M83 & ngc5128

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I'm hoping I've got my mount flexure sorted out. These look promising.

M83: 13 x 5min SXVF-H9 & VC200L
NGC5128: 20 x 5min same camera and scope.

A bit more time on M83 would be nice. One day when I know we're going to get a run of clear skies I might bite the bullet and collect some RGB data for M83

[Paul Haese]

These look pretty good Paul.

To check flexure though, just take some images of the same at 10 and then 15 minutes. Each will show more star elongation if you have flexure present. 5 minute subs are pretty hard to see if flexure has been eliminated. In the last year I have been imaging with 15 minute and 20 minute subs. Once you get your flexure sorted you should be able to do the same.

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Them there are some nice captures , especially with the problems u have been having. U also must have some dark skies ? where u take them for so much to show up with such short times
Hoping u fix those pesky gremlins soon hehe.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Beautiful images Paul.
M83 shows some beautiful detail.
What camera will you use to add colour? or will you use filters?

[h0ughy (David)]

i like your cent a shot - M83 - maybe by astrofest

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

thanks folks.

Paul I'm working on the flex, and I think I might have the issue sorted. I'll try your different exposure length comparison idea and see what it shows.

M_o yes I do have nice skies, weather and moon permitting. On the dark nights and little moisture in the air sigma octans is visible and that is in the direction of Brisbane. I'm in behind the Sunshine Coast with a range of large hills/ small mountains between me and the worst of the sky glow.

Thanks Jeanette. I'm tossing up atm. I like the idea of the simplicity of the modded 20D which has similar pixel size and a one shot colour. But the increased resolution of RGB and the ability to bin and reduce imaging time is tempting. 20D is winning out atm as I'm more familiar with it than RGB.

Oh I'll have plenty of time before AF Dave. Haven't you heard that the clouds are going to part and give us months of clear weather for practicing.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'll lend you my 550d if you like. I'm sure it would work beautifully.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

gee thanks.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

You're welcome.


she is the queen of spam

[Mighty_oz (Marcus)]

Yeah the RGB data is not as important as the ha or L data so a one shot with this camera would work wonders.
Thought so re your skies i've got about 3hrs or so on M83 so far and my data looks like rubbish compared to yours But i'm in Perth suburbs so ...
Hoping to add some 500D data this coming w/e to add to it.
You never know after a few weeks i might get something resembling yours, but i doubt it. Doing 20min subs to pull more data out as we speak.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Ya can't beat nice dark skies.

Oh and Congrats jjj on 11,000 posts.

[batema (Mark)]

Dark skies and no clouds. That is a bit unusual for the Sunshine Coast. Great images Paul. I saw that Astrofest registrations have opened. Now thats pressure.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

thanks Mark, it is a rare event atm. Yes it is, and don't forget there's the imaging conference a couple of weeks before that. decisions decisions

[batema (Mark)]

I dropped the imaging conference bomb shell to my wife about a month ago. It meant to make it we would have to leave our JuneJuly holidays with 4 other families up in the gulf area fishing and caravaning early so I could go. Given we have basically organised this trip it did not go as I planned. Maybe next innaugural imaging conference on the gold coast. But still working on Sunday maybe.

[alan meehan (Alan)]

Nice shot Paul theres some lovely detail in that image ,good to see you have had some clear skies unlike us southerners.
AL

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Nice shots Paul. You seem to be having more luck with the weather than me! What was the source of the flexure and what did you do to remove it?

Pete

[ozstronomer (Geoff)]

Great shots Paul, nothing beats dark skies for fine detail.

Hopefully you have that flexure sorted out, I've been watching that thread,that's been an experience and a half. Like many, I'll be interested in the fix.

Geoff

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Thanks folks. Still haven't sorted it fully yet Peter, but i'm going with my workaround that seems to do the job. Flip meridian, do a guide calibration and guide for 5 min, flip back to where i want and go from there. Don't ask why it works, it just seems to.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Two very tidy shots. Nice.

[richardo (Rich)]

Hi Paul, nice shots of these two classic objects!

Yes I hear your pain with flex, I still have issues with my setup, even after a couple of years.. done everything... a plate that locks down the guide cam to the accessory plate. Huge 12" paralax rings hold main scope in, 14mm accessory plate.... all is bolted to each other.. no flex in focuser, reinforced area around main focuser.. and so on so forth.. but I'm limited to 4min subs... lucky enough to have a fast newt which helps.

What I'm seeing in your above images is what I was seeing with my VC200L and SX-HX916..
Here's a link to a M83 I did with this setup
http://www.baytop-observatory.com/cc...xies/m83f9.htm

Perhaps it still is the mirror ever so slightly moving.. not a great design. Even if you've had it checked by vixen, have a look... I never assume any thing is done properly these days..
The best images I've seen with this scope is an old SX buddy Manfred Wasshuber.... he did a lot of mods to it to make it a better performer.
here's his link to what he did to his
http://www.astroimages.at/equipment/equipment.htm

I'm not really paying this scope out but I think Vixen really missed the boat on making this a far better one... the slot has been taken up easily with the new range of RC's in the similar price range, and it's a pitty!

I think the OAG is probably the best way to go... I'm seriously thinking along that path for myself.... to go 10min subs would be just sublime.

All the best
Rich