Since everyone else is doing it - another flamin' horse

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #1 03-01-2011, 08:46 PM

Havent posted a pic for a long time, but thought this one was acceptable.

Not enough data due to "issues", plus a hot night with thermal "issues". 23deg at 12am on Saturday.

Canon 1000d on a 8" GSO F4.

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #2 03-01-2011, 10:21 PM

Nice one Trevor! Great tracking, and framing.

Hagar (Doug) · #3 03-01-2011, 10:26 PM

Quite a nice image Trevor. Alnitak is a big bright bugger isn't it. I have to agree with you that more exposure is required but it's so hard with an uncooled camera on 23 degree nights to get ahead of the thermal noise. Well done.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #4 04-01-2011, 06:46 AM

Thanks Paul, it was a good a weekend up there, great to have you along for the ride. Tracking was one of my "issues" I was getting field rotation on my 10 min subs, so I threw away nearly 2 hours of data.

I think the framing though is what I like about it best.

Thanks Doug, thermal noise is my real killer, anything above 15deg ambient and this Canon suffers, above 20deg and it gets killed. I actually like Alnitak in it, makes framing easier as you can see it through liveview, but it also add some fantastic colour with its instense blue/white wash.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 04-01-2011, 06:59 AM

Lovely pic Trevor.
My 550d is affected very badly by thermal noise too. Much more so compared to my 20d. Looks like I'll be limited to 3 min subs during Summer. Dang.

multiweb (Marc) · #6 04-01-2011, 08:18 AM

Not bad at all. More data needed but it looks real nice already.

The blue glow around bright stars tells me transparency might not have been optimal but focus is very good and your field lokks real good now.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #7 04-01-2011, 12:10 PM

That's not bad Trev, nice composition and colours, nice job.

It must be hard without cooling, funny I was only thinking on Sat night at the start of my imaging session just how lucky I am, it was still over 26C at 9.45pm but I was still able to get down to -30C which matches the only complete dark set I have in my library, had I not been able to get there I would have had to do a whole new set when I got home

So I have plenty of crap to go through taking my rig out everytime to do my imaging but this aspect, at least, is a saving grace I guess.

I hope you are able to get some cooling sometime soon

Mike

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #8 04-01-2011, 02:40 PM

Thanks Mike, Mark and JJJ. My fairy godfather (i dont think he would like being called a fairy

) has indicated I should be keeping my cool soon.

I grabbed 1.5 hrs in 10min subs, but they showed elongated stars as soon as i was off zenith. What I stacked was 2x 7 and 2x 10 min subs. Maybe should have left it at 5mins and grabbed more. I think I was just being greedy

.

In winter it is fine noise is fine, but as soon was the ambient rises above 15deg, noise becomes really apparent.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #9 04-01-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

, had I not been able to get there I would have had to do a whole new set when I got home

Mike

Yeah, but how hard is that

1) Connect camera
2) Set temp
3) Press button

I am sure I could get my son Anthony to do that.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #10 04-01-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Yeah, but how hard is that

1) Connect camera
2) Set temp
3) Press button

I am sure I could get my son Anthony to do that.

...

1) 5am, after an all nighter, pack everything away in car wet
2) 6.00am drive tired 60min home (stop and have a pie at the servo)
3) 7.00am unpack car drag everything inside wet and layout everything on the dinning table to dry
4) 8.00am Sleep.....
5) 12pm wake and endure scowls from SWMBO about the lounge looking like BINTEL after a flood.
6) 12.30pm To avoid divorce, and while still rooted, pack everything away into respective boxes and tubs and carry downstairs where they are stored.. except camera, cables and laptop
7) 1.00pm Connect it all up on the cleared dinning table, boot up computer and open applications and fill in fields etc...
8) 1.15pm take 10 darks at the lower temp = about 100min
9) transfer all files onto memory stick to use on main home computer
10) 3pm shut down computer, disconnect and pack everything away and put with everything else downstairs...

......

When I get home from an allnighter and after little sleep the last thing I wanna have to do is setup any more gear again inside = thank God I have an FLI camera

Geoff45 (Geoff) · #11 04-01-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

...

1) 5am, after an all nighter, pack everything away in car wet
2) 6.00am drive tired 60min home (stop and have a pie at the servo)
3) 7.00am unpack car drag everything inside wet and layout everything on the dinning table to dry
4) 8.00am Sleep.....
5) 12pm wake and endure scowls from SWMBO about the lounge looking like BINTEL after a flood.
6) 12.30pm To avoid divorce, and while still rooted, pack everything away into respective boxes and tubs and carry downstairs where they are stored.. except camera, cables and laptop
7) 1.00pm Connect it all up on the cleared dinning table, boot up computer and open applications and fill in fields etc...
8) 1.15pm take 10 darks at the lower temp = about 100min
9) transfer all files onto memory stick to use on main home computer
10) 3pm shut down computer, disconnect and pack everything away and put with everything else downstairs...

......

When I get home from an allnighter and after little sleep the last thing I wanna have to do is setup any more gear again inside = thank God I have an FLI camera

It would save a bit of time if you could get SWMBO to give a hand.
Geoff

h0ughy (David) · #12 04-01-2011, 06:08 PM

LOL Geoff,

love the image framing and colors, but its a pity you couldnt get longer to image it? As for Mikes imaging saga - if it were my missus - the axe would fall......on expensive gear