Ambitious imaging projects are what distinguishes men from boys. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm looking forward to seeing how this one will pan out. The FOV is massive so more panels will add an interesting dimension. Looking good so far Bert.
The second image has my full frame image superimposed. The third has a cropped version suitable for a mosaic as the vignetting will no longer interfere with matching colour etc.
Mike where is it? As I am not quite sure. There is H gas all the way back to our galaxy (radio data from H emission). There seems to be two streams of faint stars....
Great going Bert. Lets hope for some more clear nights as this looks like it will end up a pearler of an image. Good stuff.
What are your overlap calculations? Or are you just "winging" it? Mosaics start well before you enter the observatory to collect data - planning is critical.
Jase I have a GstarEX behind a Canon cmount F1.8 16 to 160 mm zoom. I have a mark on the zoom when it exactly shows the same field as the Canon 5DH amd 300mm F2.8L. I have a LPR filter over the GstarEX's sensor so light pollution is no problem. I can see the Helix Neb in real time when integrating 128x and at f2.8 in 7" LCD monitor mounted on the zoom lens. The same goes for the Flame and HH nebs. I use Registar to do a final check before an imaging run to the data already collected.
I can rotate the Canon lens and camera as it has a lockable rotating mount. The fridge limits this rotation so I do not bother.
The twelve panel mosaic of the Vela SNR was done this way.
The whole lot is guided by 90mm Mak 1150 FL and GstarEX camera. Can't find a guide star? Just up the integration! It is important to slow the autoguide correction interval to match the hysteresis of integrations above about 32X.
You will also notice the lens has Kendrick dew heaters wrapped around it. These are thermostatically controlled so the lens retains perfect focus all night everynight as the lens temperature is always at 20C. I have not needed to refocus for three months as I leave the heaters on 24/7 which also stops any chance of condensation on cold wet nights. The PID ( black box at rear of Peltier fridge) controls the Peltiers and the fridge's temperature is held at plus or minus 0.1 C to the set temperature. This means darks match lights exactly for noise subtraction.
Cool. Sounds like you've got it under control. I like your concept of marking the same FoV as the 5D w/300mm lens. At the end of the night, more overlap is better than gaping big holes, void of stars!
Great project Bert,
glad to some with the courage to undertake it. I am fiddling with a camera lens shot of the LMC at the moment too, but nothing as ambitious as a mosaic.
From your shot of the gear though, man I thought I had cable problems.
Gary
Lookin good Bert.. The second panel seems to integrate seamlessly into the first...
Im glad I came back to check out the second panel... I noticed some things in an image of NGC2070 I did last night that I thought must have been some issue with my flats or perhaps a processing stuff up, but the same dark areas are present in your image too..
Exciting project Bert. I look forward to the final result.
Its interesting how imaging does improve our knowledge of these objects. As the APOD mentions the LMC does start to look like a barred spiral galaxy. Who would have thought?
Looking forward to that! 
