TakMan

Fantastic result - enviable FOV ! 👍

That's a great rendition. I love the dustiness that you've brought to this and those browns - extends the interest across the FOV... 👍

So one of them new Astronomiks that's been discussed over on CN, then....?

That's coming along quite nicely - rather like the teal/gold palette you've gone for... D

Inspired by our prolific Swedish poster.... (I just love the unusual shape of that upper left neb), I thought I'd have a go at this from my Bortel 5/6 back garden - this is going to be very slooooow going! Thought I may just about get the same FOV with my set-up and just squeeze Sh2-223 into the lower right... just! In fact, as I type, I'm collecting a bit more data.... Bloody Göran hey and his dual-RASAs ! 🤪 This is currently running at 28x 1200 seconds, Chroma 50mm unmounted 3nm Ha, dark and flat frame calibrated + dark flats (aligned/stacked in APP). FSQ106ED @ f/5 - Atik 16200M (running at -20ºC), Atik OAG/SBIG-ST-i Processed in Ps and stand-a-lone StarNet++ on OSX. Another multi-year project then 🤪 Clear skies all.... Damian Do the clicky thing for the full size jpeg (slight crop after stacking)

You're a sucker for punishment Steve, but as already said, considering Mr Moon being 100%, that's remarkable. It's amazing how far we've come - tech and processing to be able to get such an image... unheard of just a few years ago! Clear and moonless skies to you... D

You'd be wrong.... there is distortion... tilt (?), upper left is the most obvious! I'm not sure if it's the focuser, the adapters, the OAG or the camera.... I've tried screwing everything down with the scope at a vertical (to get gravity to help), the focuser is racked most of the way in.... But you know, life is too short and the nights too scarce to worry too much - so it's (or will have to be), good enough ! Some distortion will get cropped naturally from the stacking, some more cropping I can live with.... I'll do my best to process and when I view from a sensible distance, and even on the iPad, it's not too bad - just ! Would be great if it was 'perfect' , but hey-ho! Damian

Know what you mean ! 😵 D

Considering the lunar phase Göran, that's amazing.... Will there be any targets left for the rest of us when this season is over or will you have completed them all ! ? 🤪 Damian

Nice resolution and subtle processing / colours 👍 Can't complain at that for the integration time - ruddy fantastic! D

Well done for trying.... suppose the RASA hoovers up the moonlight as much as the target signal, so good on you for having a go.... Think I'll stay away though with my f/5 and stick with something brighter! Damian

Looking past the distortions though.... That 'Soul' close-up is a great result - love the colours and detail... well done you! 👍 D

I had the 'standard speed' ultra-narrowband version 3.5nm set. Early testing on Sadr - 10min exposures - Atik 16200m, FSQ106ED (@f/5 with no reducer): The Ha exhibited a small (and easily processed 'manageable'), halo. Nice quality data. A definite/measurable improvement from the original 7nm version. That was… OK for the time and money, although produced some ‘stunning’ halos on the ‘right’ stars! The SII was halo free, it had that 'small outer glow' that the expensive filters show on a bright star. Quite happy with that. Again an improvement on the original, although that never had such obvious halo issues either… The OIII was an utter disaster - complete rubbish, no better than the earlier 8nm version. I would stay clear and look at Optolong, Antilia or Astronomik. Remember, we have no idea with these what the transmission rate is - there is no spec sheet with them. I would go with a reputable supplier - FLO, who will, as in my case, take the things back and offer a refund. I just think that it's pretty poor on Baader to dump the problem onto the vendor to sort. They talk a good game, a lot of 'Zeiss' this and 'Zeiss' that, but their filter range isn't very... 'Zeiss'..... Take a look at their filter website - a good amount of spiel, lots of pictures, 'Reflex Blocker' (from a marketing meeting that).... No pictures last time I looked that show the performance using a refractor.... just RASA instruments.... is that... 'telling' I wonder...? This isn't 2010 anymore, when I thought the halos were 'my problem', something wrong with my equipment, my processing or calibration skills. Not so naive now and I won't accept such performance from my hard earned money. A picture says a thousand words, so here's my OIII (Sadr - 600s) And before anyone chips in with the usual..... "But Sadr is very bright... what do you expect from such a star...?" Well, here's a few screen grabs from less bright stars captured at the same time within that FOV - just a single 600sec sub - uncalibrated.... I’d even go as far as saying that I don’t think the original had this problem - on fainter stars… How can a decade have passed (the ‘Enforced’ filter range got launched…. and disappeared without a trace - what reviews of them that can be found aren’t favourable either) and then these appear - and they still can’t get it right..? That's the 'Reflex Blocker' for you.... Reflex Blocker..... my a*** Of course, it’s all my fault. Yep, that FSQ is a bit of an oddity, bit too left field…. whoever heard of a refractor needing a field flattener (it’s got to be that that’s the issue). Never heard of Atik, some obscure manufacturer of cameras, probably don’t know anything about AR sensor windows, and Onsemi, well they must be a new chip maker - yep, nothing to do with the filter - someone else’s issue……. I'd suggest trying a Quality Street wrapper (other confectionery also available), first - probably do a better job - it's even 'silvered' on one side !

Cheers Gorann Although by the time I’ve finished this image (if ever), you’ll have probably mapped the entire Northern Hemisphere! You are also partly responsible for my other ongoing target - Sh2-223 / 224. Again I could do with a few more hours capture on the Ha before processing - I’ll link your image in when I do! Thanks again… D

Been adding to, as and when, along with other targets as they move into view... Hope in the next week or so to put the Ha part to bed (as the moon moves out of the way) - would like to perhaps get another 3 hours on it and then start the OIII before the season is out. Slow going with these crusty old CCDs ! 😉 30x 1200 seconds, Chroma 50mm unmounted 3nm Ha, dark and flat frame calibrated + dark flats (aligned/stacked in APP). FSQ106ED @ f/5 - Atik 16200M (running at -20ºC), Atik OAG/SBIG-ST-i Processed solely in Ps (no Topaz) and stand-a-lone StarNet++ on OSX. Damian Do the clicky thing for the full size jpeg (slight crop after stacking) Using Brendan's (Kinch) super shot as my reference point (although he has the better camera, and scope.... and skies 😀 ), see: https://www.kinchastro.com/jellyfish-nebula.html ...and I see Brendan has recently jumped to CMOS - the traitor ! 👹

Not had mine as long as David (above)! Chroma unmounted 50mm fits with about 1mm to spare (width ways). Use with CCDciel - all fine. Well made, no obvious light leaks from the actual housing. Have just sorted (today) slight light leaks with the narrowband filters I've had a few months - around the carousel 'gap'. Chroma filters = 3mm thick. Couldn't get flat masks to grip the filters so they rattled in the carousel. Tried those BuckeyeStargazer 7x Filter Centering Masks for ZWO & Atik Filter Wheels (FLO), but could't get the flange to fit between the wall of the carousel and the filter (hence the light leak). Think the masks would be perfect for the Astrodon filters as they are not quite so big, so the mask flange would fit. Instead, got some Nitrile O Ring - 50mm ID x 1mm C/S From: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293507150651?var=59231090278 Holding carousel up to halogen desk lamp - all now look great! Plus the rubber ring holds filter in place so no rattle! Damian

That's much nicer👍 Great tips from 'MrV', as usual! Damian

Found filters useful in the TSA102 and the bigger TEC. Agree with everything said in terms of making subject dimmer but improved contrast allowing the object to stand out. OIII is superb (almost vital), on the Veil, the UHC more general purpose as a ‘benchmark’ before swapping to the OIII to compare… Dumbbell and Orion region prime examples! Utter pain to be unscrewing on and off eyepieces… I use an old TruTech 2” x 5 slot manual wheel to quickly go between filtered and unfiltered - far easier to compare views and far less risk of damaging anything! Also very easy to open and swap filters around (more for colour filters depending on subject or preference - plan observing and do before heading out, not in darkness!) If needs must, just buy a second carousel and fill one with colour filters for lunar and planetary and the other for deep sky. So 2” Lumicon UHC and OIII, a ‘moon filter’ (ND filter), and either a colour wratten filter as described above or a single polarising filter (with the other ‘half’ screwed into the eyepiece bottom - undo the tension on the diagonal eyepiece holder and rotate chosen eyepiece to vary polarisation..) Obviously one carousel aperture kept free for unfiltered use! 2” filters, despite the initial added cost allow the use of any sized eyepiece in the collection - buy once and get it sorted! The FW is easy to swap between any scope with a 2” compression holder… Damian

A continuation of this previous thread, but with the addition of 10 more 20 min subs - making this my longest time spent imaging through 1 filter on a target. Would have hoped to have had at least one clear night whilst on annual leave over the festive period.... probably come on the night of the first day back! I think we're getting into the land of diminishing returns (although the extra time added has helped to reduce the noise in the darker regions as well as bringing out new nebulosity), so whenever the next clear night does arrive, it'll be time to move the filter wheel on... or if the moon is out, centre on a different target! Spent a bit longer on this process this evening after dinner (a lot of time finding the 'best' way to reintroduce the star field without introducing a dark halo or sharp edge to the stars as per my previous go), plus trying to maximise the detail without bringing out too much noise, nor using excessive noise reduction... I think it still retains that 'film grain' look, so pleased with the balance here. 31x 1200 seconds, Chroma 50mm unmounted 3nm Ha, Dark and flat frame calibrated (aligned/stacked in APP). FSQ106ED @ f/5 - Atik 16200M (running at -20ºC) Processed solely in Ps (no Topaz) and stand-a-lone StarNet++ on OSX. Damian Do the clicky thing for the full size jpeg (slight crop after stacking)

This, sort of fits with Oldfort's post above... Not quite the 'Postman', but a mate - dropped these three boxes of Victorian Magic Lantern astronomy slides off that he doesn't want. Dating from around 1860-1920. A mix of hand painted and photographic images. Sure there will be some duplicates and the like, but plenty to get stuck into over the coming months. Not as 'glamorous' as previous (mahogany mounted) ones that I have posted about before, but a varied set with some historical astro equipment to enjoy. (A view of Gemini - perhaps I'll have to scan it and then drop into ASTAP to find out where!) Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas... Damian

Cheers Adam! 😀👍 D

Yet another target started as the others roll past the meridian and into the trees... This was just to check the framing, very early days in terms of data captured, but think it's stood up quite well... Just 1 hrs worth - 3x 1200 sec (dithered between each exposure), so hardly enough for sigma stacking algorithms to remove the odd hot/cold pixels and columns. Chroma 3nm Ha, Dark and flat frame calibrated (and aligned/stacked in APP). Processed in Photoshop with Starnet++. FSQ106ED @ f/5 - Atik 16200M (running at -20ºC) Atik OAG/SBIG ST-i Very pleased with the halo control, unfortunately it's true... you do get what you pay for..... Just trying to decide if it's worth putting the gear out for a possible hour or so.... Damian

Very nice and thanks for the helpful advice with regards to re-adding the stars back 👍 D

Thank you both - very kind comments. Yes, CCD ‘clearly not dead’ (!), just a bit slower than you CMOS imagers - especially when coupled to a Epsilon or RASA ! I’d like to get to 30subs, as I think that’ll be a good compromise between strengthening the details and noise reduction. Those eagle eyed will see some faint vertical lines in the lower right - my dithering wasn’t properly set, so the remnants of a hot column still remain… we live and learn, hey!? Thanks again - clear skies and festive greetings to all…. Damian Oh, I should have said in the original post, processed in Photoshop

Yes Adam - very pleased. There is no sign of any halo (aka - Baader !) and the extra transmission of the Chroma filters is obvious on each individual sub... Very little in terms of pollution / lunar gradients to contend with as well (I'm bortle 6) although there was not much moon when these were taken. I've (sort of) forgotten about the price now! D