Tulip Nebula - I've broken the 5 minute barrier

[Parallax]

Up until now I have been imaging with the Explorer 200 and guiding with the ST80 all atop a HEQ5 Pro. Exposures greater than 5 mins showed 'pixel drift' due to flexure. The mount was probably overloaded. I've now purchased a C80ED and mounted it instead of the Explorer. The result - movement of only 1 pixel after 20mins!

The problem now is what to do with the Explorer?

Subs - 14 x 600s (no darks)

Imaging - C80ED, 0.5x fr, Atik16ic-s, 12nm Ha filter

Guiding - ST80, QHY5, Maxim

Processing - Maxim, PSCS

Steve

[Aza]

Nice one Steve. Probably got a more yourself a more useful FOV with that camera/scope combo. At leaset you can finally concentrate on getting data rather than worrying about the guiding etc.

[Dangerous-Dave]

Smashing image Steve. How many moa is this nebula? Might have to give it a go!

[Parallax]

Dave

Not sure how many moa (minutes of arc?), but that FOV is ~74' x 55'

Steve

[Dangerous-Dave]

Dave

Not sure how many moa (minutes of arc?), but that FOV is ~74' x 55'

Steve

Yes, sorry: moa = minutes of arc.

I expect you know already but Cygnus X1 is in that shot!

[Deneb]

Give the explorer to me , really some targets like M33 a faint galaxy can be quite well resolved in an 8" newt.

[rich_t]

That's really nice Steve, I imagine you might want to use the explorer again in the Spring for the smaller galaxies? Maybe you could get/make a dob mount for it in the meantime to use for visual stuff while the heq5 is imaging?

Cheers,

Rich.

[Parallax]

Yes, I did think of using the Explorer for visual. I have got an EQ5, but it is out on loan to my Dad, along with the 102. I'll have to 'borrow' it back.

Thanks for the comments.

Steve

[MartinB]

Good result Steve, onwards and upwards now

[gary1968]

Great image Steve, and good you are now over the 5min mark, :-) . As for the explorer, build a dob rocker box for it, give you something to do when you are imaging.

Gary

[barkis]

A very aptly named nebula, and nicely done too.

Ron.

[Starjumper]

Great image and detail Steve.

John