Jump to content

Narrowband

Galaxy


jonnyboy

Recommended Posts

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the best way to view galaxies ie do i need filters. Also what are the best things to observe. My equipment which i will receive tomorrow is an ED80 and a EQ6 pro skyscan. My site is in a light polluted area. Any help would be great.

cheers Jon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 26
  • Created
  • Last Reply

You have an excellent setup, the EQ6 is a great mount and the ED80 is a fantastic scope. As you have the GOTO version of the EQ6 finding your targets wont be a problem, however 80mm isn't all that much aperture to view faint objects. A light pollution filter may help, personally i can recommend the baader moon and sky glow filter, others can give you better advice (there are also some interesting threads here on the same subject).

Are you planning to do any photography with your setup (it's a fantastic setup for imaging), if not you may find you get better results using long exposure cameras as oposed to visual observing. For visual i would recommend more aperture, but that has a cost implication.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for that i will have a look at the other threads I'm trying to find my way round this site as well as i only joined yesterday. Yes i will be doing some astrophography when i learn the basic stuff like controlling the scope and getting used to finding my way round the sky.

What camera would you recommend to get great photos when i do get going?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jonny, you have chosen so good kit there. For astrophotography the best bets are either a standard digital SLR - some are more suitable than others and Canon have a good reputation. You can then use this for the family snaps as well. Alternatively you can go down the specialist astro camera route. These start with basic modified web cams which you can pick up second hand for around £200 but you will need a laptop with a parallel port for these. The little web cams are very sensitive and you can start getting good results really quickly esp with your set up. Once you get the bug you can spend BIG money!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The cheapest method is afocal photography where any camera will do and you simply point the camera at the eyepiece. More expensive and more versitile is a simple webcam with an adapter. However these are not long exposure so are only really useful for bright objects such as the moon and planets. You can buy or have modified webcams that ARE able to take long exposure images and these are much better suited to DSO's. If you already have a camera that can take 30 second or longer exposures you may already have enough equipment to start out. Investigate stacking images using registax software and you'll also learn how to photograh DSO's

Please feel free to ask more questions, we are a friendly bunch here and lots of people have more experience than me with imaging

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jon,

Welcome to Stargazers :D

If you are interested in visually observing galaxies and other faint deep-sky-objects, you will need to consider a larger aperture scope. The EQ6 is a tough/sturdy mount that should have no difficulty carrying even a 10" Newtonian. Alternatively, consider a Dobsonian - easily the most aperture per £ spent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry, DSO is deep space object, it includes galaxies, nebulas and pretty much anything not in our solar system. The Canon 300D is perfect for astrophotography. With the ED80 you have the makings of an amazing setup some people would kill for hehe. The LPI is good for the moon and planets, but the DSLR is best for anything faint.

You have all the right kit, so you are one step ahead of most people starting out! Now just the time taken to learn how to use it all, and thats the fun part!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello everyone and thanks for your time,

It looks like i do have a head start. as i do have a laptop as well. i was worried when i bought the eq6 and ed80 as you never know ( when you are a novice in anything) if you are being sold anything for the profits rather than what you need, now i am on this site (which is great) i will be asking all kinds before i buy anything. Best not mention to the wife about that expensive bug thing he he

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome to the forum...

I have an ED80 and plonk it on a HEQ5 a smaller version of your EQ6...Excellent set up for imaging and wide field views..

I see you already have a 300D. You can purchase an adapter so you can put the camera directly onto the back of the ED80 for imaging..It's cheap and you'll get some excellent results and it's what I do all my DSO's with.

If you want to image planets then a cheap webcam and a lap top is the way to go....Down load "Registax" it's free (Just type in Google). Buy an adapter for the webcam so you can put the webcam into the eyepiece holder of the scope and away you go....

Registax allows you to stack and tweak your avi files (Pics from the webcam)

You'll also need a x3 or x4 barlow or "Powermate" to enlarge the image.....Sounds complicated but remember that we'll be here for tips and advice...

Err...Some more chaps will be along in mo..More experienced in the imaging field of astro...

Greg...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't want to be a killjoy but....

Have you spent any time actually observing? If not, it might not be a bad idea to put off astrophotography for a year or two and spend the time simply observing the sky at the eyepiece. Regular observation can still be challenging and quietly viewing something like M13, Saturn, Orion nebula or the Moon - without distraction - is an experience not to be missed.

I have seen several healthy astro hobbies crash on the runway from an early involvement in astrophotography.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the other hand if you think imaging will rock your boat go for it. You have to enjoy tripping over cables in the dark, peering at a laptop screen rather than the stars, getting some fantastic captures only to discover that you haven't saved them, spending ages getting a decent polar alignment, finding target, booting up sofware focussing, focussing and more focusing, adjusting exposure then have everything cloud over, realising that your ideal kit costs more than a new car etc etc . If you can tick those boxes then you are an imager!

I love it and first slewed a scope 8 months ago. Enjoy the visual stuff too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jonny ,

well you have the same set up as i have the ED80 and HEQ6PRO with skyscan,this will give you excellent views of the moon and Planets, i have always found the viewing of galaxies a let down really , M31comes over ok ,but mostly to view these as the guys say you do need a more light gathering scope.

This set up does however provide you with a super imaging bit of kit , with the right camera of course, if i was you i would start off taking the first steps of imaging ,along with viewing and learning the sky,

the purchase of a Toucan pro2, web cam is a great way of getting started, taking images of the moon and getting the thrill of capturing pictures you never thought possible.

Being on this Forum you wil soon learn whats out there and its a great benchmark for progressing even more into this great hobby,

Take a look at my web site , under section IMAGES WITH THE ATIK 16HR these were all done with a set up the same as yours , minus the camera of course .

Rog

www.rwnewastro.co.uk

:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course Jonny, but just be aware that it does take time and is not as easy as that , but yup a big learning curve when you step up to true CCD imaging, a lot of dedication and time,and most of all knowing the art of processing, so its a big package to get to grips with , but anyone prepared to put in the time can achieve these results and better.

Good luck and i shall keep my eye on your progress.

Rog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Will never forget my 1st night with the Atik 2HS. Put the scope on M81 and could make out a smudge. Put in the Atik and peered at the laptop - nothing. Spent ages fiddling with K3 CCD tools. Eventually upped the gain and ran 10 sec exposures. Nothing. Started to refocus - hint of a large halo. Kept going - the excitement of seeing the arms and other detail of M81 appear on the laptop screen was one of the great experiences. Moved to M13 and seeing all the stars burst onto the screen...amazing. Still haven't come down from that high.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But of course , gives you that little bit of light grab as well so viewing will improve as well , at F9 that should be good for the planets as well using either barlows or good eye pieces, as for imaging, well ok for planets . moon etc , dsoS OK FOR THE EASY TARGETS LIKE M27 M57 and any other fairly bright objects that can be captured with short exposures, also star globs good targets and star clusters , so a good all rounder really , any other DSOs can be done but tracking would be critical to enable very long exposures , but no probs with that set up Jonny, maybe some others here would have some other opinions on it .

Cheers

Rog

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The ED100 and EQ6 is an excellent imaging setup for a DSLR like yours.

Check out threads regarding filters such as Gordon mentioned, Ha (hydrogen alpha) and CLS types. These will allow you to image things even if you have loads of light pollution.

The hard bits are:-

Getting the polar alignment spot on. Read the bit in the manual about aligning the reticule as if it's off you will not be able to polar align. 20 minute job to do it.

Focussing. Use the preview screen on maximum zoom to get spot on focus. This makes a massive difference in images and is the bit I find hardest.

Exposure time. Use as long an exposure as you need to get the histogram lump in the middle. If this gives you tracking problems, back off a little.

The easy targets are:-

Moon

Moon

Moon (sorry, but its just so much easier than anything else to start on)

Globular clusters

Anything brighter than Mag.7 ish.

I'm sure you'll be back soon for more, maybe even with an image.

Last tip is:-

Don't chuck out ANY images unless you KNOW its rubbish. I'm revisiting images from early this year when I first started and by using what I have learnt in processing I'm finding out that I'm a lot better than I thought I was. I'm still miles behind most guys here in image quality, knowhow and especially experience but the learning is really good fun.

Welcome to the strange world of astrophotography.

Captain Chaos

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last tip is:-

Don't chuck out ANY images unless you KNOW its rubbish. I'm revisiting images from early this year when I first started and by using what I have learnt in processing I'm finding out that I'm a lot better than I thought I was. I'm still miles behind most guys here in image quality, knowhow and especially experience but the learning is really good fun.

I'll go along with that one Gordon.....

When I started imaging I thought all my images were rubbish then I posted some on here and next min the photoshop gurus on here got hold of them......Wow.. :shock:

As Gordon says...Don't chuck em...Post em on here..we'll sort em :D

Polar alignment is critical in imaging....The more accurate you are the longer exposures you can do...Up to 4 - 5 min with an accurate polar alignment...

Look here!!!

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/Downloads/HEQ5andEQ6130405V1.pdf

If you have any of the Skywatcher mounts...make this your home page!!!

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/

See I have my uses!!! :D

Greg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.