Horsehead and Flame with Watec

[West End Wendy]

Finally achieved one of my observing goals tonight - to see the Horsehead nebula from my back garden.

In fact, considering my North London house points straight towards the worst light pollution in Britain, it was amazingly clear on the screen and impressively equine. When you consider how many animal-related objects there are in the night sky which look absolutely nothing like actual animals, it's gratifying to find something that genuinely does.

Perhaps even more dramatic was the Flame Nebula - it's probably a more rewarding object than M42, which always suffers from that burnt-out core when viewed live.

By comparison M78 was very disappointing, the Rosette showed hints but was too big to fit on the CCD, and the Cone Nebula was invisible, though the Christmas Tree Cluster did look particularly seasonal.

Still one of my memorable observing nights though and a real testament to the power of that little camera.

(Sorry there aren't any photos - computers just kill the observing experience for me).

Tim

[Stu]

That's very impressive Tim and its something I would like to achieve too. I have a Watec 120n+, and a 106mm apo. Do you think it is possible with this combination? I would use a 7" lcd tv to view

Cheers

Stu

[West End Wendy]

Yes definitely. I'm using a humble ED100 so your 106 apo is presumably a faster scope than mine which is obviously an advantage.

Other than that your setup sounds pretty much identical to mine. I have a 0.5 focal reducer and I was also using a UHC-E filter, but the DSOs were still visible without the filter.

I also use a 7" LCD screen, which seems a perfect size to me and velcroes to a tripod leg.

Tim

[Stu]

Many thanks for that Tim. My scope is f 6.5, not overly fast but ok I guess. I've got a 0.5 reducer I could use if needed.

Would an o III work on the horse head, or would the UHC be better?

Looking forward to giving it a go.

Stu

[durr]

Hello Guys can you tell me what 7" monitor you use with the Watec 120+n. I use a 17" jvc monitor but would like to use something smaller sometimes. Many thanks Steve.

[Stu]

I just got one from Maplin, can't remember the make or model, will check when I get home. Around £ 99 I think. Seems to do the job.

Stu

[West End Wendy]

Would an o III work on the horse head, or would the UHC be better?

I would suggest that the Oiii filter will rob you of too much light.

Even with the UHC-E filter I use, I'm running the Watec at high-ish gain and high gamma. Most of the time I try and use the least severe filter I can, or none at all. I've found the Baader fringe killer is very good and steals very little light.

It's always worth experimenting though, especially as your scope is faster than mine.

[West End Wendy]

Can you tell me what 7" monitor you use with the Watec 120+n

Mine is from www.esaw.co.uk

The important considerations when choosing a monitor for this purpose are, firstly, some sort of DC input (unless you're happy running mains outdoors) and, most importantly of all, decent contrast adjustment.

The contrast controls on the monitor are the ultimate weapon against light pollution, haze and inherently low surface brightness, and far more important than filtration for live viewing.

[Stu]

http://mobile.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=453652

This is mine, or nearest I could see. It looks like the one Tim has is from a more specialist supplier so is probably higher quality. As he says, good contrast control is very important for this type of viewing

Stu

[West End Wendy]

That Maplin screen looks great.

I'm particularly interested in: "USB PVR function to record and play directly to a USB stick"

Does this mean you can capture video on it without a computer?

[Stu]

Hi Tim

Unfortunately I think it will only record off the free view tv signal. I don't know that for certain but believe it is correct, you could check with them if interested.

I think you and I seem to share similar desires in terms of keeping laptops and processing hassle out of the equation and trying to keep things as live as possible. I am a purely visual observer and have not done too much yet with my Watec but do want to use it more to view fainter dso's without having to travel miles to a dark site.

Stu

[West End Wendy]

Thanks for the info Stu.

Yes, I think we both probably view video astronomy as a compromise - I'd far rather be looking through an eyepiece than at a screen, but for some of the things you can see with a small scope in a light polluted suburb with the Watec, you'd need a 16" and a dark sky to get close with an eyepiece.

Tim

[durr]

Tim, I take it I can plug the Watec 120+ straight into the esaw 7" screen without any need for any other cables. Steve

[West End Wendy]

Yes, although obviously you need to power it too.

If you get the BNC version you get a cable which runs from the monitor with a DC input socket and a female BNC connector on it.

[durr]

Tim, thanks for the info very helpful. Steve.

[Psychobilly]

Hi Tim

Unfortunately I think it will only record off the free view tv signal. I don't know that for certain but believe it is correct, you could check with them if interested.

Stu

Yep thats correct... I have the same monitor...

Peter...

[darrenbushnalluk]

Many thanks for that Tim. My scope is f 6.5, not overly fast but ok I guess. I've got a 0.5 reducer I could use if needed.

Would an o III work on the horse head, or would the UHC be better?

Looking forward to giving it a go.

Stu

The OIII is the worst filter you could use on the Horsehead as to see the horsehead you need to see IC434, the faint strip of emission nebulae it is superimposed on. Trouble is it IC 434 doesn't have any OIII emissions, it emits hydrogen beta so you would need either a H/Beta filter which at only 9nm bandwidth will probably rob too much light or the UHC which does transmit this weak h/beta line.

[Stu]

Thanks Darren. Will try the UHC then

Stu

[durr]

Ok, this is the monitor I am going to get http://www.esaw.co.uk/catalog/7-inch-lcd-monitors/7-inch-tft-lcd-monitor-bnc-only it comes with everything I need, just hope it is good enough to resolve the detail in some of these faint objects. Steve

[bish]

That's what I call an observing session! I've managed to just about make out the dark area of B33 from a very dark sky under excellent conditions with a H-beta filter but couldn't make out the head shape. Those watec cameras sound fantastic.

[West End Wendy]

Ok, this is the monitor I am going to get http://www.esaw.co.uk/catalog/7-inch-lcd-monitors/7-inch-tft-lcd-monitor-bnc-only it comes with everything I need, just hope it is good enough to resolve the detail in some of these faint objects. Steve

That's the one I've got - I've been very pleased with it. The difference between it and a cheap one is very obvious indeed and it gives better results than my computer screen - it'll take a few knocks too and won't konk out when it gets a bit of dew on it.

Set the contrast at or near zero to tease out those details - you should easily get spiral arms on galaxies like M51 and M81 and globulars are just awesome.

[West End Wendy]

That's what I call an observing session! I've managed to just about make out the dark area of B33 from a very dark sky under excellent conditions with a H-beta filter but couldn't make out the head shape. Those watec cameras sound fantastic.

Thanks Bish. It is a brilliant camera, although its taken me quite a while to start feeling like an observer with it rather than a poor-man's astrophotographer. Keeping computers out of the equation has certainly been the key for me.

In the end it is low resolution and I'm sure nothing beats seeing B33 with the naked eye.

Tim

[durr]

Tim, thanks for the thumbs up will get my order in Tuesday. Steve

[durr]

The 7" screen arrived today did a quick check with the camera and its looking good, of course the clouds have rolled in and brought heavy rain, but hey, this is England. Steve

[West End Wendy]

Looking good for tomorrow night in London, bright moon aside, as long as the scope handles the wind.

My god, that's one hell of a signature you've got there Steve - will be interested to see how you get on with the Watec and some of those scopes.