M83

[Mickoid (Michael)]

Got just over an hour integration on this one Wednesday night. Improved my last attempt at it but I could still do better, so I should have another go if the opportunity eventuates. Love to get some Ha data to lift the aesthetics of the spiral arms, I may purchase a Ha filter to help make this and other objects with Ha more interesting in the future.

Modded Canon 550d, 8 inch f5 Newtonian unguided on a HEQ5 pro mount. Combination of UVIR cut/ CLS CCD, clip filters, 1600 and 3200 ISO respectively.

[Imme (Jon)]

Great work Mick, you never stop producing do you!

Was this from home or out in the sticks a little?

[Mickoid (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Imme

Great work Mick, you never stop producing do you!

Was this from home or out in the sticks a little?

Thanks for the kind words, Jon. I drove out to a favourite spot near Clonbinaine for this take. No doubt the result would have been better from your area but cloud hung around Melbourne and south of the Divide so there was only one direction to head out to. Still feeling the results of lack of sleep as I probably only got about 4 hrs before getting up for work the same morning. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

[Imme (Jon)]

Originally Posted by Mickoid

Thanks for the kind words, Jon. I drove out to a favourite spot near Clonbinaine for this take. No doubt the result would have been better from your area but cloud hung around Melbourne and south of the Divide so there was only one direction to head out to. Still feeling the results of lack of sleep as I probably only got about 4 hrs before getting up for work the same morning. My wife thinks I'm crazy.

I think most of the people we know who aren't in 'the biz' think we're crazy!

[xelasnave]

You need to give up that day job.
Well done.
I love HA although I have not explored it fully it brings out so much neat stuff.
alex

[Startrek (Martin)]

Mick
Really nice image and great definition
How long were your unguided subs and how many ?
Your a brave bloke putting an 8” f5 on a HEQ5 and going for dim galaxies,
makes the image even better thinking about that aspect
I think my old HEQ5 has a max payload of 13 kg and for AP you should be no more than 60 to 65% of that or around 8kg. I know my 8” f5 weighs 9.5kg plus add dovetail bar, camera, adapters, finder or guide scope , dew bands , cable sag etc.. total payload around 13kg ( that’s why I upgraded to the EQ6-R which has a max payload of 21kg )
Wow good work !

[Mickoid (Michael)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

You need to give up that day job.
Well done.
I love HA although I have not explored it fully it brings out so much neat stuff.
alex

Don't know that taking astro photos will pay all the bills but I will be looking forward to spending more time to the hobby when I retire.

Originally Posted by Startrek

Mick
Really nice image and great definition
How long were your unguided subs and how many ?
Your a brave bloke putting an 8” f5 on a HEQ5 and going for dim galaxies,
makes the image even better thinking about that aspect
I think my old HEQ5 has a max payload of 13 kg and for AP you should be no more than 60 to 65% of that or around 8kg. I know my 8” f5 weighs 9.5kg plus add dovetail bar, camera, adapters, finder or guide scope , dew bands , cable sag etc.. total payload around 13kg ( that’s why I upgraded to the EQ6-R which has a max payload of 21kg )
Wow good work !

Thanks Martin, it's probably pushing the boundaries a bit sitting this size scope on the HEQ5 but provided it's all balanced at the position of the object you're photographing, it manages OK. Can't get unguided subs more than 90 seconds though and even at 90 secs I throw quite a few away. It seems to be quite happy at up to 60secs with a reasonable success rate, the Canon 550d has a very light body weight which made it my choice of dslr cameras to modify.
I also remove the finder scope and add a 1kg counter weight.

[casstony]

The bigger aperture shows off the galaxy well.