Where to next (given a year or two)?

[Benjamin (Ben)]

I sadly have to put the scopes away for a while due to pressing studies but after a fun summer getting started with imaging I wonder what should be on my list of targets for July? M8, M16, M17, M83, Centaurus A spring to mind although I'm not really sure what is really best with an ed80 and DSLR. In efforts to image some bigger objects like M42, Rosette and the Horsehead I certainly got a feel for things and also the exposure time that might or might not be required to get a decent image. I also wonder about the limits of the ed80 and wonder if putting the 8" Newtonian on the HEQ5 (on a windless night!) might be worth the trouble on some objects? Or whether a Neq6 is really what I should be considering if I'm going to do this given my assumption that there'd be a greater variety of objects to image with the f5 8" Newt to make the change of mount worthwhile? Or whether a better/different camera with existing gear would allow me to consider more (i.e. smaller) objects? Thinking galaxies and more detail in nebulae. Or whether with existing gear (the DSLR is modded) I could just get more subs for better results? It's a bit confusing to work out where to go! None of this is too pressing as I still have heaps to learn with what I have in regards to imaging and processing but I am interested to know which directions people have taken. Cheers.

[doppler (Rick)]

If you use the HEQ 5 pro and not its smaller cousin the eq5 then the 8" will ride on that mount quite well. You can capture a lot more and with shorter subs with a bigger aperture. There are even a few of us pushing the limits and imaging with 10" newts on HEQ 5 pro mounts.

[Benjamin (Ben)]

Wow a 10"! I guess the subs are shorter anyway right!? It is the HEQ5 Pro I'd be using. Would a 50mm finder-guider be sufficient to guide an f5 8" Newt?

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Hi Ben. The list of mid-year targets you have there look well suited to the ed80 dslr combo (although m83 might be a bit small at that image scale). Other easy targets could include areas surrounding: NGC3579, NGC5139, NGC6357, NGC6559, NGC6729.

Good results are possible with a DSLR if you're prepared to go for lots of subs - have a look at some of these images of mine (all taken with a DSLR): link

strongly suggest you look at acquiring a coma corrector if you are considering using the newtonian for imaging. Coma will be quite severe otherwise, particularly with the large FOV afforded by a DSLR.

[Benjamin (Ben)]

Definitely a Coma corrector needed for the F5 Newt. Thanks for those targets. Omega Centauri I'm familiar with visually but not the other Nebula. Can't wait!

[doppler (Rick)]

I use a 50mm finder guider with my 10" f4.8 @1200mm focal length but I am only new to auto guiding and still have a few bugs to sort out probably flexure (still not getting perfectly round stars) Without guiding 30sec subs are easy though.

[Anth10 (Anthony M)]

Snap to all feedback given, I personally have been able to achieve respectable images with my 10' F5 Newt with a full spectrum DSLR. Granted its riding heavy on the NEQ6 pro no doubt and cumbersome to say the least but hey nothing is out of grasp if you're willing. Accurate balancing is paramount and minimise the exposures to around 40seconds (multiple subs required essential).
I need good conditions to keep it steady and find it tracks well enough unguided. I do however understand that there is always room for improvement and that is to adopt autoguiding and perhaps a quality refractor...one day.
For now the light bucket is doing a good job and very handy when it comes to resolving faint objects as well as imaging planets using the movie crop on the 60D. (every setup has its pro's and con's).
Most recently I have imaged Centaurus A(which is low at the moment) from the backyard no probs. I suggest you just go with what your comfortable with. Apeture, focal length, glass/mirror quality, camera choice... the variables are many in AP.
Good luck