More Dragons (NGC 6188)

[Drac0 (Mark)]

I think this may be the most time I've put in to a single target using the same equipment (just swapped my friends EQ6R for mine) and the same framing.

Two consecutive clear nights plus another earlier in the week has been a very rare thing over the last 12 months so it was good to be able to get out. Picked up my new mount, a Sky Watcher EQ6-R Pro, on Saturday & had it out that night. I must say I am impressed with the great performance - never had PHD2 tell me not to worry about DEC backlash as it was negligible! Though my back may eventually regret the extra weight of it, I'll just have to live with that now.

So I continued where I left off earlier in the week getting more data of one of my favourite targets, NGC 6188, The Dragons of Ara (Rim Nebula). Over the 3 nights I have collected over 20 hours of data to play with. Would have been much more except I lose 3 hours each night waiting for it to rise above the Jacaranda tree out the front & another hour or so when it disappears behind the roof of the house.

This image is based on the "best" 70% of sub-exposures selected for stacking by ASTAP totalling just over 14.5 hours total integration, 40 x 10 minute Ha (over 6.5 hrs) & 480 x 10 minute OIII (8 hours). I will probably play with this data a lot more, but this may be the last of the Dragons for now as I move onto other targets that are starting to get above the trees. And may even get some clear skies around the new Moon next week! Now if I could only be rid of that Jacaranda...

Gear:
Saxon 102mm triplet @ F5.6 (SvBony 0.8x flattener/reducer)
ASI294MM Pro
Antlia 3nm OIII & Ha filters
SW EQ6-R Pro
Guide scope: 90mm F5.5 StarSky w/ASI120mm-S

Software:
Astro Photography Tool (APT) v4.23 & 4.24
PHD2, EQMOD
Stacked with ASTAP
Processed with PhotoShop & StarNet++

[xelasnave]

Wow! That really is wonderful....I have been trying on this object and so far nothing but disappoint.... keep up the good work as it is a pleasure to see such wonderful images.
Alex

[oska (John)]

Great shot Mark, very well done. The EQ6R is a beauty, always reliable. I have mine on a home made trolley which is great on the back and has made setting up a breeze.

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

A beautiful Fighting Dragons image, Mark - that’s a keeper! I’m a fan of the darker more moody look. That said, your 14.5hrs hrs of Ha & OIII data should/will also produce a lovely HOO image with more blue in it if you were inclined to that kind of palette? Btw, I’m hearing you regarding trees and built environment impeding our night time fun! Alex

[AstroViking (Steve)]

What everyone else has said - that's a ripper of an image!

[Dave882 (David)]

Great pic mate well done! I have to confess I’ve had to do some late-night (early morning) gardening at my place on occasions…when there’s just that branch that’s place right where I’m trying to image!! I wonder what my neighbours think I’m up to…

[Drac0 (Mark)]

Thanks guys.

I have to confess I’ve had to do some late-night (early morning) gardening at my place on occasions…when there’s just that branch that’s place right where I’m trying to image!! I wonder what my neighbours think I’m up to…

I've already decimated the frangipani & xmas bush & been told my next astro purchase should be a chainsaw...

[Doogs38 (Alex)]

... you can borrow mine :-)

[Drac0 (Mark)]

Originally Posted by Doogs38

... you can borrow mine :-)

[Bodon (Steve)]

Wonderful photo!