Here's another one from last night testing the new FF with the ED80.
This is a two panel mosaic (left & right overlapping) . The right panel was shot first from fairly low altitude to “reasonable” but the left was mostly taken all the remainder of the night till the zenith. 30x5min for the right and 15x5min for the left. The field is approx. 2.6 x 2.3 degrees.
Bit of a challenge to process as it is very noisy. The ED80 is small aperture and with Ha not much light makes it in. Also because of the difference in exposure time between the left and right I had to deal with gradients and levels issues. Definitely a target for the hyperstar. The point of the exercise was to test the WO field flattener for the scope and it worked very well.
I’ve also posted a bigger version here [2.5MB] if anyone’s interested. Thanks for looking.
I think, after Rho Ophiuchus, this is my second favourite part of the night sky. Incredible area.
Tell me, what nanometre bandpass is your hydrogen alpha filter? I've got a Lumicon 12nm that JohnG has loaned me and need to try it out, but, then again, trying it is moot as the new CCD will be arriving either end of next week or the beginning of the following.
Mate.. once again the FOV is great. The ED80 has let enough in IMHO great shot
Thanks Paul. Happy with the field but is hard yakka to get those photons with the ED80. Takes too long
Quote:
Originally Posted by Octane
Marc,
I am jealous -- that is marvelous.
I think, after Rho Ophiuchus, this is my second favourite part of the night sky. Incredible area.
Tell me, what nanometre bandpass is your hydrogen alpha filter? I've got a Lumicon 12nm that JohnG has loaned me and need to try it out, but, then again, trying it is moot as the new CCD will be arriving either end of next week or the beginning of the following.
H
Thanks H. Yeah it's a beautiful part of the sky indeed. I'm going to cover it all with the Hyperstar in NB. I think 4 panels should do it. I currently use a 7nm Baader Ha. 12nm should let more light in for you.
Marc is on a roll! A little more exposure and what a nice one!
Tom
Thanks Tom! Much appreciated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Haese
Nice image Marc. Only thing I can see is that of the frame join. It is quite visible on my screen. Other than that it looks really nice.
Thanks Paul. Yeah I tried to burry it in the dark . I'll try to blend that one better at the top. There was so much difference in signal between the left and right panels that processing was a real challenge to match the levels. And also the panel with the least exposure was taken lower on the horizon so that made things even worse.
I see a dragon with her wings out and head and neck reaching down with her mouth breathing fire.
... and I see one of the most interesting and rare wind-blown bi-polar out-flow nebulae produced by exotic type of star -- NGC 6164-65 that is also in the frame.
... and I see one of the most interesting and rare wind-blown bi-polar out-flow nebulae produced by exotic type of star -- NGC 6164-65 that is also in the frame.
i am really impressed by how tight your stars are. never managed anything even close in years of imaging in H alpha with my QHy8 and ED80
so whats the secret ?
Narayan
Thanks Narayan. No secret. Just practice. I did mod the ED80 a bit though. New focuser (GSO 10:1), opened the tube spray painted the baffles and flocked the whole OTA including dewshield. That resulted in much better contrast in my pics too. But the scope was very good to start with. You also have to realise that this pic is two panels so the stars will always look tighter when you do mosaics and reduce to view the montage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexN
YARRRR!! Nice one dude!
Love this area of sky.. and love your rendition of it too..
Do it with the C11 HS3 WOOOH!!
Thanks Alex. That's the plan yes although the FOV is narrower with the HS3 it should take not even half the time to do 4 panels.
great shot
. I'll try to blend that one better at the top. There was so much difference in signal between the left and right panels that processing was a real challenge to match the levels. And also the panel with the least exposure was taken lower on the horizon so that made things even worse. 
WOOOH!! 
