Cone and Christmas Tree, High Halden

[Carole]

This is about the 4th time I have attempted this object and with Mark's dark skies (albeit with fog), I finally have something I feel I can post.

I did a mixture of 30mins and 20min subs, but only managed to use one 30min subs, so it's basically
6 x 20mins Ha
3 x 15mins binned x 2 Oiii
More data would have been nice, but sky conditions prevented it. Since I might not get a chance to add to this for the foreseeable future, this will have to do for now.

Skywatcher ED80 with x 0.8 focal reducer
HEQ5 and Atik314L

[Carole]

Two more versions (not reprocesses)

for those who like Mono the Ha only version:



and this is an HaRGB version, combined with an image I did at Kelling in 2013 with a QHY8L (little bit of corner "fudging" due to different orientations). 

[Ivor]

You've really pulled some nice detail out especially at the bottom of the tree there is a depth to it. I think my favourite is the first image you call really see the whisps of nebula, the HaRGB has a really strong cyan halo around the stars. Do you see that?

[Carole]

Thanks Ivor, yes I need to do something to those Halos, but I am also a bit reluctant to lose the added colour it gives. 
Guess I just like pretty colours lol.

Carole

[MarkS]

I like the HaRGB version.

However, I don't the OIII adds much to the image.

Mark

[Carole]

I don't the OIII adds much to the image.

I agree, the data had very little on it.

Carole

[Fay]

oh i thought you were using the 120, as I thought you wont get that in there. you could do with your 72 I am thinking you have one. well you have got a collection of long subs and will be able to add to it. it  is often imaged corner to corner

[Carole]

I am having some problems mounting the WO71 at the moment Fay.  There are no mounting rings on it so unless I mount side by side it means some improvisation and I never found side by side imaging very successful for a number of reasons. 

So I had a finderscope foot welded to a mounting ring I managed to fit round it.  It seemed to be OK at first but latterly I was getting trailing after only 5min subs and I suspected flexure.  So have had to abandon the skywatcher bracket and mount the finderguider in it's own rings and now can do 30mins with no trailing.  I now have to find a new way to mount this on the WO and so far not had any success.

I guess I could try side by side again I still have the bar, but I need to get it shortened as one of the problems was it was too long and would clash with the pier plate.

Carole