Helix

[Zuts]

Hi Guys

This is taken from Glebe under a near full moon. This time I used my Astronomic UHC filter and found a gigantic dust bunny during processing. Also there was a lot of gradient. So I created a synthetic flat and also used gradientXterminator.

Not real happy with the night, tried for about 3 hours to get Pempro working, then tried Ha narrowband on M20 but just couldnt get guiding working. I nearly gave up but thought I would give the Helix a go, got 3 and a bit subs and then my batteries ran out .

Anyway

3 by 600 sec subs, darks plus flats, UV/IR block, Astronomic UHC
TV85, TV 0.8 reducer on EQ6, self guided with SBIG 2000 XCM
Levels and Curves PS2, Sum combine in Maxim
GradientXterminator, Synthetic flat, neatimage
40 % compression, reduced to 1024px.

Thanks for looking, any comments appreciated.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Geez thos sort of nights give me the shizzle dits!

As long as you were out in the cold and dark with a scope and camera...woohoo!

What time is the Helix rising at the moment by the way?

Mike

[Zuts]

Hi Mike,

Well my battery gave up around 4.30 and it was pretty low when I started the run so maybe 2am?

Anyway, the point is I got something and had some fun processing, never created a synthetic flat before and fist use of gradientXterminator. So its all good, except for the bit about the cold

Paul

[bluescope]

Good shot considering only 18 mins or so exposure Paul. I can't wait till the Helix rises a bit earlier ay .... it gets hard to concentrate by 4am or so !

Ofcourse when this object rises earlier we'll be waiting 'till late for other targets and so on and so on and so on .....

[Ric]

Nice capture Paul, I have yet to try for this target this year. It's always a good target to have under your belt.

Cheers

[jase (Jason)]

Darn, that's a bad buzz Paul. Hopefully you'll sort out your woes to boost imaging productivity soon. You were on the right path with the Robofocus to increase efficiencies. Perhaps ditch Pempro for a while or try it out at home next full moon when imaging is limited. At least you've got something to show for your efforts. I think we've all gone through this mate...Its what astrophotographers call character building. Keep at it.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by bluescope

Good shot considering only 18 mins or so exposure Paul. I can't wait till the Helix rises a bit earlier ay .... it gets hard to concentrate by 4am or so !

Ofcourse when this object rises earlier we'll be waiting 'till late for other targets and so on and so on and so on .....

Thanks Steve,

One problem is I was spoiled by the week before when I went dark sky. Back in Glebe and the LP leaves me feeling humph............

I am hanging out for Orion, the horsehead, XMAS tree, M42, last time i only had an unmodded 300D, this time

Originally Posted by Ric

Nice capture Paul, I have yet to try for this target this year. It's always a good target to have under your belt.

Cheers

Sure is Ric. Want to try it again with more data as I dont think its complete unless you get the central 'eyeball'.

Originally Posted by jase

Darn, that's a bad buzz Paul. Hopefully you'll sort out your woes to boost imaging productivity soon. You were on the right path with the Robofocus to increase efficiencies. Perhaps ditch Pempro for a while or try it out at home next full moon when imaging is limited. At least you've got something to show for your efforts. I think we've all gone through this mate...Its what astrophotographers call character building. Keep at it.

Lol, I've already forgotten about it. Pempro will sort itself out evenually, next time i think i will just use the reticle and grab some good data

Cheers
Paul

[bluescope]

I'm particularly looking forward to IC434 HorseHead coming around. I imaged it when I first got my ST2000XCM but I had a dud cable so had to use track and accumulate mode in CCDOPS. This time I have self guiding happening and I hope to nail the little sucker !

p.s. I get the LP humphs where I am as well mate

Cheers

[Alchemy (Clive)]

That must be the first ive seen for the season, a lovely object the helix, ive never captured it well yet as i didnt have a Ha capable camera at the time. looking forward to having go (looking forward to just getting out its been sooo cloudy in Melbourne)