i was hoping to get more done this month but its winter and imaging is probably offline for a couple of weeks, so may as well as post now as anytime.
before i go any further, id like to say a public thankyou to Mark (wysiwyg), i purchased his Williams Optics 132 flt, and i couldnt have asked for a better transaction, he kept me informed all the way and the scope arrived exactly when he said it would, in absolutely mint condition, he has looked after this scope beautifully. AND NOW ITS MINE !!!!
I started by taking the scope to the observatory and installed it in its new home, Balanced the setup in all the axis, the G11 only has to contend with one counterweight not 3 so should perform much better.
My first image was just a simple 12 minute test shot on omega, my previous imaging with my last scope was 6 min exposures so i figured lets double that, a quicky process is below. following this i decided to have a 30 min exposure whilst i went and had tea....... the result was good, blown out in the core but no flexure evident, havent bothered processing that one.
so ive set an arbitary exposure time of 20 minutes for my future work, that might have to vary for bright subjects like Eta and M42, but given i havent bothered shooting these for at least a year, and not looking too thats ok.
the next shot was the Prawn IC4628 i had shot this with the 12 inch plus the ed80 so figured it was an appropriate target, i had some recent data to compare so would give me an idea of how its performing. this is a series of 11 x 20 min exposures, sadly the focus was off a bit so wasnt a perfect result (in hindsight im not sure i locked the focuser down)... ive since got one of those bhatinov screens so that should help, still im happy with the performance i could have made it different in the color, i think the color balance is a bit off as there is pretty much Ha all around this object but i like it so have left it there. full frame image at www.stormfrontobservatory.googlepag es.com/images2009
next image was corona australis again 20 min exposures, not as many as the prawn but enough to stretch and play with, would like at some stage to do it properly , i would put the glob further up into the rh corner next time.
the next is IC 4603 in Ophiuchus, its so close to scorpius and Ophiuchus seems to have such an arbitary border it creeps just into it. This image has great potential but will need heaps of extra data (2 nights maybee), i like the colors and the three dimensionality of the dust. clouds stopped this one and with the moon coming back it will be a while before i can finish it. there is an asteroid or something on the upper left, it was shot 26/5/09 between 21.00 and 22.30 EST anyone know what it is ?
i love this new scope just so easy too shoot, with a FL of 925 mm its easier than before, and im happy to leave the galaxies to the longer FL crowd.... anyone notice how there been an increase there lately ( 8 inch rcos crew) plus the odd 9.25, its become a bit crowded so with the majority at 500 or so using fsq106s and a bunch at 1500 im off doing my own thing, i intend to be chasing down objects that could do with the extra sub times as these have been so out of reach earlier.
thats about it for a month for imaging, i live in the wrong place as Melbourne although in a drought is soooo cloudy.
Good first light portfolio Clive. IC4628 looks clean and well balanced - aesthetic. Overall, sound processing across them. Indeed, long subs are the way to go. A lot of fun ahead no doubt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alchemy
...anyone notice how there been an increase there lately ( 8 inch rcos crew) plus the odd 9.25, its become a bit crowded so with the majority at 500 or so using fsq106s and a bunch at 1500 im off doing my own thing, i intend to be chasing down objects that could do with the extra sub times as these have been so out of reach earlier.
Interesting thought. However, equipment alone doesn't distinguish ones work. You can either be a sheep or wolf. The sheep simply do as all the other sheep do, image the same targets over and over (perspective restricted). That's totally fine for some if it meets their goals. If you want to be a wolf, you need to image targets not often seen, frame targets in a unique manner, think outside the square to produce that memorable image and a sense of awe. These aspects start before you enter the observatory to start imaging and are equipment independent.
G'Day Clive. Nice first light images. The new scope looks to be working very nicely. I took your Omega Centauri image into CCD Inspector and all looks pretty good. I have attached the images.
Looks like I am going to be one of the sheep. Just waiting for AEC to deliver my new FSQ106, reducer and extender. Along with the Vixen I will be able to cover 347mm,500mm, 870mm, 1260mm and 1800mm. Should cover pretty well everything I am going to image and hopefully a nice flat field for all focal lengths. Here is hoping.
Nice collection, look forward to seeing some more. Too cloudy here anyway.
Very nice selection for your first light Clive. The scope certainly has a lovely FOV. We expect to see some stunning images of interesting targets from you.
Interesting thought. However, equipment alone doesn't distinguish ones work. You can either be a sheep or wolf. The sheep simply do as all the other sheep do, image the same targets over and over (perspective restricted). That's totally fine for some if it meets their goals. If you want to be a wolf, you need to image targets not often seen, frame targets in a unique manner, think outside the square to produce that memorable image and a sense of awe. These aspects start before you enter the observatory to start imaging and are equipment independent.
absolutely true, there are only so many images of eta and M42 shot at 500mm that can be inspiring (occasionally one does pop up), the FL alone is not the decider. i just commented as it does seem people have gravitatd to the TAK fsq 106 or an ed80, or off at long FL, as for being a sheep and following the crowd, that doesnt appeal any more, been there done that. im interested in seeing the unexpected when i start processing an image, which probably means its not done too often, and it keeps it interesting, rather than trying to see who can get the most detail from the keyhole in eta ( that can be fun but not all the time).
G'Day Clive. Nice first light images. The new scope looks to be working very nicely. I took your Omega Centauri image into CCD Inspector and all looks pretty good. I have attached the images.
Looks like I am going to be one of the sheep. Just waiting for AEC to deliver my new FSQ106, reducer and extender. Along with the Vixen I will be able to cover 347mm,500mm, 870mm, 1260mm and 1800mm. Should cover pretty well everything I am going to image and hopefully a nice flat field for all focal lengths. Here is hoping.
Nice collection, look forward to seeing some more. Too cloudy here anyway.
thanks hagar, ive never used ccd inspector, so dont know what all the numbers mean, can it be used on shrunk images ? the glob wasnt full res, . interesting though that you can analyse all the stuff, next month i will put up a full res bit and get you to run the program over it and explain what it all means .
The FSQ is a hugely popular scope .... given the price tag (ouch) it must be a quality scope so will produce some stunning results. will watch to see what you can do with it.
Very nice selection for your first light Clive. The scope certainly has a lovely FOV. We expect to see some stunning images of interesting targets from you.
Hoping for clear skies next month
thanks guys, i grabbed 2 more frames before the fog rolled in last night, got up this morning and clear skies..... hope you grabbed some , one of those sky sensor gadgets would be useful..... especially as with observatorys both of us can whip out at short notice.
rumour has it tonight could be CLEAR in the valley !!!!!!!! dont have to work tommorrow either
Welcome to the WO FLT club Clive .... I'm sure you will be very happy with the scope .... you've got an extra 22mm of aperture on me but I love my FLT110 too ! I also went from 3 counter weights to just the one and it cetainly makes a difference to guiding etc with my EQ6 Pro.
Your first light images are fine ... especially ic4603 !
thanks for looking and commenting RB i am now able to image these things as i can go much longer than before using the new scope.
bluescope, im very happy with the scope... in particular the complete lack of blue halos around bright stars, it is indeed APO !
it will take me a while to work out the right exposures, i took a couple of M8 images tonight, i wanted to continue with current projects but the neighbour went out and left the floodies on, so i just went for a bright target..... too bright, will have to back off the exposure times for some things.
. will be watching your progress too.
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