Mr Puff

[Peter Ward]

It's a bit nippy out at the moment!

Hence this one, like Disney's Song of the South, is from "the vault", an old classic made new again, regardless of current PC sensitivities

Given a recent post of NGC 6188... a few of my memory cells fired up.. and my visual cortex said Gee that looks familiar.

In this orientation the image reminds me of Mount Vesuvius (aka Mr Puff) letting off some pyroclastic flow. (residents of Pompeii should not view this image)

The link is here

uploaded at 2/3rd's resolution from it's native 4k x 4k format.

3 Hours of data re-processed in PixInsight and Photoshop CC 2018.

[gregbradley]

Looks great. I like the framing. That twisty vortex is very photogenic.

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Looks great. I like the framing. That twisty vortex is very photogenic.

Greg.

Thanks Greg. Getting NB data with an FSQ is not difficult. Point. Shoot. Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot. x 20

Interestingly the raw data shows many square stars...i.e.under sampled.

I find imaging at 3300mm much more challenging...and rewarding

[Atmos (Colin)]

When I first looked at the high res I though "geez that Alluna has gotten soft" and then realised it was only 4" of aperture

Great wide field though! I thought you'd have used your AP after the comparison test you did between them a few months back.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Atmos

When I first looked at the high res I though "geez that Alluna has gotten soft" and then realised it was only 4" of aperture

Great wide field though! I thought you'd have used your AP after the comparison test you did between them a few months back.

I didn’t use the AP as it had not arrived when I captured this data in late 2016 with my FSQ.

The FSQ is currently languishing in its case....sure, they are a remarkably well corrected uber wide field instrument and they work very well in that role (yes, duh, that’s hardly a revelation. )

But as you point out, the resoltion from a 4” refractor is not earth shattering.

Perhaps it’s the “vibe”.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Thanks Greg. Getting NB data with an FSQ is not difficult. Point. Shoot. Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot.Point. Shoot. x 20

Interestingly the raw data shows many square stars...i.e.under sampled.

I find imaging at 3300mm much more challenging...and rewarding

Yes square stars can be a slight issue. I haven't done it myself, but intend to,
drizzling should handle that. Or a smaller pixel camera but then you start losing field of view.

FSQ's though are a bit of a bear to keep focused. A good mastery of FocusMax or a good temperature compensation would make life easier.

I wonder if those thermal blankets like AP uses on the Honders would help?

Which AP did you get that is being referred to? An AP130 GTX?

Greg.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Yes square stars can be a slight issue. I haven't done it myself, but intend to,
drizzling should handle that. Or a smaller pixel camera but then you start losing field of view.

FSQ's though are a bit of a bear to keep focused. A good mastery of FocusMax or a good temperature compensation would make life easier.

I wonder if those thermal blankets like AP uses on the Honders would help?

Which AP did you get that is being referred to? An AP130 GTX?

Greg.

Indeed I fould trying to get focus manually with a STX16803 dangling off the back to be difficult. Hence reverted to adapting my FLI atlas to the Taka, which made focusing a piece of cake.

I’m lucky enough to have a few AP scopes, but yes, it was the arrival of the AP130 GTX with Quad reducer and field flattener that put the FSQ back in its box....which is not to say it won’t get used again, but I’m scratching my head wondering what it can reveal that hasn’t been done already.

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Indeed I fould trying to get focus manually with a STX16803 dangling off the back to be difficult. Hence reverted to adapting my FLI atlas to the Taka, which made focusing a piece of cake.

I’m lucky enough to have a few AP scopes, but yes, it was the arrival of the AP130 GTX with Quad reducer and field flattener that put the FSQ back in its box....which is not to say it won’t get used again, but I’m scratching my head wondering what it can reveal that hasn’t been done already.

Have you done any images with the AP130GTX? This is the model with the front element being air spaced right? I imagine this is a better scope than the FSQ130. Tak seems to struggle with some of their focusers.

Greg.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Lovely image. I need a bigger monitor to appreciate this more though.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Have you done any images with the AP130GTX?
Greg.

Is the Pope a Catholic

Many questions answered here

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Interesting framing, stunning resolution & contrast, nice one

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by Andy01

Interesting framing, stunning resolution & contrast, nice one

Thanks Andy. It’s a fantastic part of the sky that I’d suggest has been best captured in wide field by Martin Pugh to date. I’m tempted to re-shoot the area using the Quad compressor + AP130 combo and get a smidge more resolution ....but that might also mean a mosaic. Decisions, decisions

[multiweb (Marc)]

That looks very good Peter. Pinpoint stars. I also like the framing, never thought of it as a volcano but it makes perfect sense now.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by multiweb

That looks very good Peter. Pinpoint stars.........

Thanks Marc. Yep. I like my stars to actually be in focus

[topheart]

Top shelf data!
Cheers,
Tim

[alpal]

Hi Peter,
that FSQ106 is such a great scope.
There is something about refractors that makes the small aperture worth the money.
A superb picture.


cheers
Allan

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

You have achieved enviable contrast in the fine details Peter.

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Stunning Peter and a different take on a familiar object.