50 mins. imaging NGC 4945

[tornado33]

Hi
I pushed my EOS 300D harder than ever, taking a single 1/2 hour ISO 200 shot of 4945 with the 10 inch F5.6 scope. Took a 2nd one that I had to stop at about 20 mins because the end of the scope was going to run into one of the mount legs. Heres the final image
http://www.users.on.net/~josiah/temp/4945small.jpg
A bigger version is here
http://www.users.on.net/~josiah/temp/4945deepsmall.jpg
Despite the very long exposures for an uncooled camera, no dark subtraction was done.

[iceman (Mike)]

Wow that's a great shot, very deep! Your guiding looks pretty good, no evidence of trailing for such a long shot!

Well done!

[tornado33]

Many thanks. Yes it's the first time ive tried 1/2 hour shots. As long as I have a nice bright guide star, and the scope is well balanced, I can guide okay now that I have the off axis guider.

[atalas]

Nice shot dude!

Louie

[h0ughy (David)]

Scott you must be powereing along with that poor old 300d. Be almost time you traded up to the 350d and 8 megapixel! What would be your result then

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

No dark subtraction Was there much amp burn along the right edge before you cropped it Scott? That's brilliant

h0ughy I think Scott might be heading for an SBIG the way he's going.

[ving (David)]

lovely shot!

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

great shot..how good is your polar alignment!

[Striker (Tony)]

Awesome............

[tornado33]

Many thanks
Yes there was a fair bit of amp glow but thankfully it doesnt come out too far, though I can do a dark subtraction if need be, though for the way ive cropped it, it doesnt seem necessary
The 350 D does seem good though I heard the D20 turns off the amps when taking time exposures, so it has no amp glow at all.
Yes Id love an Sbig (and a laptop to run it) but alas thats all way out of my price range .
The off axis guider is great as I have the confidence to keep going on those long exposures without the worry of flexure, though it takes some concentration to guide on the off axis comatic guide stars particularily with a hand Dec control.
Scott

[Orion]

Like always Scott very nice!
It would be nice to see what type of photos you could end up with when you get that mirror recoated.

[astroron (Ron)]

HI Scott the image shows the Supernova which was first noticed about the 10th March, when did you take your picture? it is quite brilliant. Regards astroron

[Robby]

Stunning. I am quite suprised at the quality from long exposures on the 300D. And your tracking/polar alignment is excellent.
As to the Supernova (see thread http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...highlight=4945 ).....
Yep it's still there!

[tornado33]

Thanks, people. Wow I didnt expect to catch a supernova there too. My shot was taken on May 29.
I spent quite a while doing the drift methid a few months ago to get the polar alingment just right, the mount stays permenently set up and covered (call it my poor mans observatory hehehehe). The scope lives in the garage.

[h0ughy (David)]

Scotts mount rests on quality concrete besser blocks with a quality garbage bag over it. His views are excellent as long as they are up! A bit crowded by the house, shed a few trees, lighting, birds, cats , dogs, bats, air pollution and clouds but apart from that his little plastic buddy keeps him company counting those photons and keeping them in memory!

I would like see what he is capable of doing if he ever gets it everything right and has his mirror done?

[tornado33]

hehehehe yep I struggle against photon pollution and cant access the northern sky much, but Ive got the mount very close to perfect polar alingment now, and doesnt take too long to get set up for an evenings imaging. The mirror doesnt look too bad when looking down the tube at it but if I shine a bright torch it does look frosty.
Scott