My first Astrofest image: NGC 104 and the SMC

[RickS (Rick)]

I only managed to get to Astrofest for the last weekend and the conditions on both nights were mixed. Fortunately, there was enough clear sky for me to get some data on a couple of targets, although not as much as I would have liked...

Mount: Astro-Physics AP900
Scope: Tak FSQ-106ED
Camera: Sbig STL11K, Astrodon Gen 2 filters
Guiding: Tak FS-60C and Lodestar
Focuser: Atlas
Exposures: 12x300s + 6x30s Lum, 6x300s + 6x30s each R, G & B
Processing: PixInsight and a lot of muttered expletives

The attached thumbnail really suffers from heavy JPG compression. Higher resolution image here.

Constructive comments and criticism appreciated!

Thanks,
Rick.

[stanlite (Grady)]

very nice image Rick

[DavidTrap (David)]

Great combination of long and short subs to maintain the dynamic range in 47Tuc.

I have a wider field view taken up at Leyburn last Saturday with an 85mm camera lens in front of my QSI - it is still awaiting processing. I didn't take any short exposures, but might follow your lead and collect some more data in the future.

DT

[Dennis]

A mesmerising cosmic vista, with beautiful tones and hues. Top stuff Rick!

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Splendiferous Rick.

[RobF (Rob)]

Well I know how hard (and late! ) you worked to get these on questionable nights, so congrats on a great outcome Rick.

[allan gould]

Rick
Saw this as you were processing it at Astrofest and you have turned out a real stunner and it's worthy of all the effort you put into it.
Allan

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by stanlite

very nice image Rick

Thanks, Grady.

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Great combination of long and short subs to maintain the dynamic range in 47Tuc.

I have a wider field view taken up at Leyburn last Saturday with an 85mm camera lens in front of my QSI - it is still awaiting processing. I didn't take any short exposures, but might follow your lead and collect some more data in the future.

DT

David, turns out that 30 secs was way too long! The attached 3D plot is the area around 47 Tuc from the integration of the 30 sec Luminance shots. The core is still all mushy. I reckon I might need to take some one or two second subs next time. Look forward to seeing the 85mm wide field!

Originally Posted by Dennis

A mesmerising cosmic vista, with beautiful tones and hues. Top stuff Rick!

Cheers

Dennis

Thank you very much, Dennis!

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Splendiferous Rick.

Ta, JJJ!

Originally Posted by RobF

Well I know how hard (and late! ) you worked to get these on questionable nights, so congrats on a great outcome Rick.

Thanks, Rob. After all the preparation and the drive I was not going to go to bed and give up just because of rain, lightning and clouds

I had to throw away a lot of the Ha I collected on the second night but I'm hoping I have enough for a HaLRGB version of the SMC too.

Originally Posted by allan gould

Rick
Saw this as you were processing it at Astrofest and you have turned out a real stunner and it's worthy of all the effort you put into it.
Allan

Thanks, Allan! I'm glad I came back with something even if I can't cover a large wall with images like you

Cheers,
Rick.

[ozstronomer (Geoff)]

Rick Congrats on a great image, well worth all the effort you put in, well done

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Such a field of view with that combination. So much real estate. Looks promising.

[RobF (Rob)]

How did you get the groovy 3D integration plot Rick? Pixinsight?

[RB (Andrew)]

Truly beautiful hues in there.
Lovely image Rick.

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by ozstronomer

Rick Congrats on a great image, well worth all the effort you put in, well done

Thanks, Geoff!

Originally Posted by troypiggo

Such a field of view with that combination. So much real estate. Looks promising.

It is a really handy big FOV, Troy. I must get the reducer sorted out too one of these days.

Originally Posted by RobF

How did you get the groovy 3D integration plot Rick? Pixinsight?

Rob, it's the 3Dplot script. It's in the Script menu tree under Render.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Tandum (Robin)]

Looking good Rick. How was the sky on Saturday Night?

I should have stayed, instead I got a $130 photo of my car hurtling down the gateway freeway in the mail yesterday

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very sharp shot. Love the colors and framing.

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by Tandum

Looking good Rick. How was the sky on Saturday Night?

I should have stayed, instead I got a $130 photo of my car hurtling down the gateway freeway in the mail yesterday

The night started beautifully as you saw, Robin, but clouded over around 11:30pm, I think. It cleared again but the clouds kept coming and going. I went to bed about 4am after getting as much data as I could. It was definitely a night for short subs.

Sorry to hear you had an expensive trip home...

Originally Posted by multiweb

Very sharp shot. Love the colors and framing.

Thanks, Marc!

[OneCosmos (Chris)]

I'm in awe. Great image with beautiful colours.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Hi Rick,

Sorry no critisim, just appreciation!

Another field I've tried a couple of times, and never come close to your image.

Cheers,

Justin.

[sjastro]

Very fine image Rick.

Clear skies

Steven

[Paul Haese]

I love the composition of this image. Really great idea to incorporate both major objects in the field of view.