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Lee_P

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Posts posted by Lee_P

  1. The weather's been awful lately, so it's taken a long time to produce this image! It's The Flaming Star Nebula, taken using a 2600MC-Pro OSC camera. I image from the centre of a city, so long integration times are a must! This pic is 15 hours of RGB data (Optolong L-Quad Enhance) and 15 hours of Ha/OIII (Optolong L-Ultimate.  More info can be found on my website.

    FlamingStar_v2_fullres.thumb.jpg.a31f8f822c1d0f851647cf8b7457ec69.jpg

     

    * 18 January to 3 March 2024 (6.5 weeks)
    * Bristol, UK (Bortle 8 )
    * Telescope: Askar 130PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
    * Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO
    * Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO
    * Guide: William Optics 50mm Guidescope with 1.25″ RotoLock; ZWO ASI 120MM Mini
    * Control: ASIAIR Plus
    * Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
    * Filters:
    – Optolong L-Quad Enhance (RGB) 180 x 300 seconds (15 hours)
    – Optolong L-Ultimate (Ha/OIII) 180 x 300 seconds (15 hours)

    Total exposure time: 30 hours

    By Lee Pullen

    • Like 13
  2. Here's the Flaming Star Nebula taken using an OSC camera with an Optolong L-Ultimate filter. It's 15 hours of data from central Bristol (Bortle 8).

    I've got 15 hours of RGB data to add in too, but that's not allowed in this competition! I'll post it in the Deep Sky forum section when it's done, for anyone that's interested.

    FlamingStar_v2_fullres_LUltimate.thumb.jpg.49e31e25cc6a61eb9ec753a20e3b9a82.jpg

     

    • Like 11
  3. 3 hours ago, tico said:

    Hello, 

    You think that thus Seestar50 can bé a good alternative for a visual telescope? 

    Seestars and visual telescopes are very different, so whether it's an alternative for you depends on what you want from the instrument. It's fairer to say that a Seestar complements a visual telescope very well, and vice versa. 

    • Like 2
  4. Broadband with OSC from Bortle 8 is definitely possible, as I hope these four images show. They weren't taken with any filters either. It does take long integration times however, which the OP said was an issue. Incidentally, I've just tested an Optolong L-Quad Enhance filter, and found it to be quite good under my skies. Review here

    If I had the money and time to run multiple rigs though, I'd probably go mono and dedicate each set-up to a different filter.

    M31_Nov2022_fullres.thumb.jpg.f790c6e3d4b92fc2c787c781a90f2bf5.jpg

    M45_v3_full_resolution.thumb.jpg.9999d98f34f7c6bdf6ae9fb73ccaba77.jpg

    ROTTEN_FISH_LQuad_14hrs_fullres_PULLEN.thumb.jpg.b312e69d30718eb88dfd5fba46d55668.jpg

    M13_fullres.thumb.jpg.7e0e436404004e28035166708e58a159.jpg

    • Like 6
  5. Lots of good advice here! I'll chip in to say that I've used a 2600MC Pro extensively and found it paired well with an Askar FRA400 telescope. I've written a review of that telescope here, and if you go to my gallery and scroll down a bit then you can see what that combo is capable of (with lots of imaging experience!) You should absolutely be budgeting for accessories as well, as others have mentioned. Note though that the 2600MC Pro has an in-built UV/IR filter, so you don't need to buy one of those. If I can be forgiven for plugging another article on my website, you may get some inspiration for accessories here.

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
  6. 1 hour ago, LongJohn54 said:

    Last March I was looking for a new scope/camera combination and had pretty much decided on the Askar 107PDQ and a ZWO cmos camera.  However, I saw the Askar 130PDQ and spotted a review at the bottom of the page by someone called Lee who I discovered was @Lee_P   I had a read (excellent review) and looked for images here and on Astrobin.  I found some great images and most (at the time) were taken with the ZWO 2600MC camera.   So, a change of plan.  I bought the bigger scope and priced up the camera, OAG and guide camera and set about getting the extra cash needed.   Whilst saving I noticed ZWO had released a new camera, the ZWO 2600MC Duo with a built in guide camera.  Wooo, interesting. 😁  Another change of plan.  The only problem was there were none available.   FLO showed out of stock all summer and into the autumn.   Then FLO/ZWO had a black friday sale.  £250(ish) off.  Can't ignore that so I hit the buy button and sat back and waited. And waited.  On 8th January I emailed FLO asking for an update and within the hour had a reply from Grant. (Excellent response as usual).  There were manufacturing delays on anything with the 2600 imaging chip but the camera should be arriving soon.

    No snow 🤣

    2024-01-2412_24_22.jpg.d318f910bb2374dc700cc27a2e3930eb.jpg

    but hiding underneath was a very smart box.  Inside the box was (after carefully opening and unpacking)

    2024-01-2412_28_29.jpg.b37cb1c869d4e95c043d89f8582022de.jpg

    Am I excited? :blob1:

    This is great to hear, you're going to have a brilliant time with the 130PHQ and 2600MC Duo!

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  7. 59 minutes ago, Richard_ said:

    Excellent write up Lee, and some great example images too. I've been chatting with a work colleague who bought a Dwarf II before Christmas and he was curious about how images would look out of these live stacking telescopes. I'll direct him to your article :)

    Ah good timing, I've just added a load more example photos at the end of the review!

    • Like 1
  8. Hi Space Cadets,

    I began reviewing the new Optolong L-Quad Enhance light pollution filter months ago, but unfortunately had to put all my astro endeavors on pause because my 2600MC Pro camera broke! (If you're interested in the process of sending a broken camera to ZWO, click here...)

    Anyhow, I've now finished reviewing the filter, and (spoiler alert) I actually found it to be quite good. Please click here for the whole review.

    Here's a short integration (just 6 hours 24 minutes) taken using this filter under Bortle 8 skies:

    M81_M82_LQEF-Fullres.thumb.jpg.892fdab6e69d3e6f8e05d81005238797.jpg

     

     

    • Like 1
  9. 1 hour ago, vlaiv said:

    If I'm not mistaken @Lee_P images from heavy LP so he might be able to share some thoughts on this?

    57 minutes ago, saac said:

    Check out Lee's work at Urban Astrophotography. Lee images from Bristol and has produced some amazing results in both NB and BB. He is active on SGL just cant recall his username at  the moment but his web site is well worth a visit from useful guidance. 

    https://urbanastrophotography.com/index.php/2021/06/14/overview/

    Jim 

    Thanks for the mentions. Yes, I image from the centre of Bortle 8 Bristol -- not quite as bad as London, but in the same ballpark! I use an OSC camera. For narrowband I use an Optolong L-Ultimate and Askar D2 filters. For broadband targets I don't use any filters at all.

    Lots of example photos here: https://urbanastrophotography.com/index.php/gallery/

    There are plenty of tips if you browse that website. The "secret" is to aim for long integration times to combat light pollution -- think 20+ hours. This is very achievable if you have an imaging rig that's easy to set-up and pack down. I typically produce an image every 2 - 8 weeks. (But not right now as my camera is broken and with ZWO in China for repairs!) 

    I'm happy to answer any specific questions you may have.

     

    • Like 1
  10. On 08/11/2023 at 11:48, Richard_ said:

    It's mind blowing that you can capture this level of dust from the centre of Bristol. I think your processing is spot on, great work! 

    Thanks, it needs more subframes really, but I agree that it's surprising how much dust can be seen.

     

    On 08/11/2023 at 12:05, carastro said:

    Quite incredible.  I too live in Bortle 8 skies near London and have’t attempted broadband for years as l get horrible swirling gradients.  
     

    You have inspired me to try again. 

    You should definitely try, your processing skills are obviously up to the challenge. You could try GraXpert to help with your gradients.

     

     

    On 08/11/2023 at 13:00, The Lazy Astronomer said:

    Just scrolling through the page on your website, then I see this at the bottom - get many takers for that? 🤣

     

    Screenshot_20231108_125627_Chrome.jpg

    Ha, alas no-one has stumped up the suggested amount... yet!

  11. 1 minute ago, tooth_dr said:

    You can see a bit of colour noise, but imaging in the city must make it hard to get rid of this. 

    For sure, it was a real balancing act of controlling the noise without completely destroying the detail. I'd like to have put more hours into it, but I need to move onto another target so I can fairly review the L-Quad filter. Still, I'm happy considering how faint it is!

  12. This target is very tricky from city skies! I integrated 24 hours of data, but to be honest it needed more. 14 hours are using the new Optolong L-Quad Enhance (review coming soon!) and 10 hours were with no filter. More info on my website, and imaging details are below.

     

    RottenFish_v1_fullres.thumb.jpg.71329419db97ce5e16fad8a9d3688b38.jpg

     

    * 22 September to 15 October 2023
    * Bristol, UK (Bortle 8 )
    * Telescope: Askar 130PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
    * Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO
    * Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO
    * Guide: William Optics 50mm Guidescope with 1.25″ RotoLock; ZWO ASI 120MM Mini
    * Control: ASIAIR Plus
    * Software: PixInsight, Lightroom
    * Filters:
    – No filter 300 x 120 seconds (10 hours)
    – Optolong L-Quad 420 x 120 seconds (14 hours)

    Total exposure time: 24 hours

    By Lee Pullen

     

    • Like 22
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