NGC 7293 the Helix nebula

[broca (Steve Coates)]

This always seems to be my "go-to" nebula when I am trying to knock the rust off the gear and get back into imaging and processing mode. This is my first time combining Ha and OIII data using the QSI wsg-8 and first time using OAG. It only took troubleshooting the Gemini-2 (new FW) and getting the Gemini.net ASCOM driver to behave with the SkyX but here it finally is for this year...
NGC 7293 the Helix nebula
Constellation Aquarius
~700 light years distant
Ha 20min subs totaling 1 hour and 20 minutes.
OIII 20 min subs totaling 2 hours.
QSI 683 wsg-8
Losmandy g11 Gemini II
AT8RC
Taken September 26 and October 5, 2013

[RickS (Rick)]

Looks good, Steve. The Helix works well in bi-colour.

[broca (Steve Coates)]

Thanks Rick. I've imaged this with a DSLR and a 6"RCT, HaRGB through an 80mm refracter and now this with 5nm Ha and 5nm OIII and I think the bi-color is the way to image this target.

[Camknox (Cameron)]

Amazing! I had a crack at this on the weekend just gone but using my unmodified DSLR I only snapped a few 4 minute exposures. It looks like I might need to bump the exposure time up somewhat if I want to capture any detail.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Excellent image Steve, and I totally agree that bi-colour Ha+OIII is the way to go, it's ridiculously faint in SII.