First attempt Ha with DSO-1

[f15p5]

Using 4.3" f7 with .28 Varioreducer and Orion Ha filter.

[Dave In Vermont]

Very nice introduction! Please do continue. I am very interested in people's results with Ha filters. I'm going to be playing with a Sulfur II soon myself.

Clear & Dark Skies,

Dave

[oliverschurer]

Hello - I am using a DSO-1 in heavy light pollution and need to improve my images - how long are these exposures please? Do you know all of your other DSO-1 settings from these images? Also, what is the scope and mount being used? How would you describe the light pollution from your location? Thanks very much.

[f15p5]

Hi Oliver,

Am using a 110mm f7 refractor with .24 focal reduction. A Orion Ha filter on a Celestron VX mount. The best images were at:

Intg=1024

AGC=36

Brightness 99

Night for B&W

Day for color

INTMUL = 5

No dark frames, poor focus, rural area with some light pollution 30 degrees up to the south, a high pressure sodium light to my NW 75 yards away, and glow to my west from billboards along I-75 2 miles away and a Walmart distribution center 5 miles away.  Don't remember color setting, will have to look them up in my log.

Hope this helps,

Richard

[oliverschurer]

Yes - perfect - thank you

[DoctorD]

Hi Richard

Great images - especially the Horse Head.

x1024 is about 20 seconds exposure so considering that the DSO-1 is a colour camera and you are losing sensitivity over a mono camera pretty impressive.

You just need to nail the focus - I'd recommend a Bahtinov Mask, dead easy to use.

CS

Paul

[f15p5]

Hi Paul,

Thanks, yes this 5x17 seconds for 85 second exposure, max for the DSO-1. The Ha filter makes getting a good focus tough for sure, have already started making the mask from instructions here: http://www.deepskywatch.com/Articles/make-bahtinov-mask.html. Thanks for your advice.

Richard