M20 season

Peter Ward · #1 23-05-2010, 11:24 PM

I was in two minds on even putting this up on the web. The seeing was dreadful, yet despite the very furry looking guide stars, the camera tracked
the action quite well...so here it is.

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery57.html

Straight RGB, just 10 minutes in each channel. Of interest is the minor planet
just off centre, at 9 o'clock to the core of the triffid.

ChrisM · #2 23-05-2010, 11:38 PM

Thanks for posting the pic Peter; it's a very colourful subject. And, I wouldn't half mind if that were my average seeing!

Nice work.

Chris

renormalised (Carl) · #3 24-05-2010, 12:57 AM

You're too hard on yourself there, Peter. Regardless of the seeing, that is a nice image

Tom Davis (Tom) · #4 24-05-2010, 04:15 AM

Nothing wrong with that image. Very beautiful!

Tom

multiweb (Marc) · #5 24-05-2010, 07:52 AM

Wow! Nice shot. Beautiful colors.

Bassnut (Fred) · #6 24-05-2010, 08:47 AM

Top image there Peter, excellent colour all round. The slight softness is attractive, smooth and suits M20.

telecasterguru (Frank) · #7 24-05-2010, 08:55 AM

Very nice image of one of my favourite objects.

Frank

h0ughy (David) · #8 24-05-2010, 09:15 AM

Nice image Peter, noted the minor planet. We havent had good weather for a long while

Peter Ward · #9 24-05-2010, 10:46 AM

Thanks for the positive comments....given the short exposures and fuzzy seeing perhaps not too shabby then?

Have to say this Sydney weather is a bugger (again)...so much cool stuff on the rise, but too much cloud on the horizon.

Might have to go as Fred would say, 'wussy wide field' until the seeing gets better

TrevorW · #10 24-05-2010, 11:59 AM

A fine effort Peter

Hagar (Doug) · #11 24-05-2010, 03:25 PM

Nice image Peter, I can't see too much to grizzle about with this one. Not to sharp which suits M20.

rat156 · #12 24-05-2010, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Nice image Peter, noted the minor planet. We havent had good weather for a long while

Hi Peter,

It's a nice image, I also noticed the "minor planet". Is it a MP or is it a hot pixel that hasn't been cancelled out by the darks. I get the same thing from my subs if the polar alignment is ever so slightly off and you get a bit of field rotation in between subs. Of course it could just be a MP as well, they also look like this. I tried to use one as an alignment star in CCDStack once, which really stuffed the algorith around (as I had also pick a few other real stars).

Cheers
Stuart

Bassnut (Fred) · #13 24-05-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Might have to go as Fred would say, 'wussy wide field' until the seeing gets better

No, you cant do that, thats what everyone else does. The RCOS will hate you for that.

WW is only OK if the other inferior, smaller unmentionable is already bolted on top and ready to go in extreme, crippling seeing emergencies, but it has to be really bad.

Its like like taking the Barina out of the garage when its raining instead of the proper red one, its better just watching TV untill the rain stops.

RobF (Rob) · #14 24-05-2010, 07:27 PM

My beginner's eye is having trouble seeing what's "bad" in here alas Peter. Are you sure you haven't accidentally attached last year's "Fantastic" Triffid?!

Love the colour, and agree with comments slight softness suits M20 nicely (if anything from a 12.5" RCOS can ever be called soft!!)

Bassnut (Fred) · #15 24-05-2010, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobF

12.5" RCOS

umm, no, that would be 14", punk

.

RobF (Rob) · #16 24-05-2010, 07:54 PM

D'oh !!!!

There goes any chance of seeing through Peter's observatory next time I'm in Sydney (or trying to grease a landing in the A380 simulator for that matter)

Peter Ward · #17 24-05-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rat156

It's a nice image, I also noticed the "minor planet". Is it a MP or is it a hot pixel that hasn't been cancelled out by the darks.

The RGB rainbow streak gave it away for me, but to be sure I checked the data with The Sky's image link and MPC database: it is Minor planet (3620) Vizbor...about Mag 16.2 at the time.

Paul Haese · #18 24-05-2010, 09:53 PM

If you had not told me this was ten minutes in each channel I would have thought it was a much greater series of subs. Lovely image and heaps of sharp detail. The STX looks to be a really nice camera. What temp were you running at Peter? I am thinking that it must be around -40C. When you get more clear skies I would like to see a image with increased data. Nice image.

Peter Ward · #19 24-05-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

....The STX looks to be a really nice camera. What temp were you running at Peter? I am thinking that it must be around -40C. .....

The camera was running at -35c and 68% power. But at any temperature the 16803 sensor seems to have less "salt and pepper" than the 11002 series...plus the QE boost toward the red makes 1:1:1 ratio RGB colour exposures very comfortable.

Being able to set the pick-off CCD's focal plane also makes guiding a bit tighter due less bloat in the guide stars. Suffice to say the AO-X is on order..but I suspect still some months off...

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #20 24-05-2010, 10:54 PM

Wish I could do that with a mere 30 mins of data!!! It sure demonstrates the power of aperture! It would take me a few hours of data to replicate this. Colours here are very nice!

Can't comment on the detail though as the res in your presentation is way too coarse.

Cheers, Marcus