Camera Labs

Hi folks,

Weather plus other commitments prevented any astrophotography last month so it was nice to get back in the swing of things this evening. That said, the subs showed signs of a little condensation on the CCDs window, a recurring problem with my cooled CCD and I think I'm going to have to invest in a can of argon gas to solve it. The Moon stopped play after 6 x 1500 second Hα subs.

Herewith a very quick and dirty preview of the data at 1/8th size so that I can see how deep I went at f/7 and how much detail might be present:

I think there's enough there that I can move on and capture some RGB subs tomorrow if the weather holds. The Hα image above needs a much subtler treatment which will take me many hours to do as opposed to the few minutes this evening. It will also have its stars removed in preparation for adding in the stars from the RGB subs when I can grab them.

Time for a cup of hot chocolate and a good night's sleep!

Bob,

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Ok, I haven't seen the heart in that depth before! Never enough time to get enough data is there? Ever through about paralleling up?

Sleep is calling me too, but I just downloaded a quick attack on Andromeda, while I get a widefield around M52 right now. Gonna be lazy I think, the mount can stay in the garden overnight! Don't think neighbours will be too pleased to hear banging metal if I were to move it in now. There is no rain forecast right?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

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I've just bought one of these together with a gas regulator:

It's not visible but there is a faint halo around the brightest stars in the centre of the image above which very much looks like there was a little condensation on the window protecting the sensor which runs at -25°C. While removal of the camera from the filter wheel is easy enough to do it is not so easy to reattach the camera with exactly the same (lack of) rotational offset to the telescope mounting so the plan is to flush the camera/filter wheel assembly with pure argon gas (no water vapour content) by temporarily removing one of the bolts holding the two halves of the filter wheel together and introducing the gas that way. Hopefully there shouldn't be any dust to be blown about inside the filter wheel. If it works but needs to be repeated occasionally I'll attach an inflation nipple to the body of the filter wheel. No jokes about blowing up my camera, thank you!

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

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I doubted the meteoblue forecast for quite a while this evening but the skies cleared and I've made a start on the RGB subs. The plan is my usual 5 x 200 seconds in each colour to grab the stars (to which the Hα nebulosity sans stars will get added) and if the fates are kind I'll be done well before moonrise and might even be able to move across to the Soul Nebula.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hope you have good seeing. Due to earlier cloud and forecasts I haven't set up tonight. Having had another look outside... it's borderline but I'll pass on account by the time I finish setting up it'll be late already. No obvious cloud but there's a strong orange cast in my local sky.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hi popo,

Bad luck and thanks for the good wishes which paid off for me. The RGB subs are in the can and I even managed to get a couple more 1500 second H-alpha subs. The 'scope is now indoors once more as the forecast doesn't look too great for a few nights. Too late to process anything tonight but that's what cloudy/rainy days are for!

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.