NGC5189 in Ha

[Ric]

Hi all, last weekend I was experimenting with the extensions of my f/3.3 FR to take it up to f/5.0 and took this image of NGC5189 also known as the Spiral planetary at Mag 10.0

This was a combination of 65 images @ 15 seconds each in Alt/Az with the DSI II captured with Envisage and processed in MaximDL.

A few things I've noted at this focal length is the definite need for longer exposures to clear up the noise and pull out more detail.

My Meade Ultrawedge (purchased from Kal) also arrived today so I'll be taking my first steps into polar aligning and longer exposures beyond my current 30 second barrier (once the obligatory cloud cover clears).

I am very much looking forward to this new direction in my imaging and it will be very interesting to reimage some DSO's such as this one to compare the differences.

Cheers

[iceman (Mike)]

Very nice Ric, you get some super results from that DSI II.

It that upscaled too? The DSI is only 640x480 isn't it?

[Alchemy (Clive)]

youve captured quite a lot of detail for 15 sec exposures, i had a quick look of this item for details, 140 arc sec diameter and magnitude 10.3.

might be good if you could just darken the background a little bit more to make the fainter stars pop out a bit more (probably cant go too much further without getting some noise in it), given youve got an Ha filter if have the rgb ones as well, you could add to it and put it up as a colour one at some time in the future

well done.

cheers alchemy

[Tamtarn]

Fantastic Ric this is a very small object and you have captured some great detail. Your sure working the DSI well

As Alchemy has said a little darker background would just set it off

[Dennis]

Hi Ric

Wow – there is a lot of intricate detail in that spiral planetary, a fantastic result for such short exposures. You’ll really enjoy the benefits of a polar aligned mount although I’m sure you’ll have the usual challenges in fine tuning your tracking and auto guiding.

I hope you’ve got a good head of hair – you’ll be tearing some of it out!

Cheers

Dennis

[Ric]

Thankyou all for you comments and advice, as always it is appreciated.

Mike, that is the original image size. The DSI II Pro is 752 x 582.

Alchemy, I do intend to revisit this PN and collect some RGB from it. I find this a fascinating DSO and would like to do some more with it.

Barb & Dave, I agree it does need to be darkened a tad more. Last night on my monitor (CRT) at home it looked fine but looking at it on the monitor at work (LCD) it could do with a touch up.

Dennis, thanks for the compliment, the hair could be a problem theres already not very much left , might have to grow a beard

Cheers all