What a great couple of nights!
Finally, February’s usual freezing and clear nights arrived on Friday, and stayed for Saturday too. (Supposed to be clearish tonight too, but I am just too shattered to even think about it).
I`d just like to thank Rob Kelly from RCK for helping me help myself, and stop me smoking through Hypnotherapy ( http://www.rck.net/ ). My imaging sessions used to be my worst time, and yet I have just managed to two all night sessions in a row without the mearest hint of an urge to light up!
Just how many objects can you pack into a single image? I left this running as my second sequence of the night while I got some sleep early this morning. Normally I`d stay up all night, but with Saturday (and possibly Sunday/Monday/Tues/etc) looking clear, I`ll need some sleep or I`ll completely lose the plot.
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 24×600s, CLS
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker (2 x drizzle)
Post Process: ImagesPlus (2xbin) + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
Lets see… Astrometry says I have:
* NGC 4374 / M 84
* NGC 4388
* NGC 4402
* NGC 4406 / M 86
* NGC 4425
* NGC 4435 / The Eyes
* NGC 4438 / The Eyes
* NGC 4459
* NGC 4461
* NGC 4473
* NGC 4477
* NGC 4486 / M 87
* NGC 4501 / M 88
* IC 3475
* NGC 4531
* NGC 4548 / M 91
* NGC 4552 / M 89
* NGC 4569 / M 90
* NGC 4571
But I`m sure the larger version shows a fair few faint fuzzies in the background…
(Click on the image for the larger version)
Next up, NGC2264 Xmas Tree + ConeOTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 15×600s, CLS
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker (2 x drizzle)
Post Process: ImagesPlus (2xbin) + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
Notes: Some isues with color gradient due to the flats (need to get them sorted out once and for all!). Its possibly a little over processed, but not sure…. not much noise in it. I may end up going back to process this one again.
(Click on the image for the larger version)
Lastly, M31
OTA: NS8GPS @ f/2 (Hyperstar v3)
Guiding: William Optics ZenithStar 66 SD + DSI-C + PHD
RGB Imaging: QHY8 + MaximDL, 12×600s, CLS
Stacked: DeepSkyStacker (2 x drizzle)
Post Process: ImagesPlus (2xbin) + PSCS2 + Noel Carboni’s AstroTools
(Click on the image for the larger version)
Posted by Steve under Astro | Comments Off on What a great couple of nights!
