May Challenge Image - IC2602

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the May Imaging Challenge. Please post your deep-space images of IC2602 in this thread. Discussions about the images can also be in this thread.

Please ensure the image obeys the image posting guidelines when you attach them.

For observation reports and sketches of the object, see the "Space & Astronomy Talk" forum.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

here's half of the Southern Pleiades, with an ETX 70 and an Atik 1c. If the cloud ever clears I will try and get the other three bright stars and mosaic, but for the moment this is what I got

four 20 second images stacked in registax.Photoshopped and Neated,

(The Atik simply doesnt have a wide enough field of view to capture the whole cluster in one image)

(yes, the penny must have dropped, I am trying to attempt the entire May challenge with an ETX 70 ! ...go the little scopes! I call this my May cruxade-crux being of course the smallest constellation)

I got some really funny looks when I set up my ETX 70 at the SPSP..talk about aperture snobbery..but you know what , so far I have imaged three of the May image challenge objects with the ETX

PS is there any one else in this forum who will admit to owning an ETX 70?

[iceman (Mike)]

Nice one seeker, it is quite a challenge to image them all with the ETX70.

What causes the big blue halo around the stars?

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Halos around stars is a constant problem with this short tube achromat.

this image was taken with an IR filter-usually there is a red halo and the star bloating is more noticeable. Now it is still pronounced but slightly reduced from what I have come to expect.

Dont know if I can manage all the challenge objects -especially Thors Helmet-but it is fun to try.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Ok here is IC 2602 with a canon 300D and a C8 NGT

single 5 minute guided exposure @ISO 200
processed in photoshop and resized for posting

[iceman (Mike)]

Now you're talking! That's a really great shot.. Easy to see why they call it the southern pleiades..

On another note, I think you need to look at the optics on your scope. The bright stars show evidenece of either being out of collimation, or astigmatism due to pinched optics.

The diffraction spikes look ok but the flare from around the star jets off to one side more than the other. That's very similar to what I experienced visually.

Have you checked either of the above? Once you sort out that problem, your images will be spectacular.

A very nice shot Narayan, well done.

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Hi Mike;

I know you have mentioned it before and JohnB (ausastronomer) suggested it may be my secondary out of whack

I know the true astrophotographers out there-people like Bird -check collimation every imaging session so I have been slack ..

Narayan

[iceman (Mike)]

I'd definitely check your secondary.. but also your primary.. have you had the mirror out yet to check the clips?

[ving (David)]

i was considering an etx 70 at one stage...

well done with the pic

[atalas]

Thats nice seeker !


Louie