M78- a mostly peaceful night

[CaptainCook (Gary)]

Heres my effort at M78 taken from a Bortle 3 location in the Blue Mountains. Total of 4 hours dataset of 5 min subs. First time I've risked the weather going up there in 2024. Also first time taken my Askar103apo away from home with the AM5 and luckily it packs up easily in the dark: I was just starting to enjoy myself when some scumbag in a (presumably stolen) car came out of nowhere at 2am and drove aggressively at my parked car, narrowly missing, then repeated the stunt 25 mins later- this time getting even closer, throwing up a big dust cloud as it skidded around. Thankfully a last minute decision to put the tripod on the other side of the car (in the wind but with it seemingly calming down) probably saved my gear. I stayed 10 mins longer to get to the 4 hour mark and then left.

Anyway hopefully it was worth it!

It is here.

[CaptainCook (Gary)]

added astrobin link

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Wow, that's beautiful, especially the evil Koala in the shadow at the top left.
Amazing detail Gary!

[CaptainCook (Gary)]

Thanks Leo for commenting.

[TrevorW]

Nice one Gary, good detail for only 4hrs those dark skies make a difference

[Estram (Michael)]

Really nice result Gary. Getting away from Sydney's light dome really makes a difference - I made the trip up the mountains with the gear last weekend as well and had forgotten just how much better the skies can be.

Very pleasant when you're not being terrorised by stolen cars - hopefully the excellent image you've managed offsets that experience...

[Mickoid (Michael)]

Great shot but sorry to hear of your experience taking it. It really is sad that there are such losers that feel they have to do something like that to satisfy their small minds. Talk about a contrast in intelligence, you there not harming anyone or the environment and the other DH with no regard except for himself. It can be frightening out on your own in isolated areas with all that expensive gear. I hope that will be the first and last time something like that will ever happen to you.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Looks like the effort was worth the hassle with the locals Gary. A good result in the end.

CS,
Rodney

[astroron (Ron)]

Nice image, sad you had to put up with idiots
ruining your night.
I always look at the latest images of M78
to see if the Variable Star "McNeil's Nebula"
has returned? your image shows it has not.
It normally close to the Double Star with the
faint haze running through it, just above the
main nebula at top portion of your image.
Google "McNeil's Nebula" for images to see
what I am talking about.
Cheers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNeil%27s_Nebula

[Startrek (Martin)]

Gary,


An excellent image there captured under duress. Definitely worth it



Well done indeed


Martin

[CaptainCook (Gary)]

Thanks everyone for your comments, I have been away and was unable to reply.