M1 Crab Nebula on Boxing Day

[The Thing]

26/12/2009 02:30 (mid point)
Canon 350Da first light. Astronomik CLS-CCD clip filter, Baader Alan Gee II Telecompressor, Meade LX90 8" UHTC, Lakeside Motorised Focuser, Maxim DL, SPC900NC LX B/W modded guide cam, 200mm f3.5 camera lens as guide scope.

10x4mins total subs processed on a damp night. Cropped but full resolution. Converting to JPEG has not done this image any favours! The scope wasn't properly collimated and I had never used the the automatic focusing before. It's my deepest deep sky image yet!
 

[Mac]

nice try of M1.

like the colours,

Is the focus problem collimation or the auto focus prog or both.

at least you know its now possible, just have to wait again for those freezing nights.

Mac.

[JohnP]

Wow Duncan a lot of firsts & congrats on the image. Well done on 4min subs as well. Looks like there are some coma issues (maybe flattener spacing etc). The image shows a lot of potential for such short exposure.

John

[Rocket Pooch]

Thats prettty good Duncan for a 1st, and not an easy target at the focal length either.

[Fay]

Well done Duncan, as John said, a lot of new techniques & equipment you were using there, all at once. Seems a lot of detail there for 4 mins

[RobertM]

That's a very good start Duncan.  New techniques and kit are hard to master at the best of times so getting a result first time out is really good work.  Looks like you have a few things to work on but do check the collimation first using a star (real or artificial).  A quick way to check collimation isn't too far off is to look down the corrector end of the tube from about 6-8ft and check primary/secondary reflections are all concentric.

[The Thing]

Thanks all.

I am very happy to have got this image. I processed this version in DSS and have had a go in Iris with the same subs which looks more promising.

I use a mask (look it up in the forums) for accurate collimation - couldn't be bothered with all the other stuff going on! If my guiding had worked I would have had about 3 hours on M1 but for some reason my mount won't respond to dec guide commands - then suddenly it works. I have been trying to find out why but I am convinced it's the ASCOM pulse guiding driver from the Stark Labs site.

The stars are very round and sharp compared to my previous attempts, the Lakeside motorised focuser is a dream to use.

[Carole]

Well done getting M1 Duncan.

If my guiding had worked I would have had about 3 hours on M1 but for some reason my mount won't respond to dec guide commands - then suddenly it works.

I'm getting a feeling of deja vu here, as you are using WXA for guiding I believe, the same software I had problems with the other night which I now know was partially working.  Is this just a recent problem, or on-going?  Is it possible we have the same software problem?

Carole

[The Thing]

Hi Carol.
Guiding with my scope/fork mount has been an endless battle. If the cables are ok the software crashes. If the Software is ok the mount only responds to one direction for guide commands (RA usually) so I get trails in the other axis. IF it all works I pray and don't touch anything until I have some Lights in the bag!

I variously use wxAstrocapture (which now has an ASCOM capability but that's complicated to use), PHD but I can't use LX on the guide webcam as that crashes PHD, or Maxim DL which is fine as long as the mount is responding in both axes.

If I use the Canon utility to capture Lights, DSLR Shutter to control the exposures and wxAstroCapture to guide I seem to get the best results. However Maxim also allows control of the scope and focuser so is very convenient - but when I have captured FITS images with it they seem impossible to process unlike the Canon CR2 RAW files. Anyone know how to get Maxim to capture RAW?

It's constant a struggle. This afternoons activity is to wire it all up in the conservatory and find out why the focuser stopped responding...

[Fay]

Gosh, Duncan, I am surprised you are still sane, although I know what it is like!!!

[Mac]

Anyone know how to get Maxim to capture RAW?

Why not just let the camera capture the files?
rather then transfer them to the pc. you can always do that later.
Easier option and one less thing to worry about for the time being.

[Carole]

Blimey Duncan, what a nightmare. 
This imaging lark is a real challenge, not only to the persons trying to operate it, but relies heavily on the equipment doing what it's supposed to do.

Carole

[Mac]

not only to the persons trying to operate it, but relies heavily on the equipment doing what it's supposed to do.

the equipment only does what its told to do

[MarkS]

It's not easy, this hobby!

Duncan, a lot went right in this image - the guiding looks fine, the colours are good and this was first light for you modded Canon.

However, it does look defocused and I agree that you may have a collimation problem  - but personally I think is more than likely an off centre Alan Gee.

Mark

[Carole]

the equipment only does what its told to do

If the cables are ok the software crashes. If the Software is ok the mount only responds to one direction for guide commands (RA usually) so I get trails in the other axis. IF it all works I pray and don't touch anything until I have some Lights in the bag!

I variously use wxAstrocapture (which now has an ASCOM capability but that's complicated to use), PHD but I can't use LX on the guide webcam as that crashes PHD, or Maxim DL which is fine as long as the mount is responding in both axes.

Apart from meaning equipment and/or software I rest my case.

Carole