M13 (30 mins) and M101 (50 mins) with a 6" RC - Updated

[Adreneline]

I decided it was time to bite the bullet and try to improve my 6" RC collimation with a star test; it's still not perfect but it's better than it was!

Having stressed myself out I pointed the RC+ASI1600 at M101 (for 50 mins) and M13 (for 30 mins) and this was the result.

This is my first GC so I am fairly pleased it worked out reasonably well:

I've imaged M101 many times in the past but not at 1100mm - for such a dim target this turned out better than I expected.

Due to my own failings calibration has proved to be a challenge but that is sortable with more time.

The RC might have a reputation for being 'slow' but it's definitely capable of surprises.

Thanks for looking.

Adrian

[nephilim]

Lovely images there Adrian 🙂

[Adreneline]

3 minutes ago, nephilim said:

Lovely images there Adrian 🙂

Thank you Steve - for so little integration time they turned out far better than I expected - truth is I expected nothing - certainly nothing worth sharing.

[nephilim]

1 hour ago, Adreneline said:

Thank you Steve - for so little integration time they turned out far better than I expected - truth is I expected nothing - certainly nothing worth sharing.

Those are definitely worth sharing.

[Adreneline]

This is a second session on M13 with the reducer removed giving a pixel scale of 0.562 arcsec/pixel and implying an effective focal length of 1390mm.

This is four sessions : (25 x 60s) + (25 x 120s) + (25 x 180s) + (25 x 60s) finishing just before transit.

I am really happy with the collimation now and don't think any further tinkering will improve things - quite the opposite in fact.

I used NINA to collect the data, APP to calibrate, register and integrate and PI to process using two careful and restrained applications of GHS - as little processing as I could get away with.

There is no dynamic or automatic background extraction (PI) or light pollution removal (APP) - this is literally how it came out of integration.

All I need now is some RGB to bring a bit of colour - later in the year I fear as astro-dark has all but gone.

Adrian

Edited May 12, 2022 by Adreneline
Image updated