Comments on: IOM September 2009 – the Iris nebula in Cepheus http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/ Adventures in Imaging Deep-Sky Objects Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:12:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ian G http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-726 Ian G Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:21:46 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-726 Thanks, Greg, for your encouraging words! I will try to stiffen the wedge- I'm now thinking since I already have two 1/2" threaded rods, on which the plate sits, I could connect them in couple of places. That should give me some additional rigidity. May be not the same as the full plate, but we'll see if that would make any difference. Thanks again, Ian Thanks, Greg, for your encouraging words!
I will try to stiffen the wedge- I’m now thinking since I already have two 1/2″ threaded rods, on which the plate sits, I could connect them in couple of places. That should give me some additional rigidity. May be not the same as the full plate, but we’ll see if that would make any difference.
Thanks again,
Ian

]]> By: Greg Parker http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-725 Greg Parker Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:13:21 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-725 Hi Ian, Your wedge is solidly constructed alright, but that open ended square section will give you problems. It takes very little flexure to throw out your polar alignment, and you have a very heavy mass (the C11) cantilevering all over the place. You need to close off that open ended box section with another aluminium plate to guarantee rigidity. The Iris image is very nice, some noise in the low signal regions, but this will go with more collected data - well done. Greg Hi Ian,
Your wedge is solidly constructed alright, but that open ended square section will give you problems. It takes very little flexure to throw out your polar alignment, and you have a very heavy mass (the C11) cantilevering all over the place. You need to close off that open ended box section with another aluminium plate to guarantee rigidity.
The Iris image is very nice, some noise in the low signal regions, but this will go with more collected data – well done.
Greg

]]> By: Ian G http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-724 Ian G Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:46:55 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-724 Greg! Can't find any pictures or description on this site. I will go ahead and order your book, however. I have a DIY wedge that is constructed from 20mm thick aluminum sheet - it was cut to my specs. I think it is sturdy enough. You can see it here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jMxJDKRIyQPTsEb08L6B_w?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqM1N2V2azbIw&feat=directlink Also, take a look at the Iris Nebula, I'd love to hear your comments: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1-YvPfRhFK5zAjyi9eg2NA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqM1N2V2azbIw&feat=directlink Regards, Ian Greg!
Can’t find any pictures or description on this site. I will go ahead and order your book, however. I have a DIY wedge that is constructed from 20mm thick aluminum sheet – it was cut to my specs. I think it is sturdy enough. You can see it here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jMxJDKRIyQPTsEb08L6B_w?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqM1N2V2azbIw&feat=directlink
Also, take a look at the Iris Nebula, I’d love to hear your comments:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1-YvPfRhFK5zAjyi9eg2NA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqM1N2V2azbIw&feat=directlink

Regards,
Ian

]]> By: Greg Parker http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-721 Greg Parker Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:53:06 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-721 Hi Ian, Thank you :) Now there is a problem with the Celestron wedge (if that's what you're using) which I discuss in my "How to"" book "Making Beautiful Deep-Sky Images" by Springer. Basically the end of the wedge is an open ended box-section and it deforms as the scope swings about all over the place. I have mostly eradicated this problem by closing off the end of the wedge with some aluminium sheeting. You can find a picture of this, and what I've done somewhere on this site, probably under observatory, or projects. This almost completely cures the problem, but I think I also occasionally get problems in the field corners with what looks like coma, but is actually down to a lousy wedge. I am not sure about the SAC10 specs without looking it up - but for one shot colour I recommend the 6 megapixel M25C from Starlight Xpress, or if you are mono then the full frame H36. Hope this helps. Greg Hi Ian,

Thank you :) Now there is a problem with the Celestron wedge (if that’s what you’re using) which I discuss in my “How to”" book “Making Beautiful Deep-Sky Images” by Springer. Basically the end of the wedge is an open ended box-section and it deforms as the scope swings about all over the place. I have mostly eradicated this problem by closing off the end of the wedge with some aluminium sheeting. You can find a picture of this, and what I’ve done somewhere on this site, probably under observatory, or projects. This almost completely cures the problem, but I think I also occasionally get problems in the field corners with what looks like coma, but is actually down to a lousy wedge. I am not sure about the SAC10 specs without looking it up – but for one shot colour I recommend the 6 megapixel M25C from Starlight Xpress, or if you are mono then the full frame H36. Hope this helps.

Greg

]]> By: Ian G http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-720 Ian G Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:05:55 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-720 Greg, Wonderful image, as always! I'm doing some of the similar imagery (with much more modest results, of course!) Did Iris at BFSP in Pennsylvania about a week ago. Some 1 hour of 5 min sub-frames. I have couple of technical questions. I see that you use a fork-mounted NS11 with Hyperstar, same as me. I have certain problems (sometimes) with the guiding. It seems that even decently polar-aligned (within 2-3 arc-minutes) scope would produce less than perfect stars, while guiding with 80mm WO and DSI-1 using PhD software. I was even contemplating to switch my mounting to a GEM. Now, seeing your setup I'm convinced that there are ways within it to improve (aren't there always!). Also, I use SAC10 camera. It still works fine for me, though I'm thinking to switch to larger format one. What would be the better choice in your opinion? Clear Skies! Ian Greg,
Wonderful image, as always! I’m doing some of the similar imagery (with much more modest results, of course!) Did Iris at BFSP in Pennsylvania about a week ago. Some 1 hour of 5 min sub-frames. I have couple of technical questions.

I see that you use a fork-mounted NS11 with Hyperstar, same as me. I have certain problems (sometimes) with the guiding. It seems that even decently polar-aligned (within 2-3 arc-minutes) scope would produce less than perfect stars, while guiding with 80mm WO and DSI-1 using PhD software. I was even contemplating to switch my mounting to a GEM. Now, seeing your setup I’m convinced that there are ways within it to improve (aren’t there always!).

Also, I use SAC10 camera. It still works fine for me, though I’m thinking to switch to larger format one. What would be the better choice in your opinion?

Clear Skies!
Ian

]]> By: Greg Parker http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-714 Greg Parker Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:39:39 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-714 Thank you Malcolm - Noel did a magnificent job on processing this, the brown dusty regions he brought out extremely well. The Tak 180 and M25C are a great combination and f#2.8 is plenty fast enough. I think you'll find Starizona actually do make a Hyperstar III that is compatible with your Meade. Greg Thank you Malcolm – Noel did a magnificent job on processing this, the brown dusty regions he brought out extremely well.

The Tak 180 and M25C are a great combination and f#2.8 is plenty fast enough. I think you’ll find Starizona actually do make a Hyperstar III that is compatible with your Meade.

Greg

]]> By: Malcolm Park http://www.newforestobservatory.com/2009/09/01/iom-september-2009-the-iris-nebula-in-cepheus/comment-page-1/#comment-711 Malcolm Park Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:52:08 +0000 http://www.newforestobservatory.com/?p=785#comment-711 A beautiful image of this dark nebular region. Particularly like the processing of the deep brown regions. I managed to begin imaging on the 3rd and 4th September (with Ha filter) by 21.40pm, capturing 5hrs of data each evening. These darker nights are welcomed! The thought of NGC7023 on my Sky90 for 24hrs would fill me with dread however my ambition this winter is to hook the new SXVR-M25C up to my Tak 180 ED with its reasonably fast f/2.8 optic. Unfortunately my Meade 12" sct is not fastar compatible. rgds Malcolm A beautiful image of this dark nebular region. Particularly like the processing of the deep brown regions.

I managed to begin imaging on the 3rd and 4th September (with Ha filter) by 21.40pm, capturing 5hrs of data each evening. These darker nights are welcomed! The thought of NGC7023 on my Sky90 for 24hrs would fill me with dread however my ambition this winter is to hook the new SXVR-M25C up to my Tak 180 ED with its reasonably fast f/2.8 optic. Unfortunately my Meade 12″ sct is not fastar compatible.

rgds

Malcolm

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