SPSP, Only Photo, What Happened

[Zuts]

Hi Guys,

I attended the SPSP but only managed one photo.

(1) Polar Align, 3 star align normal manner
(2) Slew to Eta Carinae, can see Eta in eyepiece
(4) Remove eyepiece, add camera, focus (takes me 40 minutes)
(5) Take a 5 minute sub and got this result

Its a starfield but no Eta. I cant have knocked the scope coz its a 5 minute sub and the tracking looks OK, it was subpixel. I slewed away then GOTO back to Eta and same result. What have I taken a photo of? What happened?

I was very dissapointed and after showing my daughter some lovely scopes (thanks Rod) went to bed. This was my first time under dark skies and I would have loved a shot of a nebula.

I just used my normal procedure and this has never happened before?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Paul

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Just one of those things Paul.
Tomorrow is another day.
Doug

[sheeny (Al)]

That's a puzzle, Paul. There's no nebulae in the photo, and it looks deep enough that there should be if you were close to eta. I've had a bit of a browse through CdC but I can't pick the starfield...

Al.

[gbeal]

No idea, but even a 5 second sub will show you the object, so 5 minutes will have a ripper. Bumped it perhaps? Could you see Eta while focusing?
Like Doug said "it happens", actually Forrest said that too.

[h0ughy (David)]

here is the only usefull thing i have done all weekend found it----theta carinae

[Alchemy (Clive)]

its IC2602 thats to the lower right as it rises ... open cluster in carina.... nicely shot though

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

here is the only usefull thing i have done all weekend found it----theta carinae

Nice detective work there, Houghy! I was looking too close, I think...

Al.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

here is the only usefull thing i have done all weekend found it----theta carinae

Houghy,

You are absolutely brilliant . Thanks so much. It is close to Eta so maybe the mount wasnt locked down enough and I changed the alignment while putting in the camera.

Thanks everyone for helping.

You live and learn.

Just for fun I have processed it, amazing what one five minute frame from a dark sky site can be like. Coz of the number of stars, saved at 30%, 900px.


Paul

[Karlsson]

On the upside: this is a rare and good image of the dark nebula FeSt1-157 - I guess not many people have tried that before...

[madtuna (Steve)]

may not have been your target...but it's a gorgeous picture!

[iceman (Mike)]

I didn't know you were there Paul, I would've said g'day!

Nice image and nice work houghy!

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by iceman

I didn't know you were there Paul, I would've said g'day!

Nice image and nice work houghy!

I didnt get there till Saturday evening and set up at the imaging field across from Mike. I had a look for a giant scope on an EQ6 but couldnt see one

Originally Posted by madtuna

may not have been your target...but it's a gorgeous picture!

Next time maybe i should setup and then just spin the EQ head and see what I get