M27 Dumbell Nebula

[Striker (Tony)]

Hi Folks.

I had a go at the Dumbell which I thought I couldn't get from my house...firstly I thought it was too low in the northern sky and that trees would be in the way....well I was wrong....the neb just skimmed the top of the trees...so here it is.

Canon 20DA 30 x 30 second exposures all at 3200 ISO...unguided....stacked with K3CCD and cropped and edited in Photodeluxe. SCT Prime focus at F10 2800MM FL.

[Iddon]

beautiful Tony - yeah - that 20A sure does the job. What have you mounted that C11 on ??

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

That's just not fair Damn fine shot tony

[Striker (Tony)]

Grant....have it on a EQ6 with skyscan....but I am having problems at the moment.

I am taking the mount and skyscan into Star Optics next week for a full test....getting weird gearing sounds and the skyscan locks up but this could be due to the Mount.

[Iddon]

man you have set a fine standard there.
I am planning to get started with my Lx200 and 300D in piggyback next week. Small steps

[tornado33]

great image there sharp stars.
With the mount, it may just need a good degreasing and re lubricating. Ive pulled my Sampson mount apart and fully degreased and cleaned the bearings and relubed it (with a mix of oil and grease not just grease to lower friction) It moves so smoothly now. In fact I mixed some friction modified additive with the oil about 50-50, then smeared plenty of that along with some grease, in the needle roller RA bearings and dec sleeve bearing. I flushed out the dec motor gearbox and filled it with a mix of oil and grease, it runs very quietly

[h0ughy (David)]

Striker, great image there mate! Sorry to hear about your mount, especially since i have bought one! I am having mine fully serviced by BATSC and they is going to fit the Skyscan I have just bought and get things right (I hope?). What do you think made the mount not function properly? the software?

[iceman (Mike)]

Beautiful Tony, I can't believe how good your results are after such a short time.

[Striker (Tony)]

Thanks Guys,

Houghy I think it may have more to do with the mount gearing and not the skyscan.

I'm hopeing the mount just need a good service....as mentioned above.

keep you posted on and findings after next week.

[h0ughy (David)]

thanks tony, only two weeks to go before I get mine. Then I have to learn how to polar align! maybe one day I will get some shots as good as what you post!

[Robby]

Real nice Tony,
I tried this last night, but it's just too low for us here. Trees & light pollution get in the way. Great work!
Cheers

[ving (David)]

[atalas]

Good shot Tony !

Louie

[Striker (Tony)]

I would like to show everyone for comparison what you can do just through photography...obvioulsy I'm still a noob but thats not my point.

This has completely blown me away at what you can achieve through long or short length exposure photography even in light polution.

Below I have posted 2 pictures of the Dumbell...1 is the stacked version as you have seen processed and the other is a approximete view I get of the same target visualy....as you can see...I can barely make out the Dumbell visualy but are amazed at what photgraphy can bring out...anyway I just wanted to share this incase some of you out there believe that light polution is huge draw back.

I showed this to my friend who thought that the pictures I have been taken could be seen as good through the scope...lol

[ving (David)]

gee! you have some major light pollution dont you!
I can see it clearly from my place.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Great shot Tony. There is a lot of colour in the background stars. Is this as a result of processing, or is there a huge number of orange/red stars in that part of the sky!?

[Striker (Tony)]

Your asking me Rod.....lol...as if I would know...I'm a noob...lol

It could be processing but I really dont play around with a lot of color...just enhance what is their.