Seagull Nebula IC 2177 with the 300mm lens

[tornado33]

Howdy everyone
Well the weather was strange tonight. Heavy showers, strong winds, thunder and very chilly. Then it cleared, set up the astro rig only to pack up real quick when the radar indicated another shower coming from the south. Heavy rain, then suddenly its gone and slies clearing. I set up again but fast as I left the mount with a plastic garbage bin covering it in the rain. When I started imaging I could still hear water dripping from the trees and gutters, the sky was crystal clear. I was after the Seagull Nebula to see how the mighty 300mm flourite lens would go. It was readily visible on the raw subexposures.

10 x 5 mins ISO 400. Baader UHCS filter used in rear of lens. Canon 300mm f2.8 lens from Bert. Hutech modded 350d cam. Hand guided but using q guider monochrome cam and Guidemaster. So much easier then squinting down the guidescope. 0.3 sec guide exposures. I just made corrections as guidemaster showed the star beginning to drift.

Processed in Iris and PS. Larger version here

[h0ughy (David)]

you were a lucky boy Scott - one eye must have been on the radar screen for all of that time LOL. Love the result and can only imagine the result with another hour added to it.

[tornado33]

Yep I had almost written the night off especially when it was pouring rain again. Amazing how quickly it cleared. From heavy rain to brilliant stars in 10 minutes.
Scott

[RB (Andrew)]

Great shooting there Scott.
Wow imagine if you had more time and not rain interrupted !!!

I couldn't believe it last night either, we had called off the 'Pony Club' meeting only to be teased all night long with clear skies.

[leon]

Nice going Scott, I have been waiting as well to have a go at this one, when the clouds part,it certainly is a beauty.

Leon

[tornado33]

Thanks all.
Indeed I was amazed at how changable the weather was last night. It was VERY dewy as well.
Scott

[Ric]

Wonderful image Scott, you can really see the definition of a flying bird in this one.

Cheers

[Garyh]

Nice image Scott!
Its not a real easy subject thats for sure. I actually did this as well the same night with the 200mm lense so I know its faint!
Same with that wacky weather here. Storms that afternoon with chilly winds but cleared up on sunset to a real pristine dark sky and I had to have a go at something faint.
Good one

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

well done scott. yes, this is a very faint object and you have captured quite alot of photons!

[tornado33]

Thanks Im so glad I was able to make use of the brief clear window in otherwise cloudy/wet conditions.
Scott

[beren]

top image Scott, can't remember ever seeing this object posted before

[avandonk]

I have never heard of this one either Scott. You can really get the faint stuff now your guiding is less demanding. Tell me is the small bright neb just off his left wing called 'the dropped chip'?

Very good result considering the weather.

Bert

[tornado33]

Many thanks.
I got the idia of imaging this from
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=28039
(his site isnt displaying his pics at this time though), and then EzyStyles got a good image of its head, so I had to try the 300mm lens on it.

Bert, it was more luck than anything that I fitted in that small nebula at left. I pointed the lens to where Star Atlas pro said the centre of IC 2177 was and that was how it appeared, I didnt need to further compose or even rotate the lens. I noted the small nebula on a short test image so left it as is, located a suitable guide star and started the imaging run.
Scott

[tornado33]

Originally Posted by avandonk

I have never heard of this one either Scott. You can really get the faint stuff now your guiding is less demanding. Tell me is the small bright neb just off his left wing called 'the dropped chip'?

Very good result considering the weather.

Bert

Actually thats a good name for that bit of nebulosity there Bert