Michael (Tilt) and I had a go at imaging the horsehead recently. We got everything working well (autoguider included) but were clouded out after 5 frames. Also managed to catch a satellite too.
Anyway - heres what we came up with
vixen NA140 refractor and UHCS filter
autoguided Qhy5 4x5min with ICNR and ISO800 (I think) though a C90
Camera: Unmodded 350D
Hopefully better luck with the clouds next time round.
You really want to push for 10 min subs on the horse head..
On to the good things, for only 20 minutes data, thats rather good indeed! Guiding looks very nice and I must say, for an Achromat that refractor has produced a very nice image with no signs of chromatic aberration.
Well done, And best of luck next time you have clear skies!
Yes, we were aiming for around an hours worth but unfortunately it didnt turn out that way. Maybe we can add some more frames at a later time. The refractor and the UHCS appear to be a good match with the filter cutting out most of the chromatic abberation very well.
Certainly happy overall for a first attempt. Just have to fix those clouds!
Nice image David. Could do with a bit more exposure but you have managed the colour well between the HH area and the Flame colour. Add some more exposure time and you will have a very nice image.
Well done.
We can have another go at HH tomorrow night. Knock the ISO back to 400 and push the subs out to 10 mins (hope PHD plays nice ). I'm sure the heat will keep us on our toes with the noise levels, could really go a cooled CCD right now rather than a DSLR
I vote keep the ISO at 800, and push to 10 minute subs.. yes noise will be an issue, but take darks, that will help alot... ICNR will take darks at the same temp as the light, which might make things better... ISO400 @ 10 mins will give roughly the same result (in signal) to ISO800 @ 5mins. You really want more signal, so I'd push for 10min ISO800 with ICNR or darks shot at nearly the same temperature, get as many as you can, and then after you stack them, layer in the 5x5min subs you have from this attempt.
Crazy amount of noise, plus not to mention there is probably additional data hiding in this image somewhere, any comments on how bring it to life would be great
Failing the cooled DSLR a cold beer! 7pm and 37 degrees outside tonight in Canberra.
How's this....kill two birds with one stone. Setup a series of hollow tubes with small copper radiator fans in a block that you can attach next to the CCD chip and have one end connected to a plastic tube running into a refrigerated barrel of beer. Have the other end connected to a plastic tube with a mouthpiece you can suck out of or have a small pump attached to.
Keeps the camera cool whilst you enjoy a drop.....or 16!!!!!
Just did a bit of jiggery pokery on your pic....didn't do too much. Tried to get more out of it but ended up making the noise worse (don't have the plugins, yet, for mac). However, did this....changed levels a bit (black to 31, gamma to 0.65, white at 255) and ran an unsharped mask over it (radius = 20.7, amount = 0.67 and threshold of 53). Also did some pokery on the curves. Hope you like it
Here is some more processing on our image the other night.
I like the dual function idea of the beer cooled DSLR. It would be a wonderful invention and help on those nights when you cant get things working to plan.
Thanks for all the comments. I think agree the image needs to be a little darker - it does add to the appeal of the contrast of the horsehead.
David that's a very fine effort indeed and at only 20 mins, you've done well.
Sorry for the confusion there Andrew, that particular horsehead that David posted yesterday is 6 x 10mins @ ISO800. The old 350D sorely needs to be sent to Eric for some modding
But I agree anyway, more subs. Another few hours of lights would have been good.
). I'm sure the heat will keep us on our toes with the noise levels, could really go a cooled CCD right now rather than a DSLR 
. 
