A quick IC405

[TerryMcK]

I didn't get much time on this, just 8.5 hours, but still managed to pull out some detail.

1st time out with the new Antlia 3nm filters. I also got the LRGB filters too as part of the set and have been experimenting with them despite being in Bortle 7.

• Scope: William Optics ZS103 with 0x8 reducer/flattener
• Camera: ZWO ASI294mm Pro Gain 120 Offset 8 Binned 2x2
• Filters: Antlia 3nm Ha, S2 and O3
• 30 x S2, 29 x Ha, 26 x O3 all 6 minute subs - total 8.5 hours
• Image mapped SHO to RGB

 

 

I did find a tiny amount of O3 in this especially in the core but much weaker working outwards. 

No haloing discernible at all on any of the filters.

[Dmack1]

Nice! Very moody and dramatic!!

[MartinS]

A lot of nice detail and tight stars. Your new Antlia filters are working well for you. I am also very pleased with my 3nm Antlia units.

[AstronomyUkraine]

On 2/15/2023 at 5:43 PM, TerryMcK said:

I didn't get much time on this, just 8.5 hours, but still managed to pull out some detail.

1st time out with the new Antlia 3nm filters.

Looks good Terry, for just 8.5 hours. I just ordered a set of the Antlia SHO Pro Ultra filters. They are rated at 2.8nm, so will be testing them when the weather permits.

 

Edited February 17 by AstronomyUkraine

[Astrobdlbug]

On 2/15/2023 at 4:43 PM, TerryMcK said:

all 6 minute subs

Terry, great start to your 3nm journey - interesting you are using 6mins for subs - is that something related to ASI294 settings and calculated or basically an exposure that just works well in your setup?

 

46 minutes ago, AstronomyUkraine said:

Antlia SHO Pro Ultra filters. They are rated at 2.8nm,

Be very interesting to get your views on the performance aa the Antlia marketing the technical spec are stating 20-30% improvement in signal v’s 3nm and stability with Ohara quartz glass substrate. But wow 2.8nm bandpass - the technology we can access for Astro imaging is really moving rapidly

 

Bryan

[AstronomyUkraine]

56 minutes ago, Astrobdlbug said:

Be very interesting to get your views on the performance aa the Antlia marketing the technical spec are stating 20-30% improvement in signal v’s 3nm and stability with Ohara quartz glass substrate. But wow 2.8nm bandpass - the technology we can access for Astro imaging is really moving rapidly

 

Bryan

I never knew these existed until I noticed them on the Teleskop Express website. They have the Antlia Pro 3nm variety, but these are on a different level.

 

Edited February 17 by AstronomyUkraine

[TerryMcK]

1 hour ago, Astrobdlbug said:

interesting you are using 6mins for subs - is that something related to ASI294 settings and calculated or basically an exposure that just works well in your setup?

Bryan I've been using 6 minutes for ages now with all 3 cameras ASI294mm, both of ASI183mm and ASI183mc variants. It works well for most objects.

I have been using 30 second subs on the Antlia LRGB filters that I also purchased recently and that is more than enough in Bortle 7 by doing 100s of short subs and when integrated they pull out the detail well without much star bloat. I did have a problem with the greens picking up some local light pollution when the scope was angled close to a neighbours house, that is lit up like a Christmas tree, but was able to discard those. On IC405 the green was picking up some nebulosity which I guess is O3 and that was confirmed with the O3 Antlia filter.

 

When I capture bright objects in SHO like the Horsehead I have found that many shorter subs works a lot better and for instance Alnitak wasn't bloated and showed its tiny companion star next to it whilst still picking up the nebulosity of the nebula. After integration it appears like a long exposure shot but without a bloated star whiteout.

 

3 hours ago, AstronomyUkraine said:

Looks good Terry, for just 8.5 hours. I just ordered a set of the Antlia SHO Pro Ultra filters. They are rated at 2.8nm, so will be testing them when the weather permits.

They certainly are pushing the boundaries of filter technology. I'd be interested to see how you get on with those Brian

[Adam Y]

Gorgeous shot, Terry! Looks almost like a hologram to me.

[RaDec]

Wonderful image Terry - looks so mysterious.

The filters certainly worked their magic.

I'm guessing you have an obsey?

 

Keith

[TerryMcK]

3 hours ago, RaDec said:

Wonderful image Terry - looks so mysterious.

The filters certainly worked their magic.

I'm guessing you have an obsey?

 

Thanks Keith. No not a permanent observatory as such. I wheel out the rigs (I have 2 at the moment) when I know there is going to be clearish skies in the winter and autumn. They have their respective wiring harnesses permanently fixed in place. I put the tripods into marked positions in the yard, put the scopes on and connect the flying leads to the scopes. Then when it gets to dusk I polar align. It only takes a couple of minutes and then I am away. The computers, ethernet switches, power supplies etc are in ventilated boxes that sit under each rig. I have structured cabling running to outdoor weatherproof ethernet sockets adjacent to the rigs so control everything remotely from indoors.

If the weather is forecast to be good or reasonable for a few days into the future I throw over 365 covers and in the summer a pergola can be wheeled over the rigs. I call this a Jousting Tent Roll Off Roof as it resembles the middle ages jousting tents. It doubles up as a sunshade for outdoor dining in the summer. So as long as there aren’t any high winds the mounts remain outside in the summer.

 

Not quite as flexible as a proper observatory but that may well be a future aspiration. Probably a roll off roof shed type design.