zakky2k

With only limited time before dawn started, I opted for 300s RGB subs, and even then only managed 1 of each... Definitely needs more data! Along with M17, this is the first time I've managed t shoot this object with the QSI and I'm constantly impressed with its capabilties.

I thought I'd try to mix longer (600s) Luminance subs with shorter (300s) RGB data, only to find out that Maxim doesn't seem to allow this! So here's what a single frame looks like from the QSI with only minimal noise reduction

Used a custom FFT setting of 2% for Maxim's digital development tool to bring out the detail of the core whilst retaining the fainter stars around the Hercules cluster. A more pleasing quality of sharpness but lacks the detail that higher levels of FFT give 10x300s

Used a custom FFT setting of 15% for Maxim's digital development tool to bring out the detail of the core whilst retaining the fainter stars around the Hercules cluster. Gives a harder sharpening than the next image (@ 2%) but improves star definition. 10x300s

Somehow I missed this image of M27 when I created the album, and only just came across it in during my 2014 session when comparing my latest attempts with older images. I have to admit that the sensitivity and resolution are very impressive for this tiny camera, revealing almost as much detail as my latest image using the QSI, albeit in a much narrower field of view, and requiring more frames to reduce the noise...

As it took till 2am to set everything up for this trip (and even then with unsatisfactory PA), I decided to re-visit the Dumbell nebula for the remaining hour or so of darkness before dawn started to set-in. The QSI gave the expected wider field of view and using the guider resulted in rounder stars when compared to my previous effort using only the SX Superstar. Due to the lack of time though I decided to go for 300 second exposures, managing only 3 frames per LRGB filter. Ideally I'd like to try again with either 600 or 1200 (20 minute) exposures to capture the faint whisps surrounding this gorgeous object. The dew was horrendous, and in spite of the Kendrick working a full capacity, still the final shots were slightly affected. The QSI set-point temp of -25C was easily reached in spite of the ambient 16C, with the coolers working at 65% capacity.

Only single 600s shot through Luminance filter. Weather prevented me from capturing additional data, bit gives a good idea of what a virtually untouched image from the QSI looks like

High level intermittent cloud hampered my efforts, but I'm still pleased with the results on this fainter galaxy.

An amazingly distant cluster of galaxies featured in this months Sky and Telescope. Although no where near as detailed as the images in the magazine, its nice to know that my equipment can start to capture objects that distant!

Added 10x600 Ha @ 3nm data in an attempt to highlight the star forming regions of this galaxy.

Another crack at processing yielded better results than previous attempts, combined with additional data reduced the noise allowing stronger histogram stretching revealing more of the fainter details.

Wanted to shoot this object for so long! Finally all the pieces of the puzzle came together and the weather allowed 13x300 x LRGB Faint object, so would benefit from longer exposures IMO...

Used Maxim's Digital Development to extend the dynamic range. 10x300s x LRGB

Only 3x300s due to poor conditions

Probably my favorite so far from this December session.