Another m16

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Hi all,

been chugging away slowly.
Taken through my 10 inch newt mounted on AZEQ6, with Atik 11000. All nicely stored in my backyard observatory, Mirrabooka. (Local indigenous language, meaning Southern Cross)
5 minute subs and about 5 hours of data per channel.
Large version here http://www.astrobin.com/196435/

ANy comments or feedback welcomed.

Thanks for looking

DJ Scotty

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Hi Scott,

It's nice to see a new image from you - glad to know you have not abandoned us

I like a wide range of colours you got in your photo. It seems that your focus or guiding could improve a bit - diffraction spikes ideally should be nice and thin. I think you could experiment with sharpening? The nebula is nice and smooth - but would like it to stand out a bit more. Other than those details, a very nice photo IMO

Hey, I am hoping to regularly see quite a few revisions of this image

Muchos Nachos
S.

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Thanks Slawomir. Managing to pull about 5 hours per night over the last few nights. Been a welcome change.
It's the focus.
Having great difficulty getting a repeatable accurate focus readout with Nebulosity at the moment.
I have the focus motor attached to the fine focus knob of the focuser, so it is very small incremental steps with the focus, but the numbers I get with the fine focus routine in Nebulosity are very (it seems to me) hit asnd miss. It seems to jump all over the place.

If anyone has any suggestions to improve focus other than causing a divorce from buying more equipment, I would love to hear it.

Cheers
DJ Scotty

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

I reckon you could make (or buy) a Bahtinov mask if you have not got one. You can very quickly get good focus with such a mask. I also remember using free software that allows you to fine-tune focus with Bahtinov mask.

In the past I tried using numerical indicators in Nebulosity - it used to take me way too much time to focus in this way and with Bahtinov mask I could/can focus MUCH faster and more precisely.

[lazjen (Chris)]

Hi Scott,

Lots of pretty colours.

Is there a particular reason why you did 5 min subs and not longer?

Also have you tried processing out the magenta stars or is that something you don't worry about?

[RickS (Rick)]

Well done, Scott! Slawomir gave you good advice. A Bahtinov mask is a low cost way to get precise focus.

Cheers,
Rick.

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Slavwomir and Rick.

Thanks very much for the sound advice. I have just finished cutting it out from 3mm foam core. Just waiting for the clouds to disappear.

Thanks Chris. I like magenta stars. Why only 5 minute subs? Well, trying to keep the stars under control. Also helps with the nice round(ish) star shape. Also, I am right under a flight path, so I guess that reduces the risk with stray aeroplanes. I know longer subs would produce greater detail in less time, but I have to admit I am very patient. Don't mind taking more subs. To hark back to my gaming days, that's the way I roll!

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

nice one scotty, great to see you back imaging again, and going all out on colour! i feel like drinking something tropical after that image!
keep them coming!

Rusty

[Rex]

Nice one Scotty. Good to see you back mate.

[tilbrook@rbe.ne (Justin Tilbrook)]

Glad your getting some imaging time Scott!

As the others have said the mask will help a lot with focus. Usually pays to check focus a few times during the imaging session too.

Cheers,

Justin.

[DJScotty (Scott)]

Thanks Justin.
Yeah the bhatinov is working a treat. Also, taking your advice and rechecking every couple of hours.
Look out for some M17 action quite soon!