M42 L and Ha RGB

[rat156]

Hi All,

Two images one HaRGB, the other is LRGB.

Unsure which I like more.

Taken with an RC10C scope, STL11000M camera on a PMX.

Cheers
Stuart

[zardos123 (Brad)]

both really nice but the first gets my vote looks more contrasty in the cloud and gives the illusion that its sharper............... very well done
regards brad

[Peter Ward]

Sorry Stu, the framing is odd to me. There is so much more you could have got in the field by panning right (and up a tad).

The first one looks snappier, but I suspect there is much more faint stuff being clipped in the shadows that some clever masking would bring out.

Tracking/guiding absolutely spot on

[Grahame (Grahame)]

Looking good there Stuart!

The RC10C and STL11000M camera is a perfect match - I suspect my QHY9 will be getting the flick sooner rather than later

Grahame.

[rat156]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Sorry Stu, the framing is odd to me. There is so much more you could have got in the field by panning right (and up a tad).

The first one looks snappier, but I suspect there is much more faint stuff being clipped in the shadows that some clever masking would bring out.

Tracking/guiding absolutely spot on

Hi Pete,

Yeah, but I was using one of those stars as a guide star.

The grand plan is to do a mosaic of the area, but I need Melbourne's weather to co-operate.

There is a little bit of extra stuff in the left half of the image, but bring it out also brought out the background noise (probably LP from the city as I was shooting a lot of this when Orion was low in the Eastern sky for me) so it's probably lost in the background signal (which can't be called noise anymore!).

The scope still needs a collimation tweak or two as I have a very slight tilt of the focal plane and as such differential focus issues. But when the weather's nice I want to be taking photos not fiddling with collimation, Catch 22.

Cheers
Stuart

[rat156]

Originally Posted by Grahame

Looking good there Stuart!

The RC10C and STL11000M camera is a perfect match - I suspect my QHY9 will be getting the flick sooner rather than later

Grahame.

Hi Grahame,

Just be careful, I'm having quite a time trying to get the collimation right, nothing like a big sensor to show it up.

Do you have an RC10C? It's a great scope, but (probably like any corrected RC) the back focus is critical. You need to make sure that the CCD is right near the 6" for this scope, or the big CCD also picks up some very weird stuff.

I can't use the MOAG with this system anymore as that pushes the CCD out to closer to 9" and all the peripheral stars are elongated like the camera was rotating. I'm awaiting a new set of adapters so I can try to incorporate it again.

Cheers
Stuart

[gregbradley]

Nice images Stu. I know the feeling of not wanting to fiddle with gear when that rare clear night appears but some things require clear night testing.

Are these all short exposures or is the core area a 2nd short exposure layered in?

Nice detail in the core and good to see perfect tracking from a PMX. That must be one of the first long focal length images from one
I've seen here.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Stuart I like the Ha image myself, guiding looks great as I would have expected. I suspect that like the GSO RC's collimation needs to be undertaken on the outer side of focus and it can be a bit fiddly. Mind you now that you have the pointing of a great mount , it should only take half an hour. Even an hour of fiddling is going to be better than images you will be less than please about.

Having said that, the images look superbly detailed even for slight mis-collimation.

[TrevorW]

Not to bad Stu others have provided feedback so I won't nit pick

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yeh I like the HaRGB becasue it is nicely detailed

I certainly know about not wanting to miss a clear night fiddling but if it's only a collimation issue and you are in an observatory (aren't you?) I'd spend the time collimating for sure.

Mike

[Grahame (Grahame)]

Hi Stuart,

Yep i have the RC10C too, but only collimated using a small sensor for the time being (qhy9) Rich's latest collimation guide is excellent if you havent alread got it

Yep I matched my CCD to the magic 6" of backfocus - not too hard with this camera but care will be taken measuring the image train before purchase of next CCD.

Grahame.

[Ross G]

Two very nice photos Stuart.

Ross.