SH2-264 - Angelfish Nebula in Ha

[don4l]

A clear night at last!!!

This is a six pane mosaic of SH2-264, also Known as the Angelfire Nebula.  Each pane consists of 5 x 120s shots with a Ha filter.  The total exposure time is 60m.  This isn't often imaged, probably because of its size,  but I reckon that the bit at the top right would make a very nice image at a longer focal length.

These mosaics are probably much easier than they look.   The first frame gets platesolved an the image angle is set in CdC.  After that you only need to use EQMOD to move the mount around. It only takes about a minute to move from one frame to the next.  Accurate focus is not critical because the images are going to be eventually  binned about 4 x 4.

I've also added a screenshot from CdC with the image fairly accurately superimposed.

Details:

FSQ 106ED at F3.3, STL6303, on an EQ6 with EQMOD driven by CdC.

Calibration and Stacking in CCDSoft.

Mosaic in The Gimp.

 

 

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Nice image with lots going on. 

Steve