Helix Nebula Up close & Personal

[gerry aarts (Gerry)]

Hi All,

This was my first ever (and only) attempt at the Helix Nebula.
Took this one in pristine dark skies at Siding Springs Observatory NSW last September. A difficult object to capture but very satisfying to see the detail in this stunning nebula considering it is only an 18 minute combined image. Dark, unpolluted skies do make the difference.

The Helix does not quite fit on the little Meade DSI chip even at f3.3.

Celestron GPS 11, unguided in altazimuth mode with f3.3 focal reducer.
Meade DSIc in Drizzle mode to de-rotate the image.
36x30 exposures (total 18 minutes) auto combined on the fly.
Saved in LRGB fits format, liberated and processed in Photoshop.

Clear Skies
Gerry
Member: Western Sydney Amateur Astronomy Group (WSAAG)
www.wsaag.org

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Gerry, that's a great image! I love the colours!!!

I use my ED80 with a Toucam and I can get all of Helix in the FOV. You must have a much longer focal length even with the FR.

[gerry aarts (Gerry)]

Hi Ken,
The Celestron GPS11 with f3.3 focal reducer = fl 924.
I recently aquired "Hyperstar" formally Fastsar.
That fits to the front of the C11 and repalces the seconadry.
The system is the f 1.8 anf fl = 504. Very fast like a Schmidt Camera.
Can't wait to try it out

Gerry

[Ric]

Hi Gerry, that's a lovely image well done. It certainly does help to have dark skies.

I have heard and read a bit about the Hyperstar camera, I look forward to the images from it.

Cheers

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by gerry aarts

I recently aquired "Hyperstar" formally Fastsar.
That fits to the front of the C11 and repalces the seconadry.
The system is the f 1.8 anf fl = 504. Very fast like a Schmidt Camera.
Can't wait to try it out

Gerry

That should give a much better FOV
I look forward to seeing your images with it.

[h0ughy (David)]

Well done Gerry!! some nice colours and structure there

[jase (Jason)]

Certainly up close and personal. Can't make out any cometary knots though. Colours look pretty good. Well done.

[dcalleja]

Gerry
Great image. Really nice colour. I tried for this object but I live near Parramatta so not a great outcome - its fairly diffuse and faint.

[Dr Nick (Nick)]

Nice shot!