M16

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

Had two great nights where the weather held and I actually wasn't at work!!! Lots of imaging done and now I just have to do all the processing. Here is the first.

Bit of a classic but my first time taking a pic of it.

Object M16
Date Taken: 24 April 2012
Telescope: GSO RC10 CF
Aperture: 254 mm F8
Telescope Mount Model: Skywatcher EQ6PRO
Camera Model: QHY10
Frames: 24 x 8min, 15 x 8 min Darks + 15 Bias No Flats
Integration Time: 3hrs 12min
Guiding Method: SSAG (Maxim DL)
Bortle Scale Zone: 4

Large image http://www.pbase.com/paulstorey/image/142897710

MaximDL5, CCDStack2, PS4

Thanks for looking, Advice most welcome.

All the best Paul

[TrevorW]

It only gets harder from here

keep at it Paul

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

It only gets harder from here

keep at it Paul

Thanks Trevor, I don't know if thats encouragement or a warning

It's already been a lot of work to get here!

All the best

Paul

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Very nice image!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very nicely done indeed. Gorgeous colours.

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Very nice image!

Originally Posted by multiweb

Very nicely done indeed. Gorgeous colours.

Thanks Guys.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Thats pretty cool Paul,

I would love to get a result like that, the F8 focal length gets you in nice and close....!

Lovely.

Cheers

Chris

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Screwdriverone

Thats pretty cool Paul,

I would love to get a result like that, the F8 focal length gets you in nice and close....!

Lovely.

Cheers

Chris

Thanks Chris,


I'm still comming to terms with the gear. I bit off quite a bit and the more practice I can get the better the pics should be. The F8 gets you in nice and close where you can hunt up some detail. I have my ED127 and ED80 for the wide stuff

all the best

Paul

[TrevorW]

Hi Paul

Not a warning, try repo number 26 because as you progress your processing skills will improve and like all artists you are never happy with the final result

as an example

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylotia...7624373886734/ done 2 years ago nearly

the same data processed recently

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylotia...ream/lightbox/


similar scale to your image taken through an RC8

[alpal]

That's a very good M16.

I wonder if the pic would be a lot sharper if you had a better mount?
I have an EQ6 as well (which I modified ) & it is really
not that good for longer focal lengths.
I am using an 8" f6 Newt & I think I'm at the limits.

I wouldn't mind upgrading to a better mount & camera but I'm waiting
for this La Nina weather to go first.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

The EQ6 isn't at its limits with a CF RC10 at all alpal! My setup is far heavier than that and it handles it in its sleep sure you cant image in Beaufort 5 winds but hey....

If you don't believe me just look at my website, all taken on the trusty white...."stallion"

[alpal]

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

The EQ6 isn't at its limits with a CF RC10 at all alpal! My setup is far heavier than that and it handles it in its sleep sure you cant image in Beaufort 5 winds but hey....

If you don't believe me just look at my website, all taken on the trusty white...."stallion"

Hi Brendan
I looked at your website - some top photos!

A Newt. has quite a surface area & leverage when hit by any wind,
but it's the problem of disturbance causing an oscillation combined
with the dampening factor.
That disturbance can be from just guiding the mount.
Backlash combined with large periodic error compared to a high end mount means you aren't guiding
close to the resolution of possible top seeing conditions.

I actually modified my EQ6 to have an astro-physics counter weight bar which screws into the holder
& was a great improvement.
Just grab the standard counter weight bar when the mount & bar is unloaded
& watch it wobble up & down.

I think the PE in most EQ6s is about 30 arc seconds whereas
a high end mount is below 5 .
Less guiding commands means less disturbance & a smoother ride.

An EQ6 inside an observatory where no wind can hit the OTA
would be a big improvement & so would a pier.

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

Originally Posted by alpal

That's a very good M16.

I wonder if the pic would be a lot sharper if you had a better mount?

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

The EQ6 isn't at its limits with a CF RC10 at all alpal! My setup is far heavier than that and it handles it in its sleep sure you cant image in Beaufort 5 winds but hey....

Originally Posted by alpal

I think the PE in most EQ6s is about 30 arc seconds whereas
a high end mount is below 5 .
Less guiding commands means less disturbance & a smoother ride.

An EQ6 inside an observatory where no wind can hit the OTA
would be a big improvement & so would a pier.

I have seen Brendan's mount and setup on many occassions and he is the master at whipping them into submission. He has also given mine a tune up that stopped a considerable amount of wobble.

Currently I'm about to start using an Orion Steady Star on the setup and I'm hoping that there should be some improvement.

Observatory ... Roll off roof on my shed in the planning stage.
Pier ... Goes with the observatory
Better Mount ... In discussion with the War Office and may be on Birthday/Santa's list.

All the best

Paul

[alpal]

Paul,

Better Mount ... In discussion with the War Office and may be on Birthday/Santa's list.

Me too - I'm also looking at a potential dark site.
cheers
Alpal

[Ross G]

Nice photo Paul.

Great detail.

Ross.

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Ross G

Nice photo Paul.

Great detail.

Ross.

Thanks Ross