simmo39

Not a gallaxy man myself but this is stunning, congrats to you both.

24 minutes ago, MartinB said:

I think this is a lovely result.  You've avoided the temptation to push the data to pull out all the faint wisps and the result is a delicate natural looking image.  Superb work Andy.

Thank you Martin, you are very kind. Think it still needs work.

20 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Yes that is a lovely image 🙂 

Steve

Thank you steve.

Here is my go at the veil, I have done the bits of the veil before but with my SW 72ED I found that I could just squeze it all in. The framing is not the best and there is alittle tilt in the corner but overall Im pleased with this version. I may end up doing a few more but dont we all.lol. 

50 x 240 Ha

32 x Oiii

Any hints and tips most welcome.

Thanks for lookng

Andy

Just luv it, very rich.

Nice start.

Hi Rodd, both fine images but the top one does have the edge.

16 hours ago, MartinB said:

If you are after planetary nebs and galaxies I think you could do with something a little larger.  It is a little over your stated budget but "about" £1000 might give you a little leeway but a skywatcher ED pro 120 would be excellent for PNs and larger galaxies.  It would also be comfortably manageable for your HEQ5

Thanks for the pointer, I will have a look.

22 hours ago, Rob Sellent said:

Let us know how you get along

Will do, decisions decisions.

Another Wow image! just luv it.

14 hours ago, JamesF said:

I'm inclined to agree.

Also, I have the f/6 Photoline 72.  The field is obviously a long way from flat even with an IMX174 sensor.  If the 102 is anything like the same then with your 1600MM you will almost certainly need the flattener or flattener/reducer that goes with it.  That may be an issue however as I seem to recall @alan potts posting recently about internal reflection problems with one of the TS flatteners.  It would be worth doing a bit of research there, certainly.

In terms of build quality though, I really like the Photoline 72.  I'd hope the 102 is similar.

James

Thanks for the pointer James.

9 hours ago, alan potts said:

Yes I indeed had a problem with my APM 115mm and a 379Red flattener, I am not totally sure we ever got to bottom of it, there was some paint off the inside of this flattener which I covered but the reflection continued after, it seem to go away though. Now though because I cannot get a 2 inch IR/UV filter in the optic path I have tended not to use it with my 071 camera. I did take a number of shots with my other camera 183MC and also with the same flattener. I never saw any internal reflection problem on these few hunderd subs, so what the issue was I don't know.

Alan

Hi Alan, I have already got a 279Red flattener for use with mt SW 72ED and have vfound it very good, No problems with reflections so hopefully it will be ok with what ever scope I get.

8 hours ago, Trikeflyer said:

I have an Altair starwave 80mm Ed and that has 53 glass - it cost more than the 102 above so I think yes this must be 51 glass. 

Here is the 53 glass version

https://www.altairastro.com/Starwave-102ED-FPL53-Refractor.html

Steve 

Hi Steve, I had seen that but the item has been unavailable for a long time. If it ever came into stock I would consider it.

7 hours ago, Rob Sellent said:

The Ascent 102ED F7 seems to be very similar to TS Optics 102ED, the Astro Tech 102ED, the Lunt 102ED, the StellarVue 102ED, and the Orion 102. These scopes appear to use FPL-51 or H-FK-61 ED glass. No idea what that is but a little hunting suggests it "mimics FPL-51 ...but is considerably less costly." There's a nice review on the Ascent type scopes here. Other links of interest might include: Choosing Between WO ZS103, SV102 Access and TS-Optics PhotoLine 102mm, New Ts 102 F/7 apo etc.

With a little sleuth work, you should be able to find a wealth of info on these scopes

Thanks Rob for the links.

2 hours ago, Limerick John said:

I have the Zenithstar 103. It's a nice instrument and gives very pleasing views, especially on wide field stuff. Nice sharp optics. Its a bit more expensive that the others but the fit and finish are very good. I suspect the optics are similar to the other scopes mentioned but in FL53.

Not mad about the focuser though. I haven't tried any astrophotography with it yet . Like yourself, I got it to complement my 72mm Megrez refractor.

Thanks for the reply John, I luv the look of the scope and the FL 53 glass is a boon.

44 minutes ago, John said:

The TS and the Altair scopes are probably the same item under different brandings with slightly different detailing.

 

Hi John, I was wondering about that. I cant find what glass the Altair use. The TS say they use 53 glass but cant find anything to say what the Altair use.

Hi Joejaguar. Thanks for the reply. The sw72 works well but for small stuff it's really pushing it. Think a bit more aperture would help and with a focal reducer it would be ideal. 

V nice, Im working on my own version of the veil at the moment. Hope it comes out as good as this.

In the near future Im looking for a scope to compliment my SW 72ED. I luv my SW 72ED wider field views and it works well with my Zwo 1600mm. Im looking for a scope that will do a good job on Planetary nebs and gallaxies. I have a belt modded HEQ5 and dont want to overload it to much. Im looking at spending about £1000. I have done a little resarch and have drawn a short list of scopes.

TS optics Photoline 102

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p9868_TS-Optics-PhotoLine-102mm-f-7-FPL-53-Doublet-Apo-with-2-5--Focuser.html

William Optics Zenithstar 103

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/william-optics/william-optics-zenithstar-103-apo.html

and the cheaper outsider

Ascent 102ED F7

https://www.altairastro.com/ASCENT-102ED-F7-Refractor-Telescope-Geared-Focuser.html

Whats your opinion on these and is there any others I should consider? Im only after a good imaging scope and although I have a SW 130 PDS I would like to move away from reflectors as I have found the SW 72ED so easy to use.

Thanks Andy

Taking subs in between showers and a fall moon was not fun but I felt the need to get something done. A lot more data is need ( isnt it always! ) but with what little i got im happy with the results so far. I will get more as soon as I can as I seem to be lacking a lot of Sii.

24 x 240 Ha,  28 x 240 Oiii and 20 x Sii all at unity gain taken with my SW 72 ed.

So here is the redo, a little better I think

and the original

The final image is alittle pale but i do like the detail.

Hints and tips welcome.

.Thanks Rodd. Your wall pic looks amazing, I checked the double star on mine and you can only just make it out,

9 minutes ago, Allinthehead said:

I really like this. The muted tones are very pleasing on the eye.

Thank you, I have been trying to lay off the stretch button.

2 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

I love PI. Still don't know how to use 90% of it mind and have to follow some instructions everytime to ensure I don't miss a step but I like the layout and what it can achieve even with  less than perfect data. It takes some learning but the results are worth the effort. I have used Nebulosity for a while and actually really like that and find it easy to use but it is a bit limited. However I do like it's alignment  and preprocessing and still often use it then use PI to stretch and get the detail out. That's probably because I can use it quickly and will probably move to PI only as I learn it.

I was a bit wary about the cost of PI originally but then thought that we often don't bat an eyelid at paying £1000+ for a scope or camera but without the processing software these are useless so took the plunge and have never regretted it. 🙂  

Steve 

Had PI for a few years but still find new things about it. Dont think i will ever be able to say I know how to use it properly but i do like it a lot.

Wow, just luv this pic.

Bright! but v nice.

5 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Nice image.

I think the framing for that fov is fine. Very similar to my first NB image taken a few weeks ago and I had almost the exact same framing, 

What did you use to process it?

Steve

Hi Steve, thanks. I think it was your pic that set me off onto doing this one. Im using PI as my one stop for all things, never got on with PS and not willing to pay there price for something i dont own. 

Hi all, this is my attempt at NGC 7000 and some of it taken using  guide camera and PHD2. I can hear you sayying so what! well Im or was one of those SW synguider users ( The dark side! ) but after attempts to make things a little easier for my poor back and eye ( only got one goodish eye ) I bite the bullit and using my colour planet camera had ago with PHD. A bit of a faf at first and have no idea what the graph is telling me but was happy to see 240s subs coming out ok. Think I will have to invest in a mono guide camera and get rid of my trusty Synguider. 

Any way here is my go at NGC7000 with my SW 72 ED and zwo 1600. Ha is 35 subs Oiii 25 and Sii 25 all at 240sec and unity gain.

Framing is a little off again ( struggling with gettig each set of subs on to the same part of the sensor ) but overall Im fairly happy with the result.

Thanks for looking and hints and tips welcome.

V nice. Nothing wrong with the colours to my eyes.

8 hours ago, peter shah said:

super shot.... I really like the FOV

8 hours ago, peter shah said:

super shot.... I really like the FOV

Thank you both.

2 hours ago, Brian28 said:

Nice detail in the nebula .. and I like the colours .. nice shot 👍

Thank you, I will add to it but not till next year as startig to move behind trees.