A colourful Lagoon

[atalas]

Hi Guys

It's been a long time since I've posted anything new but I have been working on a new setup with some promissing test results.

The scope I picked up late last year(thanks Eric)which came with a Moonlite focuser motorised,secondary heater(havent had the need yet)and in very good condition.

The Moonlite I've found not quite up to the task but I did manage to pick up a Atlas focuser and adapters should turn up next week so hopefully I will get tighter focus.

I did also pick up an ONAG(thanks again Eric)which will be part of the new configuration.

There's been a bit of a learning curve in understanding how to collimate the RC and genarally just getting to know how the scope behaves in different conditions at this longer focal length.

Must say though,It's been a lot of fun and the Obs I built makes the task so much simpler.

Hope you enjoy this colouful Lagoon.

Object: M8

Exposure: 6 hours/LHaRGB/Blending LHaRHaGB all binned 2x2

Camera: ML 8300/temp -30

Telescope: GSO RC10 CF tube

Mount: EQ8

guiding: FSQ106 EDX3/ZWO 174/PHD2

Imaging
Location: Padstow,NSW

Software: Capture Nebulocity 4
Processing AA5/CS6

http://tinyurl.com/jckgh7o

[billdan (Bill)]

Very nice, a lot of detail and good colour balance, near the central star it has that 3D look with those cascading clouds.

Cheers
Bill

[gregbradley]

Love the colours. You show the rarely seen thin reflection neb really well.
Greg

[Paul Haese]

Love the colours Louie. Detail in the core and the hour glass is superb. I have seen several image of this part of the nebula over the years that just show the core and this one is right up there. It's reminded me to have a go with the RC12 and the STXL once I find the current project. Just out of interest what were your sub lengths? I am assuming given you were using 2x2 they were short.

[atalas]

Hi and thank you Bill,Greg and Paul for your feedback!

Paul,I kept exposure times down to 4 and 5 minutes becuase I used a guide scope and flecture would start creeping in more than 5 minutes....would of been nice to go to 10 minutes for Ha.

Also moved to Nebulocity 4 for capture so I could dither with PHD2 and autofocus with Focusmax4.

Still,just testing and much looking forward to getting the Atlas focuser and ONAG fitted and operating.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Love it Louie. You did a sterling job showing the reflection neb as Greg pointed out. Never seen it like this before. Very cool.

[codemonkey (Lee)]

Nice one Louie! Beautiful colour and lots of nice detail.

I'm surprised you've found the Moonlite lacking. I've had three... or maybe four now, I can't remember, and they've all been excellent.

[Atmos (Colin)]

The core region is showing up really nicely, particularly like how the dusty regions are showing up in their natural (charcoal) colour

[alpal]

Hi Louie,
great to see you back in the drivers seat.
Looks like some very nice data.
To use your own words from your videos -
don't you think this could have taken a bit of sharpening -
of course with a star mask to stop hardened stars?
- maybe also a contrast tweak with curves.

cheers
Allan

[atalas]

Thank you Lee,Colin and Allan.

Lee,yes I found that It had a bit too much backlash shooting at 2000 for me mate, but I'm sure there fine at shorter focal lengths....didn't enjoy spending all that money on the Atlas and not to mention adapters buuuut....well you know.

[atalas]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Love it Louie. You did a sterling job showing the reflection neb as Greg pointed out. Never seen it like this before. Very cool.

Hi Marc

Thanks dude.....oh, by the way this is the same crap 5.8 FWHM light polluted data from the other blending I sent you the other week!hehe

Never mind though,I should have the Atlas an the ONAG on and running next week....expecting much tighter data,still not much one can do about Sydney skies.

Catch up soon for a drink dude!

[E_ri_k (Erik)]

Very nice Louie! I'm glad your happy with the scope. Awesome colours, I never had a chance to give this one a shot when I had the scope.

You'll love the ONAG when you fit the to the system, it will solve any flex related issues. Have a look into SharpLock on the Innovation Foresight page for instantaneous autofocus using the ONAG. I never tried it but it looks good.

Hope to see more soon.

Erik

[Stevec35 (Steve)]

Nice one Louie - looks good

Cheers

Steve

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Hey Louie, seems I went all around this post

Nice to see you back behind the camera mate and a promising start, some funky colour goin on there bro

Hopefully I will have (one of) your guide scope by the end of the year (but V4)

Mike

[RickS (Rick)]

Lovely, subtle colouring, Louie!

[atalas]

Steve,Mike and Rick....thanks for the feedback ! appreciated.

Mike,those damnd 80's!just can't get the funk out of me.

Mmmm...FSQ106EDX4.....I want one too.

[Rod771 (Rod)]

Love the colours , Louie! Nice close up shot!

[atalas]

Thank you Rod!