More 6 inch F3.6 Schmidt Newt shots

[tornado33]

Howdy.
Heres some mote images through my 6 inch scope with modded 350D camera last night and early this morning

Eagle nebula 2x5 mins
Omega Nebula 2x5 mins
Running Chicken nebula 5x5 mins
Lagoon and Triffid, 2x5 mins
M42 4x5 mins
Eta carina Nebula 4x5 mins
All with MPCC coma corrector, and Baader UHCS filter, and at ISO 200
All flatfielded and dark subtracted in IRIS final finishing in Photoshop.
Conditions somewhat windy ( doesnt bother the 6 as much as my 10 inch scope).

[avandonk]

If you can do all of that in one night with a 550mm F3.6, I shudder at the thought of what you could do with a 300mm F2.8 http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/i...ons/icon12.gif.

Bert

[h0ughy (David)]

WOW, who's been a busy boy Eh! very nice SCott

[ving (David)]

you seem to be really enjoyingthat lil' scope!
great pics!!

[tornado33]

Hehehe thanks all.
Yes the 300MM f2.8 will much more easily frame in the Lagoon and Helix nebulae, plus some other fainter nebulae ive emarked for imaging within the milky way area in upcoming imaging sessions.
Scott

[Robby]

Lovely shots Scott. Excellent FOV.

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

Very very nice shot Scott. Can I ask what functions did you use in Photoshop? Since it is a fast scope, I thought it wouldnt make that big difference if the shots were taken 2 minutes nor 5 minutes?
Another question is it because your 350d makes it widefield? sorry for all newbie questions still learning from you keep up the great work scott. Love your photos.

[vespine]

I'm actually a big fan of these photos, I think they are excellent. They are really amazing but yet they still look like "photos of the sky"!

No offence to the guys who do the type of photos that make it into APOD, they are absolutely spectacular, but those photos imho don't anymore look like "just photos of the sky" if you know what I mean, they look like precisely, painstakingly and masterfully processed and coaxed images, which puts them into a different league.

These pics here are about as good "photos of the sky" as I have ever seen, so sharp and precise but still extremert REAL, I find that extremely impressive, great work!

[PhotonCollector (Paul)]

Geeday Scott,

Wow - did you stay up all night ? That's a wonderful collection of images. I deemed it too windy but obviously that doesn't bother your little 'scope. Well done Scott - all top images.

Paul

[tornado33]

Thanks
I initially planned to have a fiddle under the moonlight for only a short time then go to bed and get up later, but one thing led to another and I stayed up all night. This darn astro imaging is addictive. Using the 6 inch is nice too, as its more forgiving of the guiding and at F3.6 I need only go for 5 mins max each shot with UHCS filter in. Mind you, focussing is NOT forgiving at all, I now know its best to do a shorter test image and carefully examine it under full magnification before proceeding any further.
Scott

[Itchy]

Nice work Scott. Nothing like a fast scope hey?

I know what I have to go through to get critical focus with my F4. What helps me is a 6:1 reduction drive on the focuser. You have done very well to get your f3.6 scope focused so well.

Cheers

[tornado33]

Thanks Tony
I have a small magnifier that clips onto the viewfinder, I got it as an acessory to my old Canon T70. Its called the Magnifier S
http://www.majid.info/mylos/weblog/2003/07/06-1.html
Why they discontinued it I will never know, it wasnt that dear even as new and is VERY handy for focussing on stars, if you can pick up one off Ebay its well worth it.
Scott