Oh no, not *another* Helix?

LightningNZ (Cam) · #1 01-09-2014, 10:20 PM

Well I had to give it a go of course!

The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293). Planetary nebula in Aquarius. Images 1st Sept 2014.

90 minutes of 3 minute sub-exposures taken with AT65EDQ, IDAS LPF and Nikon D5100 at ISO800. Bias and flat corrected.

I've also attached a crop of the nebula which is stretched to the max. I'm just starting to get a hint of the first outer shell. Given that is taken from my backyard in near-urban Canberra I'm pretty chuffed with how much I'm picking up.

cometcatcher (Kevin) · #2 01-09-2014, 10:24 PM

It must be helix season.

ice shootin even if it is a bit small.

raymo · #3 01-09-2014, 10:26 PM

Your little scope did a mighty job Cam. Very pretty.
raymo

Rex · #4 02-09-2014, 07:52 PM

Nice one Cam. Needs a little more data but great going.

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #5 02-09-2014, 09:59 PM

Nice one Cam, doesn't look very forgiving though if that's 90 minutes of exposure

raymo · #6 03-09-2014, 12:59 AM

Don't forget that Cam is using a tiny scope Dunk. My 8" has ten times the
light gathering power.
raymo

blink138 (Pat) · #7 03-09-2014, 01:14 AM

what lovely round perfect stars, nice cam!
pat

LightningNZ (Cam) · #8 03-09-2014, 04:52 PM

Thank you all. Yes, it's a pea-shooter scope, so not much light gathering power. It also has to contend with my light polluted mag 4 to 4.5 skies. I am using an IDAS filter too which knocks back the light a little.

I can't wait to take this scope to a really dark site.