MCX2 observing using the new 5 amp AC power supply

[Astrogate]

Hi Group




Well I had a chance to test out my new 5 amp AC power supply that has just recently come out with as another way to power both the Xtreme and fans at the same time while maintaining a clean signal. I used to use the MCX AC adapter for both the camera and fans (fans plugged into the camera and main power was plugged into the hanging outlet from the fans wires) and the results were not the best. I then started using a battery for just the fans and camera again (fans plugged into the camera and main power was plugged into the hanging outlet from the fans wires) and the results was very good, but now I had to drag the battery in and out of my house to maintain the recharge (I do not like to leave the power running in my observatory just in case of a storm). ** Now I am using the new 5 amp power supply with the fans plugged into it's separate cable/outlet and the camera plugged into it's separate cable/outlet and the results are just as good if not better than the battery + no more carrying the battery back in after I am done observing.




Here are the results from last night under average transparency condition (slight haze) using my MCX2 and fans. I decided to use my IDAS-P2 since at the time I was viewing only nebulas and this filter is amazing on nebulas. **All image were stacked on the fly 3 to 4 of them using Miloslick, AGC was set to 3 and TEC fully working with fans running, Hot pixel tool removal, amp glow masks were applied all using Miloslick which had to be set only once (takes mere seconds) for the whole night. ** NO post processing was applied to the saved stack image**. I had the sharpness set at 20% which is quite high since I thought this would bring out more detail and stacking will allow me to push it higher.

NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14089161359/in/photostream/




M27 Dumbbell Nebula

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14089153748/in/photostream/




M17 Swan Nebula

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14089250267/in/photostream/




M16 Eagle Nebula

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14089154508/in/photostream/




Chris A

Astrogate 
 

[James]

 ** NO post processing was applied to the saved stack image**.

There's some nice images there - it's also really good to see what you actually see on your screen as well, rather than post processed... especially objects like M16 that I can't see from here..

Possibly a silly question but how much do you find the ability to stack helps the view? With my regular CCD imaging obviously the more images that can get stacked the better, I'm curious if you find that say 2-3 images stacked makes a big difference or do you need to get more in?

James

[Astrogate]

James, on 26 May 2014 - 2:59 PM, said:

There's some nice images there - it's also really good to see what you actually see on your screen as well, rather than post processed... especially objects like M16 that I can't see from here..

Possibly a silly question but how much do you find the ability to stack helps the view? With my regular CCD imaging obviously the more images that can get stacked the better, I'm curious if you find that say 2-3 images stacked makes a big difference or do you need to get more in?

James

Thank you very much James for having a look and the kind words. Great question and I find that stacking only 2 to 4 makes a big difference with the background noise and foreground object of interest esp. the very faint mag 15 + galaxies. I also like to bump up my sharpness more when I stack and stacking allows for this approach.

Cheers,

Chris A

Astrogate

[Astrogate]

Thank you very much James for having a look and the kind words. Great question and I find that stacking only 2 to 4 makes a big difference with the background noise and foreground object of interest esp. the very faint mag 15 + galaxies. I also like to bump up my sharpness more when I stack and stacking allows for this approach.

Cheers,

Chris A

Astrogate

James I forgot to mention that these were caught under heavy light pollution from Toronto and the magnitude was at 3.75 last night.

Chris A

[James]

3.75? Yuk

Good to hear stacking just a few makes a difference, I'm too impatient when observing to wait too long for an image to pop up

I noticed you used an IDAS filter, I hadn't thought of that (partly as I have mag 5-5.5 skies) but much as it helps with my regular imaging it may help with my camera's..

Have you tried/found that a UHC or OIII filter makes for interesting observing (you have a 10" scope so it should be able to cope!). What about Ha...?

James (aka Curious of Devon)

[nytecam]

3.75? Yuk

Good to hear stacking just a few makes a difference, I'm too impatient when observing to wait too long for an image to pop up

I noticed you used an IDAS filter, I hadn't thought of that (partly as I have mag 5-5.5 skies) but much as it helps with my regular imaging it may help with my camera's.. Have you tried/found that a UHC or OIII filter makes for interesting observing (you have a 10" scope so it should be able to cope!). What about Ha...?

James (aka Curious of Devon)

Hi James - your mag 5 skies are DARK compared to London [mag 3 if lucky] but I don't use any filters and get good resulst - max speed for cam into near-IR as well for max photons.  No doubt others will claim otherwise

[Astrogate]

James, on 27 May 2014 - 04:02 AM, said:

3.75? Yuk

Good to hear stacking just a few makes a difference, I'm too impatient when observing to wait too long for an image to pop up

I noticed you used an IDAS filter, I hadn't thought of that (partly as I have mag 5-5.5 skies) but much as it helps with my regular imaging it may help with my camera's..

Have you tried/found that a UHC or OIII filter makes for interesting observing (you have a 10" scope so it should be able to cope!). What about Ha...?

James (aka Curious of Devon)

Hi James

I am one who will claim otherwise regarding the use of filter for certain circumstances. Mag 5 to 5.5 are not too bad for light pollution, but even in those skies you have some light pollution and air glow which always naturally occurs. The UHC & OIII were probably Lumicon filter made for eyepiece viewing. That UHC filter does not allow for Ha to enter like the most popular UHC filter (made by Astronomiks) that many of us are using with very good results under severe light pollution or when deal with a 50% or more phase moon up high. Since your  skies are mag 5 to 5.5 I would not go any stronger in reducing light pollution then the IDAS-P2 filter. Now if you want to use your camera as long as you can expose for several minutes during a full moon and there are lots of emission nebulas out then use a 6 to 7 nm Ha filter. Here are some results that I show live to an NSN audience one night using my MCX2 and Orion 7 nm Ha filter.

M17

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14197358716/

M16

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14220517175/in/photostream/

NGC 6888

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/14033863508/in/photostream/

Here are some using my wider Lumicon 35 nm Ha Night Sky filter

M51

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/13975351997/in/photostream/

M57

https://www.flickr.com/photos/47296963@N08/13975335419/in/photostream/

**All images were not post processed**

Chris A

Astrogate