AstroGS

Congrats to the winners - stunning images 🙂

Another point that Cuiv made was that the camera does not seem to have an output usb, which - if true - will not allow the owners of this camera to use it with other acquisition software; making it a rather very expensive item.

I have now sent to Spain (Pixel Skies Astro), my 2nd wide field rig, which will be mounted on the ZWO AM5 and hopefully will be used to create mosaics. 

The 2 rigs that I am using are:

• Main Rig: WO Redcat 61, ASI 2600MM, Antlia 2.8nm filters, ZWO OAG-L/ ASI290mm
• 2nd Rig: Samyang 135, ASI 2600MC, WO guidescope/ ASI 120mm

I collated over 18 hrs of data but, ended up using only the Ha and RGB channels. For some reason 11 Hrs of Lum data did not add any value to the final image - not even more detail. Not sure why not but, the RGB and Ha channels were enough for this image. Probably I will try again another time to work again on the Lum data.

50 x 120 sec per RGB channel

33 x 600 sec for the Ha

Redcat61 + 2600MM + Antlia filters + AM5

Integrated in PI and processed in PI and PS.

This just popped in my FB feed, it is not 1st of April so, it might be legit 😏

A new ASIAIR or something?

Galaxy season continues and this time, I captured just over 18 hrs of LRGB of the Needle Galaxy and the NGC4559. The actual image was larger but, cropped it and rotated it so, it the 2 galaxies will be the actual protagonists of this image.

Captured with the wide field rig in Spain, Redcat 61 + ASI2600MM + Antlia Filters, mounted on an AM5.

Lum: 158 x 300 sec 

RGB: 50 each x 120sec

+ calibration files

Processed in PI and PS.

1 hour ago, Elp said:

For that price it better be perfect. It was announced a while back and people commented a lot about the captain's wheel.

What is this Cosmos Steering Wheel?

New William Optics Pleiades 181 (£18K)!!! Beautiful and HUGE!!!

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/william-optics/william-optics-pleiades-181-apo-refractor.html

It makes the Askar 185 APO look like a bargain 🙂

@ollypenrice i have sent my AM5 + P200 to David in Spain and he set it up on a pier. I will be sharing some pictures shortly but, you will need i think:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/zwo-mounts/zwo-additional-silver-top-plate-for-tc40-tripod.html

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/harmonic-drive-mounts/zwo-pe200-pier-extension-for-am3-am5-mount.html

Finding targets during the galaxy season with wide field OTA is a bit challenging and restricting. However, I really enjoyed working on this target. Probably more data, would make the colours to pop more as well as the resolution.

40 x 120sec for each RGB channel

40 x 180sec for Lum

Redcat61 + ASI2600MM + AM5.

2 hours ago, Peds said:

One scenario I see is when you send your gear out to a remote hosting location and wish to switch between a reducer and a flattener. This often happens during galaxy season. A tech on site can usually switch adapters for you, but adjusting tilt perfectly is slow, tedious and typically not something they will do.

This is exactly my thought - not necessarily because the team will not do it but, because this - along with the PA - are the 2 tasks that you cannot manage remotely on your own.

Also, it might be a helpful feature for RASA owners but, again I never owned one so, I am just speculating based on posts that I have read.

A tilt unit that helps to correct tilt and back focus using electronically assisted methods - as per the title. 

https://www.asgastronomy.com/asg-electronically-assisted-tilt-eat-project/

They are also offering different other tilting systems and the prices  start from $695.

Over a year now and the mount continues to hold very well - even as a permanent observatory mount.

Imaging tonight M53 with the Redcat 61 and guiding is very stable at 0.5-0.6. I will be adding a 2nd rig on the mount (Samyang + ASI2600MC) soon and I am experimenting with the counter-weight and indeed, it seems to be delivering a more persistent solid guiding numbers.

Very pleased indeed.

RedCat 61 on a ZWO AM5, imaging the M53 from Spain (Pixel Skies Astro remote observatory).

Guiding is absolutely fantastic tonight.

17 hours ago, Fegato said:

OK, so I just averaged the two images together (half and half as we say in Wales)...  and like this one better!

Very nice and balanced - the dust is very well blended in the scenery, without forcing it or over-stretching it. Well done!

Just over 19 hours on Markarian's Chain and its companions - plate solving found over 50 galaxies, there might be even more.

This was with my Redcat 61 + 2600MM + Antlia filters.

Lum: 176 x 300 sec

RGB: 45 x 120 sec (each channel)

Calibration frames (flats, darks and bias): 50 each

Integrated and processed with PI and PS.

Note: I remain highly impressed by the ZWO AM5 that, continues to deliver excellent guiding as a permanent observatory mount. 

Apple MacBook Air, M2 processor + 24GB + 500GB SSD, used mainly to integrate and process images on Pixinsight and bit of Photoshop.

This is also used to manage remotely my rig.

As part of the tests that I did earlier this year, after setting up my rig in Spain, was to take about 6.5 hrs worth of Ha data.

The cone nebula is getting lower and on top of that I had the issue with the OIII filter so, I I abandoned this target for now. However, since it is Easter break and have some time to kill, I started working on the data to see how good it is and it seems....pretty good.

Stacked 39 x 600 secs of Ha + calibration files, integrated and processed in PI and very basic processing.

Thanks - I will most definitely try this at some point later this week and see if I can get it to work. I like though this PI sequence that you suggest, it does make sense.

10 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

You should be able to get far more of the long tidal tail to show, though it will run out of the frame on this crop, I think. It will be there in the data. If you have Photoshop,  just go to Image-Adjustments-Equalize and it should leap out. You can't just use that as a processing technique but it will show what you have in the data.

Olly

You are right 😉

I need to see how I can stretch further the image without clipping the core of the galaxies.

17 minutes ago, wimvb said:

Nice!!

The tidal stream of ngc 3628 is just visible.

Thanks - it is there in the integrated lum image (well defined) but, when stretching i cannot seem to be able to reveal it properly without blowing the centre of the galaxies. Im still experimenting a combination of GHS and Histogram stretching.

We have entered now the Galaxy season and the narrowband targets are limited so, a target that I have never imaged before was the Leo Triplet. I am still in the process of learning how to image galaxies through my mono camera - while I was busy with work, the night sky was really good and for that reason I decided to just take as much data as possible. Using my wide field rig (RedCat61 + 2600MM), I managed to capture:

Lum: 254 x 300 sec

RGB: 273 x 120 sec

Used flats, darks and bias

Integrated and processed with PI & PS

I am sharing the cropped image.

11 minutes ago, ollypenrice said:

The spring is a lean time for short focal lengths but mosaics in the Coma-Virgo cluster can be fun. Sooo many galaxies!  Once the southern Milky Way starts to come up in early summer you can't go wrong. We're at Lat 44 and you'll be south of that but, even here, we get four hours of darkness in June. You can work through the year.  I'd look at the Eagle and Swan, Sagittarius triplet, The Great Sagittarius Star Cloud, Rho Ophiuchus...

Olly

Great! 🙂 You made it sound so exciting. Added in the list!

Thank you @Elp & @symmetal - i am indeed using these tools but, both those tools will not provide less common or obvious, i would say, targets. Also, i thought i would ask in case there are little hidden gems out there that again might not be the 1st choice for imaging.