Helix Nebula with 100ED in narrowband

avandonk · #1 09-09-2007, 05:40 PM

Took some images over two nights of the Helix Nebula. I never realized how dim it was. I now have a better appreciation of others efforts with this dim target.

Large image 1.4 MB
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~fmlee/Helix_NB.jpg

Details
Canon 5DH modded 100Ed at 686mm f/6.8, EQ6 mount.
11x8 min at 1600ISO Astronomik HA filter
21x8 min at 1600ISO Astronomic O3 filter
I recombined the HA red to RED
O3 green to GREEN
O3 blue to BLUE
The image is cropped to centre the target and the FOV is 2.14x1.32 degrees.

Bert

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #2 09-09-2007, 05:42 PM

Good stuff Bert. I actually saw this object for the first time through my 8" scope on Friday night. Appeared as a grey blob with a central star, in a 15mm TV EP

robin · #3 09-09-2007, 05:54 PM

Very tasty image Bert. Like it a lot

Ric · #4 09-09-2007, 09:56 PM

A very good image Bert, you brought out some fine detail and the colours ae very nice as well.

Cheers

PhotonCollector (Paul) · #5 09-09-2007, 10:10 PM

Nice image, you can see the outer ring of the nebula too! (with brightness turned up)

h0ughy (David) · #6 10-09-2007, 07:36 AM

nice work Bert, a bit more fiddling and the outer ring should come through, sort of can picture it with averted vision

avandonk · #7 10-09-2007, 07:07 PM

I summed the medians of the odds and evens. That means doubling the apparent exposure. It is noisy..

Bert

h0ughy (David) · #8 10-09-2007, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avandonk

I summed the medians of the odds and evens. That means doubling the apparent exposure. It is noisy..

Bert

might be noisy Bert - but you have pushed it to show some detail that was there. I don't mind it, it just shows how far the gear can be pushed. Here we are talking about a feature that up until fairly recently would have taken a month of Sundays to capture and then you wouldn't have been guaranteed you got it! I am still in awe of the ability to pull a shot like this.

RB (Andrew) · #9 10-09-2007, 11:14 PM

Great work Bert and colours are fantastic.

avandonk · #10 11-09-2007, 07:56 AM

Thanks all for the comments. Scott suggested I try the Helix as a target when I first started dabbling with narrow band since it is all HA and O3. These images show he was correct.

Bert

tornado33 · #11 11-09-2007, 10:52 PM

Greetings Bert, yes well done, and yes the Helix is a good target

Yours is a very pleasing image, with nice small stars, the narrowband filters cut down on starlight.
Indeed the helix is of very low surface brightness despite its bright magnitude, but its spread over such a large area making it very hard to see from any urban location (without a nebula filter anyway).
Scott