First for 2025 - NGC2736 (Pencil Nebula)

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Hi all,

Getting in with the first image of 2025.

Taken over two nights of clear skies down here, a total of about 9.25 hours of data from my Bortle 6 backyard.

I started using the EKOS scheduler to see if I can automate everything, and for the most part it works really well. There are still a couple of wrinkles to sort out and then I can be pretty confident that I can hit the "GO" button and everything will work.

Usual camera settings of 100 gain, 10 offset, sensor temperature of 0 degrees, and the L-Enhance filter. Usual gear of the ED102@714mm, HEQ5-Pro, ASU183MC-Pro, Uniguide50+SV305, and KStars+EKOS.

I haven't imaged this one before, so I'm really happy to see all that Oiii colour in there, as well as the fine detail within the heart of the nebula.

Happy New Year!

V.

[Mickoid (Michael)]

Happy New Year to you Steve! Great start to the new year with quite a challenge from Bortle 6 skies. You've managed some nice detail from your 4 inch scope too. I haven't quite got around to automate much with my set up though I do have an intervalometer for my camera

[Anth10 (Anthony M)]

HNY Steve/
This is a pearler!
Rich colour, very smooth and intricate detail in the pencil.
That’s a keeper well done.
A

[tim.anderson (Tim Anderson)]

Lovely image

[AstroViking (Steve)]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone!