It Has Been A While! - M8

[Matty P (Matt)]

This is the first image I have taken since January, I believe. I just haven't had the time or oppourtunity to stay up late with the scope. So it is great to be able to stay out under the stars even though the night was cut short due to rain clouds.

This was also my first light with the new IDAS LPS I aquired recently. I've been quite eager to see how it would perform and I was pleasently surprised with how well it removed LP.

This image of the Lagoon was shoot directly into skyglow and a 5 minute exposure at ISO1600 showed no sign of LP. Which was great!

Images details are as follows C8 F/6.3 on EQ6 Pro, Canon 450D with IDAS LPS Filter, Pulseguided with DMK21 and PHD, 5 x 5min exposures @ ISO1600. No Darks or Flats, Stacked in DSS and processed in PS CS4.

Happy with the overall result. Focus was good and guiding was spot on. Would've liked more subs but you can't have everything I guess.

Thanks for looking.

[desler]

Gee Matty,

Plenty of details there, glad to see you back into it!

I'm hoping for a couple of cloudless nights as well. Isn't it amazing how everytime I get a forecast of good clear nights, I'm back at work!

Ah well, It's not like the sky is going to go anywhere!

Darren

[Kevnool (Kev)]

Great Image of the Lagoon Matt.
Cheers Kev.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yep, not bad at all Matty!

Mike

[Matty P (Matt)]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I'm really looking forward to getting some more images during the cool winter nights. Hopefully there is better weather conditions ahead of us.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Looks good Matty - as you say guiding is spot on.

[TrevorW]

Matty not bad for limited data you would probably get some improvement if you applied darks and flats as well Here is a version I ran through PS using Noel Carboni's LP removal action

Cheers

[Matty P (Matt)]

Thanks Peter. I was very happy that the guiding behaved itself.

Trevor, I really didn't bother taking any darks or flats for this imaging session. Even though I probably should have. Thanks for the repro.

[sjastro]

A fine image Matt.

Regards

Steven

[Tandum (Robin)]

Welcome back Matty. Let hope the skys are clearer than they have been

[Matty P (Matt)]

Thanks Steven and Robin. It's good to be back to say the least.

Here is a quick repro, removed the gradient as best I could.

[AlexN]

Matty! Great to see you back in the saddle! Must be nice to use that shiny new observatory of yours!

As you say, focus and guiding look top notch!! You've got to be happy with that... Calibration is just as important as data, darks/flats/bias frames are really essential to an awesome image, that being said, this is a great "I'm back" image!

I hope your skies clear up and you get a good season of imaging in mate! I look forward to more from you soon!

Alex.