thought I'd give her a crack - the outer most one is incredibly faint.
Still not quuuite in the mega data category I guess but never the less at 11.3hrs this is officially my longest exposure so far with the AG12 and took 3 nights to gather
The planetary neb NGC 2438 is pretty small, the inner brightest ring is just 1' across! so with some windy conditions at times (thank goodness for the dome) and average seeing the order of
the night, I was happy to be able to reveal some inner details as well as the very faint outer shells
Again, no darks, no flats and no gradient or noise removal..more details under the images here:
Full Frame FOV ~ 38' X 30' showing the whole cluster M46
Very nice Mike, in particular the details of NGC2438 that usually I never seen in any amateur image. It seems there is much more Ha there, perhaps an extended halo? I would give it a try with a deep Ha of the area during next full moon..
I've played with this cluster and neb with my small refractors with disappointing results.
Quote:
Originally Posted by marco
Very nice Mike, in particular the details of NGC2438 that usually I never seen in any amateur image. It seems there is much more Ha there, perhaps an extended halo? I would give it a try with a deep Ha of the area during next full moon..
Clear skies
Marco
Cheers boys The main ring is quite bright, the second ring (of Ha and OIII) is very faint and the outermost (broken) ring of mostly Ha is extremely faint. The conditions weren't the best, with strong winds on two of the three nights (thank god for my dome!) and less than favourable seeing and even after 6.5hrs of Ha through the 12" at F3.8 the outermost ring was coming along veeeery sloooowly...hence why I eventually gave up and thought, that'll do
Great work Mike, this planetary is certainly a gem. And who'd have thought your longest exposure should be of a star cluster, lol
I did a quick shot of this one some months back but that was with the Moon up so didn't reveal the outer shells. Thanks for showing it in all its glory, there are very few deep images of it.
Great work Mike, this planetary is certainly a gem. And who'd have thought your longest exposure should be of a star cluster, lol
I did a quick shot of this one some months back but that was with the Moon up so didn't reveal the outer shells. Thanks for showing it in all its glory, there are very few deep images of it.
He he, yeah I thought the same thing..who wooda thunk it? ...11.3hrs today...120hrs tomorrow.. LOOK OUT!
He he, yeah I thought the same thing..who wooda thunk it? ...11.3hrs today...120hrs tomorrow.. LOOK OUT!
Cheers mate
Mike
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bassnut
I like the close up Mike, 11 hrs did the trick there, good to see the outer ring. top work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
That's a lovely little gem, Mike! Nice work on such a rare target.
Quote:
Originally Posted by E_ri_k
Nice one MikeThat outer shell is very faint. Lovely colours So it's been windy for you too hey
Cheers amigos, yes the outer ring is very faint Erik. Oh the wind, the wind ...one may recall a year ago I was probably complaining bitterly about the wind...well! no more.....I have a dome
Mike
Thank you so much for a lovely image of one of my favourite visual targets, to see the otherwise invisible outer shells and some of the detail that is only hinted at when at the eyepiece is a real treat.
I've learned something Mike- never seen those shells. Top stuff.
Cheers Rob, learn sumptin every day huh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
A great shot Mike. You are breaking new ground here with this fast and sensitive setup.
Greg.
You know, this scope and camera are quite a formidable pair, I'm really enjoying them. Compared to the days of packing the car and travelling 40km to Kurri with my whole Starfire kit, with setup and pulldown and all the way back again, at the mercy of the dew and wind etc (wind was only a problem here at Wallaroo though) my imaging has really become rather relaxed and effortless, I do very little cussing these days
Quote:
Originally Posted by barx1963
Mike
Thank you so much for a lovely image of one of my favourite visual targets, to see the otherwise invisible outer shells and some of the detail that is only hinted at when at the eyepiece is a real treat.
Malcolm
That's great to hear Mal funny, I am the other way round, when I am at SPSP each year, which is about the only time I do visual and I am inevitably looking through a 20"+ sized scope, all the objects I look at that I have imaged before blow me away because I have spent hours processing them I can make out so much in the eyepiece, probably more than most can - bit like doing the Hubble or UK Schmidt comparisons I do, I see so much more.
That's great to hear Mal funny, I am the other way round, when I am at SPSP each year, which is about the only time I do visual and I am inevitably looking through a 20"+ sized scope, all the objects I look at that I have imaged before blow me away because I have spent hours processing them I can make out so much in the eyepiece, probably more than most can - bit like doing the Hubble or UK Schmidt comparisons I do, I see so much more.
Yeah a good reason for us visual guys to keep on looking at the wonderful stuff you lot on the "dark side" produce. sometimes it helps to know what is there so you can push yourself to see more.
Yeah a good reason for us visual guys to keep on looking at the wonderful stuff you lot on the "dark side" produce. sometimes it helps to know what is there so you can push yourself to see more.
Malcolm
I would really like to do more visual and a decent 12"+ Dob would be nice, something to do while my gear is chugging away
Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidU
Fabulous Mike.Love the "no darks, no flats and no gradient or noise removal"
bit !!
Dave
Amazing really huh? No catch here, the Starlightxpress is a killer camera, I wish the Sony chips came in 16803 size although gradients might well start to be more noticeable then..?
and took 3 nights to gather
The main ring is quite bright, the second ring (of Ha and OIII) is very faint and the outermost (broken) ring of mostly Ha is extremely faint. The conditions weren't the best, with strong winds on two of the three nights (thank god for my dome!) and less than favourable seeing and even after 6.5hrs of Ha through the 12" at F3.8 the outermost ring was coming along veeeery sloooowly...hence why I eventually gave up and thought, that'll do 
...one may recall a year ago I was probably complaining bitterly about the wind...well! no more.....I have a dome 
although gradients might well start to be more noticeable then..?
