SMC from Qld Astrofest - 200mm Pentax prime on 450D

[RobF (Rob)]

Early in the week (Mon and Tue) at Astrofest I shot the Small Magellanic Cloud with my DSLR through a 200mm Pentax k-mount prime lens. Ideally I would have had the QHY9 on the lens, but changing adaptors and refocusing is time consuming and I wanted the QHY9 on the 80mm refractor to try for M31 just after midnight each night. I found it very interesting to see Rick's wonderful rendition, shot with an STL and FSQ106. This one has none of the Ha areas coming through alas - the unmodded camera has always shown greens and blues in emission nebs (e.g. M42) over the traditional red hues we usually lust for. Noise and some banding were a bit of a problem too, even given the low temperature. I guess I'm spoilt with the CCD now.

Still, I was happy with this FOV - far wider than anything I could ever hope to mosaic with the 8" Newt, and getting FSQ resolution was never in any way expected. Thanks to Peter and others that helped me get the side-by-side configuration balanced and working (haven't ever done that before). The lens sitting in guidescope rings drew a few quizical glances and comments over the week, but although difficult to adjust focus it still seems to have worked, with some perseverance.

This is 19x1.5mins + 40x2mins = 108 mins all shot at ISO1600

(Can't recall why I was shooting such short subs at a high ISO - think guiding may have been misbehaving). Had hoped to get a bunch of my AF shots up this weekend, but Pixinsight is the best way I know to process these things and the debayed DSLR files were each 144mb, which strained the PC a bit , so another single image

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm probably going to get shot down for saying this, but those overly red hues don't do much for me. I love the blues and greens of an unmodded camera. They give an image life. (says she with the new modded cam LOLOL)

This is a lovely rendition of the SMC Rob. It's a great FOV.
Thanks for sharing.

[ozstronomer (Geoff)]

Nice work Rob, the short subs have kept 47 tuc from blowing out in the center.

[h0ughy (David)]

i like it Rob, great shot

[RickS (Rick)]

Very nice, Rob! A great FOV for the SMC and I like the colours you got with the DSLR.

Cheers,
Rick.

[RobF (Rob)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I'm probably going to get shot down for saying this, but those overly red hues don't do much for me. I love the blues and greens of an unmodded camera. They give an image life. (says she with the new modded cam LOLOL)

This is a lovely rendition of the SMC Rob. It's a great FOV.
Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Jeanette. I used to like the blue/green effect on some objects too must confess. The humble DSLR is still a formidable weapon. Expecting to see some great stuff from your new beast too!

Originally Posted by ozstronomer

Nice work Rob, the short subs have kept 47 tuc from blowing out in the center.

Thanks Geoff. You wouldn't believe it but just organising the data a bit more found 3x10min subs with the same gear taken after these. After swearing at myself I looked more closely and you're perfectly right - 47Tuc is white with spots on the outside, and a jet has gone right through one of them anyway. MIght just move sideways to the "out pile" as don't look like they'd add anything .....

Originally Posted by h0ughy

i like it Rob, great shot

Cheers David

Originally Posted by RickS

Very nice, Rob! A great FOV for the SMC and I like the colours you got with the DSLR.

Cheers,
Rick.

Thanks Rick. Enjoyed catching up and looking over the FSQ - wonderful scope. Would have been an interesting experiment to get some Ha. Hmmm, there's always the backyard one night I guess

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by RobF

Would have been an interesting experiment to get some Ha. Hmmm, there's always the backyard one night I guess

Not tonight, alas. I was planning to spend some time testing ACP and then grabbing some Ha subs but the clouds aren't going away.