Swan Nebula M17 - against teh odds!

[Stub Mandrel]

This is a target I really thought I would never get from my garden.

I have tried M16 before, which is a little higher, but it has always been totally wiped out by light pollution. Normally, even with a light pollution filter, I wouldn't even think of going back down into the murk...

Last night there was both excellent seeing and transparency, so I decided to have a go, even without a filter as a 15 second test shot actually showed up the Swan.

Being so low, just above the roofs and shed, not a lot of time, I managed to squeeze 50 2-minute subs in, more than I expected! This is the result, 150PL, 450D cooled and modded.

[alan potts]

OK it has it's faults but you have done well to get anything, it is pretty low here for and I'm a few hundred yards south of you, well done you must be pleased.

Alan

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very nice result

[Stub Mandrel]

Yep, colour isn't very good and very noisy, but yes I never expected to get a recognisable image at all from this low! First sub it was at 18 degrees, last one at 10 degrees!

[Stub Mandrel]

@alan potts sometimes you need someone to say  "that isn't quite good enough..." Here's another go, this time I got DSS to balance the background for me, let the blue-rich bits come out a bit better:

[alan potts]

1 minute ago, Stub Mandrel said:

@alan potts sometimes you need someone to say  "that isn't quite good enough..." Here's another go, this time I got DSS to balance the background for me, let the blue-rich bits come out a bit better:

I have just done 4 hours on this and I was only just starting to get a hint of blue, you've done better than me there.