Some recent images from The Netherlands

[astrovirus]

Hi there,

It's been a while since I posted some of my images here, but here is my production from the last 3 months. Hope you like them. Details below.

M63, April 24/25, 34x 5 minutes at ISO800, 24 darks, 20 flats, and 20 bias.

M51 36x5 min. lightframes (10x on April 22 en 26x on May 1), 24x5 min. darks, 20x 0.001 sec bias and 20x 0.002 sec flats with a laptop backlight.

Leo triplet 26x5 min. light frames, 24x5 min. darks, 20x 0.001 sec bias and 20x 0,002 sec flats with a laptop backlight.

M101 53x 5 min lights, 24x 2 min darks, 20 flats en 20 bias, all shot on ISO800.

M64: 51x 5 min ISO 1600 (10 subs on March 5 in Wateren and 41 subs on May 2),10 darks (March 3) and 18 darks (May 2), 20 flats and 20 bias.

M13: 55x 5 min ISO1600 (19 subs on May 3 and 36 subs on May 4), 18 darks, 20 flats and 20 bias, in addition to 36x60 sec with 36 darks, 20 flats and 20 bias for the core. I do have a reflection which I think originates from the focuser tube/MPCC as I haven't experienced this before I started using the MPCC. Also the core could do with even shorter exposures I think.

Shot with my Baader ACF modded 350D, but with the peltier cooling not operating at the moment.

Scope Skywatcher BKP2001 on NEQ6

Guided with QHY5/9x50 finder guider

Capture Nebulosity 2.3.0, Calibration, registration and stacking (Kappa-Sigma) in DSS, Color balance in Nebulosity, Post-processing in CS3 (Gradient removal, Levels, Saturation, HLVG and M13 core HDR using layer mask)

Thanks for watching,

Regards Tim

-edit Although I see that I made a double post on the M63 image, however the M64 and M51 from that same post have had their exposures increase from 50 min to 4 hrs 15 min and 3 hrs respectively.

[The Sailor]

That is fantastic set Tim, great info with the photos, one I will mark as a template to follow .

Jim

[caerus_sam]

Stunning Tim. The amount of detail just goes to prove that you get out what you put in.

[astrovirus]

And M101 off course .

[RobH]

A set of images to be proud of Tim

Rob

[astrovirus]

Thanks for the encouraging comments, everyone.

Regards Tim

[Ags]

Hi Tim - where were these shot? Is there anywhere in Nederland without orange skies?

This is a great set of pics, with an unmodded camera too.

[KE400]

Brilliant images Tim well done, thanks for posting them

[astrovirus]

Hi Ags,

I'm in the Eastern part of The Netherlands, in Emmen to be exact, which is fortunately still pretty dark, although other parts of the town/city are much more light poluted than my area on the edge of town.

The camera btw is modded with a Baader ACF filter, but my signature is not changed as I see now. Will do so in a minute. The camera has also been equiped with a peltier cooling directly on the CMOS chip, but I haven't been able to use it sofar due to some issues with the constrution of a TEC controler (which has recentlly been finished) and dew forming on the Baader ACF filter. The latter should also be history now that I have build in a small resistor based dew heater in the space between de MPCC and the shutter/Baader ACF/CMOS assembly. However weather has been bad over the last week or two, so no chance to test yet.

Regards Tim

[Fay]

Great set, Tim, really good info as well. You must have a good sky where you are, but have taken a nice lot of subs for each image

Fay

[astrovirus]

Thanks Fay,

Yes, My Sky is pretty good for Dutch understanding, which is actually the case for most of the Eastern part. Luckely, I'm on the right side of the city with most of my local light polution to the North and shielded by the house. And indeed, total exposure time is everything.

Regards Tim