Select an image size for a larger view:

800 x 600

1290 x 960

1600 x 1200
            



            
This image is another short
            exposure set, taken to test out the SV80s with the ST10XME CCD
            camera. This is a pure RGB image, with no extra hydrogen alpha
            data added. Despite this, the results show some promise, and
            even with these unacceptably trailed stars from flexure (when
            I tried to use the main instrument as a guider), the results
            seem compelling. 

            
Look carefully
            at the color variations across the face of the nebula. When maintaining
            a precise G2V color balance on nebula, I often see subtle colors
            not easily seen otherwise. Here, notice the set of pink areas
            just above the "Gulf of Mexico" region, and just above
            that one at the top of the frame. Such intricate hues were never
            recorded by me with my film shots, even with deep Schmidt Camera
            images. Also note the plethora of yellow stars in this image.
            This is caused by extensive interstellar dust in this part of
            the Galaxy.

            
I now think
            the setup has been more or less wrung out, and is ready for some
            deep, dark skies imaging. The next step is to move the refractor
            to its own permanent observatory up in the ultra dark, world
            class skies at Happy Jack.

Instrument:  Stellarvue SV80s
Platform:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  SBIG 10XME NABG with Enhanced Water Cooling
Guider: SBIG ST4
Exposure:  RGB = 10:10:10
RGB Combine Ratio:  1: 1.05: 1.11
Filters:  AstroDon RGB Tricolor
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 5 arcsec (Maxim DL - 10min subframe), Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  45 F
CCD Temperature:  -20 C
Processing Tools:  Maxim DL, Gralaks Sigma, Photoshop, PixInsight, Starizona Debloomer.
HOME   GALAXIES     EMISSION NEBS     REFLECTION NEBS   COMETS  
   GLOBULARS     OPEN CLUST     PLANETARIES     LINKS