SGL 2023 Challenge 3 - DSLR and Mirrorless Deep Sky Challenge

[MartinB]

Modern astro cameras with set point cooling are superb instruments for night time imaging.  However, modern DSLRs and mirrorless cameras aren't too shabby either.  So here is a chance to see how well these general purpose cameras can perform when faced with the challenge of capturing deep sky astronomical targets.  For the purposes of this challenge deep sky means any object beyond our solar system.  Cameras modified by removing the IR filter are eligable but not any with fitted electronic cooling.  Although labelled DSLR and Mirrorless all cameras are permitted other than those specifically designed for astroimaging.  You can use a Box Brownie if you like (now that would be a challenge!)

Please include details of equipment used and other capture information.

Start date 1st March 2023

End date 31st May 2023 

No entries will be accepted after this date.

 

As previously the winner and runners up will receive an SGL challenge mug showing their image along with a virtual medal-of-honour for their SGL signature.

Please post entries directly into this thread

To keep the thread manageable for the judges please do not post comments about entries, emoji reactions are welcome of course.

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RULES

All data must be captured and processed by you (no collaborative entries). 
Data must be captured during the challenge start & end dates. 
Multiple entries are allowed but please make a fresh post within the thread.
Multiple submissions of the same image, processed differently, will not be accepted.

[R26 oldtimer]

Ok, I'll bite 😄.

This is my take on the heart & soul nebula. Shot during three nights, from 3rd to 6th of March, with moon almost full, from Athens (bortle 9+), and was actually intended as a test for my new lens.

120x300sec subs, Canon RPfullspectrum, Optolong L-extreme, Canon FD 300L 2.8 @2.8, Pegasus nyx-101.

 

 

[Big_Dob]

Abell 1656, the Coma Cluster. AT115, Nikon D5300 with a big crop, 130 X 150", Bortle 5, March 16

 

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Big_Dob

[Red Chilli]

Canon 6Da, Redcat51, Optron Cem25P, Asiair v1, ZWO mini guider, ASI120mini

51x300sec ISO 1600. SQML-21.20

Pixinsight, BlurXTerminator, GraXpert,Affinity Photo

 

[Vroobel]

Hi,

The Owl Nebula (M 97), 3-4/4/2023

Newton 10" F/5 (1270mm fl), Optolong L-eXtreme, MPCC III, modified EOS 6D @ Opus Magnum ATM fork mount (https://www.astrobin.com/4sm2ql/)
57 x 300s, ISO1600, Bortle 8

Astrobery+KStars+Ekos, Affinity Photo, PixInsight

Full size picture: https://www.astrobin.com/full/bbh9dj/0/?mod=&real=

 

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Vroobel

[woldsman]

 

Coma Berenices with C38 (Needle galaxy), C36  and other galaxies in the background. Canon 100d astro-modified Baader BCF with a Samyang 135mm lens. 180 x 20" with calibration frames (101 bias, 31 darks, 31 flats). Imaged on 19th April (New Moon). 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2023 by woldsman

[rockinrome]

Hello all, this is going back some years, but I think it has legs!

Rosette Nebula in Monoceros.

Altair Astro 72ED-R and field flattener with Canon 600D stock at prime focus with SkyTech CLS clip-in filter. Total 1hr 40min @ ISO1600.

 

[900SL]

Orion,  D5600 unmodded,  Fornax LT2,  GT71, 18 x 180s unguided (love the Fornax LT for portable...)

 

Edited May 24, 2023 by 900SL

[Luke Newbould]

NGC7000 region, Bortle 7 skies, 50x5m exposures.

AZ-Gti & RedCat51, Player One Anti-Halo Pro Dualband filter - Camera used is a baader modified Canon 700d

Stacked in APP, processed in PixInsight

Difficult capture this time of the year, way too low but I couldn't resist it!

[asanmax]

Here is my take on the Horsehead Nebula from the city in a Bortle 8 red zone.

94EDPH with an F/4.4 reducer. Full spectrum Nikon D5300. CLS-CCD filter. A total of 3 hours and 47 minutes of three minute exposures at ISO 200.

[Elbasso]

I was quite happy how M 51 turned out, given the modest specs of the gear and software used:

• TS-Optics 60ED (360mm), AZ-GTI with 120mm guide scope
• No filters, standard (unmodified) Canon EOS800D
• Single night (April 21st), 57x 150s, ISO 800
• Stacked, cropped and processed with Siril, finalized with Photoshop

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by Elbasso
Added the object name

[WolfieGlos]

Here is my take on NGC2237, The Rosette Nebula. Imaged across 2 nights, 14th March and 7th April, long gap between sessions due to pesky clouds.

Canon EOS 800D (Astro modded) + Optolong Lenhance filter +  Skywatcher Evostar 72ED
Sky Watcher HEQ5 with Belt Mod
ZWO ASI120mm Mini + ZWO 30mm F/4
Frames - 96 x 300s (08:00:00), ISO 400
Calibrations - 50 bias, 30 flats.

Stacked in SiriL, processed with SIRIL, StarnetV2, AstrodenoisePy and GIMP

[asanmax]

The Owl Nebula imaged from the city.

Equipment used:
Sky-Watcher Quattro 250P Imaging Newtonian
Starizona Nexus 0.75x Focal Reducer/Coma Corrector
Full spectrum modified Nikon D5300
Optolong L-eNhance filter

EQ6-R Pro Mount

3.5 hours of total integration time.

[WolfieGlos]

NGC4565, The Needle Galaxy.

First image with the new scope, subs taken on 28th April , 10th and 13th May. Also posted in the deep sky imaging forum.

Canon EOS 800D (Astro modded) +  Starfield 102ED with 0.8 reducer. No filters.
Sky Watcher HEQ5 with Belt Mod
ZWO ASI120mm Mini + ZWO 30mm F/4
Frames - 84 x 300s (07:00:00), ISO 400
Calibrations - 50 bias, 40 flats, 6 darks.

Stacked in SiriL, processed with SIRIL, StarnetV2 and GIMP. Final image cropped to suit the first 30 frames which were imaged without the reducer (eff 712 focal length).

[woldsman]

 

Rho Ophiuchi imaged from the East Sussex Coast on May 19th (New Moon). 154 x 30”. Canon Baader BCF modded 100d ISO 400 with a Samyang 135mm f2.8. Unguided using a Sky Watcher Star Adventurer.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by woldsman

[WolfieGlos]

M63 - The Sunflower Galaxy

As posted in the imaging forum https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/409905-m63-sunflower-galaxy/ .

 

I was a little unsure whether to enter the widefield or cropped version, but the widefield won out as I love just how many faint fuzzies are in this field. The DSLR has picked up galaxies in the PGC catalogue and other even fainter catalogs. I can see 2, maybe 3 distant galaxy clusters. Second image with the new scope, imaged across 5 sessions; 10 frames on 9th May, 32 frames on 12th May, 28 frames on 13th May, 45 frames on 15th May, 39 frames on 17th May. Some discarded for the final stack.

Canon EOS 800D (Astro modded) +  Starfield 102ED with 0.8 reducer. No filters.
Sky Watcher HEQ5 with Belt Mod
ZWO ASI120mm Mini + ZWO 30mm F/4
Frames - 144 x 300s (12:00:00), ISO 400
Calibrations - 50 bias, 40 flats, 6 darks.

Stacked in ASTAP, processed with SIRIL, AstroDeNoisePY and GIMP. Minor crop for stacking artifacts, FL = 570mm.

[Elbasso]

My attempt at the rather small (in my FoV) M 101:

• TS-Optics 60ED (360mm), AZ-GTI with 120mm guide scope
• No filters, standard (unmodified) Canon EOS800D
• Two nights (May 12+13th), 112x 120s, ISO 800
• Stacked, drizzled and processed with Siril, finalized with Photoshop

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by Elbasso

[Lucas M]

First ever attempt at deep sky imaging, and first time using photoshop, was aiming for the North America Nebula... I missed but got the Pelican Nebula next to is although its very faint.

 

Olympus OM-D EM10 Mkii, 300mm F6.7 with pig iron Astro clear light pollution filter

Star Adventurer GTi + ASIair mini 

ZWO ASI120mm Mini + Svbony 30mm F4 120mm guide scope

Frames 18 x 180s (00:54:00) ISO1000 (I had another 7 but bloody satellites...)

Calibration 10 bias 5 darks

Taken from Lytham St Annes coast on 25th May (well, 26th technically) Bortle 5 sky

Stacked in deep sky stacker and finished in photoshop

 

 

[MartinB]

This challenge has now ended.  The results will be announced in approximately 2 weeks time

[MartinB]

The results are in!

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/410901-sgl-2023-challenge-3-dslr-and-mirrorless-deep-sky-challenge/

 

[R26 oldtimer]

Congratulations to all participants!