Adreneline

You are correct - the OIII is quite weak. I try to resist over-stretching the OIII data, in fact I try to ensure I stretch OIII the same as I stretch Ha to keep the same relative levels - probably why my images look a bit pastel coloured in nature. I did try RGB in a previous attempt using an Atk428ex with the Samyang but, other than getting some coloured stars all I got was a lot of noise and light pollution. RGB is a bit frustrating here for just about all targets. I've attached my registered Ha and OIII masters; if you (or anyone else) would like to have a go at processing I would be delighted. I really struggle with these feint targets. As you will see I have cropped the originals to get the image above. As is typical I get a fair amount of OIII bloat which is why I chose to remove the stars, process the underlying data and then put the stars back in using a lighten layer in PS. Adrian sh2-240-Master-Ha_r.fit sh2-240-Master-OIII_r.fit

Thanks Roger - glad you like it. Thanks Carole. First time I tried this I used the Samyang and Atik428ex and it would only just fit into the FoV. I am hoping to have a go with my Canon 200mm and ASI1600 - that should be a really good match. Just need the clear, dark skies! Adrian

Well I think it is Sh2-240 or Simeis 147 known as the Spaghetti Nebula. Sharpless 2-240 is a supernova remnant in the Milky Way, straddling the border between the constellations Auriga and Taurus. Looks like it's been said already. Sorry for not identifying it clearly. Adrian

Thank you! It is a real challenge from a Bortle 5 area that's for sure. Not sure I can push my 1600 to 12 mins but I might get away with 5 mins. I was going to try using my Canon 200 mm next time - once I've cracked the spacing issue. AP's just one darn challenge after another! Adrian

This image has got a host of things wrong with it but it's the best I can manage with the data I've got. Lack of clear night with no moon and then a very limited window of visibility between the house and neighbouring trees provided 20 x 180s of Ha and OIII taken with my Samyang 135mm plus ASI16000MM-Pro. Processed in PI and PS - stars removed and processed separately and then recombined with starless Ha and OIII images as a lighten layer in PS. Thanks for looking. Comments and criticisms welcome. Adrian

It seems to go a bit beyond ZWO products: It can not support the ASI120MM/MC camera - which is a shame because I've got one of those! I suppose you could say that Artemis Dusk doesn't support ZWO but fortunately it does support my Atik camera. It's a start!

Hi Martin, I too have a 200mm Canon but so far have found it really difficult to find the correct spacing to achieve focus. I use the ZWO EoS adapter with the ZWO-EFW. I've tried various additional spacers but am finding it impossible to find the 'sweet spot'. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you. Adrian

Thank you Martin. If I am being very picky then I tend to feel the corner stars are not as good as they should be; the question is "can they be better with the setup I have?". I think I may be getting a bit obsessed about it Thanks again. Adrian

Don't know. The appropriate ASCOM driver needs to be installed on the PC.

In my case (when I used a NEQ6) everything connected via ASCOM. The mount and guide camera (both with ASCOM driver support installed) were connected to my NUC PC via USB. PHD could then see both when I clicked on the 'Connect' icon. You need to input details about the focal length of your guide scope. The only special cable I needed was the USB-RS232 lead to connect the mount to the PC. HTH

Um! Thought provoking. Thank you

Very nice. I like that a lot, especially the blue nebulosity that is not 'in your face'. I think that is one of the best I've seen of M45 - something for me to aspire to when I pluck up the courage to have a go at it! Thanks for sharing. Adrian

Hi Carole, I've tried to lift the brightness as you suggest but done my best to restrict to the nebula areas. What's the verdict? Thanks again. Adrian

Taken with the Samyang 135mm at f2.8 combined with the ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro Cooled at gain 139, offset 56 all set on an iOptron CEM25-EC mount - all unguided in a Bortle 5 region. The image comprises 25 x 120s of Ha, OIII and SII pre-processed in PI followed by StarAlignment, DynamicCrop and ABE applied twice in subtraction and division mode. Repeated incremental HistogramStretch used to take each master non-linear and then all combined in PixelMath R:G:B = Ha : 0.4Ha+0.6OIII : OIII and R:G:B Ha : OIII : SII followed by SCNR to remove the excess green. These two images were then layered in Photoshop with a layer mask to bring out the best areas of both images. All followed by an application of Star Reduction action from Annie's Astro Images and a minimal amount of Noise Reduction. Thanks for looking. Adrian

Hello Dave. I had the lens set at f2.8 - I've tried it on f2 and f2.4 but the star distortion in the extreme corners seems more pronounced. Thanks for the kind comment. Adrian

Thanks Carole. I'll give it a bit of a tweak in PS. I sometimes find it quite difficult to identify 'background space' which I try to keep close to 23:23:23 in line with advice from others on this forum. I try to resist artificially lightening or darkening selective areas but maybe I should give it a go on this one. Thanks again for your comments and advice. Adrian

Thank you Gina. I do like to see these objects in relation to one another. Adrian

This is 25 x 120s of Ha, OIII and SII using the Samyang 135mm with ASI1600MM, gain 139, offset 56. There are some dodgy shaped stars in the corners and I really cannot decide if it is an alignment/droop or lens problem; hopefully it does not detract too much from the overall image. Processed almost entirely in PI with a few colour tweaks and noise reduction in PS. All comments and criticism welcome. Thanks for looking. Adrian

This was a new one for me and definitely good for the Samyang 135mm + ASI1600 as it is an extensive nebula in Orion. This is just 20 x 120s (40 mins) of Ha and I think is going to need some OIII and SII added on another, rare, clear moonless night. This target only gets to about 40 degrees in the southern sky for me so very much at the mercy of nearby towns light pollution. Thanks for looking. Adrian

This is 15 x 120s of Ha and OIII taken with my Samyang 135mm and ASI1600MM-Pro. Despite the moonless clear night I had lots of trouble with this trying to expose the nebula details. I don't normally go with removing stars but maybe this time it has provided some benefit. All comments and criticisms welcomed. Thanks for looking. Adrian

Haha! Well that's a good point although I can't help but feel that space is a pretty dusty place and muddy brown always seems to fit the bill to me.

My personal favourite is the last one - it seems to have more depth and I really like the light blue contrast with the dusty-brown surrounding nebula. You say it Ha/OIII/SII - was it 100% of each assigned to RGB using PixelMath or ChannelCombination? Thanks for sharing. Adrian

Very nice image; I really like to see the whole Veil. If that was mine I'd be well pleased. I also find adding SII can be a mixed blessing and prefer more and more to stick with HOO. Thanks for sharing. Adrian

The periodic error quoted is much smaller and hence the tracking is far more accurate once aligned. I take care to get the best PA I can and then I follow it with a two star alignment (one of which is currently M31 - very easy to identify!). After that I find the GOTO is very accurate and the tracking excellent. Most of my imaging is with 120s or 180s exposures 135mm focal length and there is no sign of trailing. I love the fact I don't have to use a guidescope or PHD. That is not to say that my days of guiding are over - when I get the ZS71 on the mount (~320mm) or maybe the ED80 (~520mm) the increased focal length may well require me to guide. Time will tell! Adrian P.S. Have you ordered it yet?

I sold my NEQ6 and bought a CEM25-EC, so the same as the P but with the encoders. The bulid quality and ease of use is excellent compared with the NEQ6. I did not need the NEQ6 payload capacity and was finding the weight of the mount and tripod quite demanding in terms of a nightly setup. The CEM25 is easy to move around when setting up. Polar alignment is very easy using the built in polarscope with adjustment of both alt and az very much better than the NEQ6. Both axes are extremely free running so balancing is very sensitive compared with my NEQ6. So far I have only used the mount with a Samyang 135mm or Canon 200mm coupled to a ASI1600 with ZWO filter wheel, so not much of a payload. So far I have had no issues taking subs up to 300s without guiding - the extra expense of the encoders paying off for me in that respect; with sky conditions of Bortle 5 where I live there is no great advantage in pushing the 1600 beyond 180s! Although I've not tried it yet it should be quite happy with my WO-ZS71 + 1600 and I am hoping that with the addition of the 2kg counterweight I may be able to use my ED80 as well. Although I've not used it much the hand-controller seems far more intuitive than the equivalent SynScan controller. ASCOM compatibility seems fine (works well with all my other software). I did find using iOptron Commander very different to EQMOD but now I've got used to it I am finding it a much better with the simpler interface. In short - I love it! Cast caution to the wind and buy one - in fact go mad and get the EC model HTH Adrian