Horsehead in Ha

[DJScotty (Scott)]

First light for Mirrabooka Observatory here in Heritage Park, Brisbane
Spent the last couple of months ironing out all the issues. I think I finally have them licked.

Full version here
http://www.astrobin.com/208133

6 hours of 15 minute subs. Full calibration frames applied.
I know the stars are a little elongated. Just tweaking the balance. Any other comments welcomed.

Thanks for looking.

DJ Scotty

[multiweb (Marc)]

Woohoo! The Horse head is back. Very nice Ha.

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Thanks very much Marc

[RobF (Rob)]

Impressive pic Scott. Looks like observatory must be coming together for you. Lots of fun ahead!

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Looking good Scotty, you going full NB on this one?
Cheers
Andy

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

A definite improvement and a testimony of your efforts - well done Scott

This B/W photograph is very nice, but I will also look forward to a colour version.

P.S. If I may...I think your last hurdle to overcome is flex between the main camera and a guide camera. I can see a few nice trails of hot pixels indicating how much the system has flexed...it took me many months of experimenting with my equipment until I discovered flex was due to a locking ring (I won't mention the brand...) between the filter wheel and a camera.

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Hi Rob. Thanks very much. Yes hopefully, this summer will be better than last summer

Andy. Thanks good sir. Yes definitely going full NB. Working on SII at the moment. Abit of a challenge when the camera glass keeps fogging up. OH WELL!

Slawomir. Thanks good sir. Yes worth every night up til 3 am! As mentioned before, colour version to come. In regards to flexure, I am certain that the whole rig is absolutely rock solid. It is, I am fairly confident, the very delicate balancing game of the mount. Tweaking, adding and subtracting 200g here and there. I will double check the guide cam and everything tonight when we have clouds though.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Hi Scott,

I propose the following experiment: at the beginning of imaging session, when you are already guiding and the first sub has been downloaded, zoom into your first sub in Nebulosity (400%) and mark a centre of any star by right clicking on it. (You can righ click many times to place more markers). See how the star behaves from sub to sub (of course you would need to do that without dithering). If the star consistently moves relative to the mark from sub to sub in one direction, you have a flex between the guide camera and the main camera.

Nonetheless, as I mentioned before, your last photo demonstrates a vast improvement over the first ones you took with this telescope

[RickS (Rick)]

A great first light, Scotty!

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Thanks very much Rick

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Thanks for the experiment advice slawomir. If the clouds bugger off i will give it a crack tonight.
I added about 0.5kg to the scope weight last night and the stars were almost perfect with 10 minutes subs.
I think that given there is 23 kg of scope on the trusty ol azeq6 I should be happy with the current results

[Wildey (Mark)]

Very nice, thank you for sharing.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Originally Posted by DJScotty

Thanks for the experiment advice slawomir. If the clouds bugger off i will give it a crack tonight.
I added about 0.5kg to the scope weight last night and the stars were almost perfect with 10 minutes subs.
I think that given there is 23 kg of scope on the trusty ol azeq6 I should be happy with the current results

Great news Scott with round stars, in particular with 23kg sitting on top of AZEQ6 !

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Originally Posted by Wildey

Very nice, thank you for sharing.

My pleasure mark. Thanks for looking and taking the time to comment

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

looking good, just sort that guiding and you are on a winner Scott

Ah, sigh, Horseheads....bring'em all on

Mike