41 replies to this topic

[Astrojedi]

Enjoyed a very clear night last night (before more rain moves into SoCal in the next couple of days). Observed many galaxies including the M87 elliptical or Virgo A.

 

Managed to capture quite a bit of structure in the relativistic jet that is shooting near the speed of light from this giant elliptical.

 

A live stack using just 2s exposures (15x2s = total 30s) for maximum resolution (eliminating mount errors as much as possible) with no binning with the ASI290 Mono. Have I already mentioned how much I am enjoying this little camera : )

 

Note that I have not used any calibration. What you are seeing is the raw output of the sensor without darks or flats or bias frames applied. The sensor is so clean that I rarely bother with darks on cool evenings.

 

 

M87 15x2s

Evolution C8@F4.3, ASI290 mono and SharpCap

 

Make sure you see the full resolution image. Flickr Link to full resolution image: https://www.flickr.c...06/32732538260/

 

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Edited by Astrojedi, 26 February 2017 - 05:09 PM.

[jgraham]

Wow, that's cool!

[nytecam]

Excellent Hiten - one of the best M87 jet I seen here - and in 2s subs totalling 30s.  You could try that sub on other popular targets perhaps 

 

Nytecam

Edited by nytecam, 26 February 2017 - 06:48 AM.

[A. Viegas]

Very impressive. Just imagine if you were in a dark sky location! These little usb cmos cams are very good value.

Al

[Astrojedi]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

 

Nytecam, yes the 2s exposures actually work pretty well on other bright objects such as globs. Really helps resolution. Planning to try them on some smaller objects as well but for fainter objects requires lots of stacking.

 

Al, I am planning to take the camera to a dark sky site soon. It should perform especially well on fainter objects. 

[Astrojedi]

Here is M64. Stack of 20x8s. Same setup as above. Make sure you click for full size.

 

Edited by Astrojedi, 26 February 2017 - 05:06 PM.

[Astrojedi]

Here is M51. Stack of 35x8s. Same setup as above.

 

Just to illustrate how live the experience is and how the image forms I have attached a stack of 2x8s to show how it looks like in the beginning of the sequence. Quite enjoyable to watch as the image forms.

 

 

Here is how it looks like when starting the stack... it is a very live continuous true integration... (note that the reason SharpCap is ignoring frames as I paused the stacking to capture the screenshot)

 

Edited by Astrojedi, 26 February 2017 - 05:07 PM.

[Astrojedi]

Here is NGC4449. Stack of 20x8s.

 

Some nice detail in the star forming regions.

 

[Dwight J]

I agree with Nytecam, best M87 seen here.  I was just looking at similar approach in CCD forum.  There 1,000's of frames stacked after manual selection - must of taken a week!  This in mere seconds.

[Don Rudny]

Great results, Hiten!

 

With the Evo 8, this is an affordable, easy to use live view setup.

[Astrojedi]

I agree with Nytecam, best M87 seen here.  I was just looking at similar approach in CCD forum.  There 1,000's of frames stacked after manual selection - must of taken a week!  This in mere seconds.

Thanks Dwight. And just to emphasize this was done on an Alt Az mount. EAA has become a lot more accessible and hopefully more join in.

[Astrojedi]

Great results, Hiten!

 

With the Evo 8, this is an affordable, easy to use live view setup.

Thanks Don. You hit the nail on the head.

[Astrojedi]

Last one... The Siamese twins... detail is quite exceptional. I am achieving better live view/EAA results with this setup than I ever did even with premium mounts and Cameras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[roelb]

Here is M51. Stack of 35x8s. Same setup as above.

 

Just to illustrate how live the experience is and how the image forms I have attached a stack of 2x8s to show how it looks like in the beginning of the sequence. Quite enjoyable to watch as the image forms.

 

M51 35x8s.jpg

 

Here is how it looks like when starting the stack... it is a very live continuous true integration... (note that the reason SharpCap is ignoring frames as I paused the stacking to capture the screenshot)

 

M51 Screen Grab 2x8s.jpg

For comparison: 

Evo 8 @ f/5 (f = 1.016 mm) (FOV: 22' x 16') - Lodestar X2 Mono - Suburban area - without LP filter

SLL V.3.1: 11 x 30 s mean

[roelb]

Last one... The Siamese twins... detail is quite exceptional. I am achieving better live view/EAA results with this setup than I ever did even with premium mounts and Cameras.

 

Siamese Twins Annotated.png

And even after nearly 7 min on a ALT/AZ: stars are nice round!

[Don Rudny]

Hiten,

 

What about color?  290 or 224?  Will the detail be as good?  I just ordered the RT224 to experiment with.  I personally like mono better, but for outreach here on Mauna Kea, everyone wants color.

 

Don

[Astrojedi]

 

Last one... The Siamese twins... detail is quite exceptional. I am achieving better live view/EAA results with this setup than I ever did even with premium mounts and Cameras.

 

Siamese Twins Annotated.png

And even after nearly 7 min on a ALT/AZ: stars are nice round!

 

 

Thanks Roel. That is the benefit of shorter exposures. Less opportunity for mount errors to creep in. Sharpcap's stacking is also very robust and getting better.

[Astrojedi]

Hiten,

 

What about color?  290 or 224?  Will the detail be as good?  I just ordered the RT224 to experiment with.  I personally like mono better, but for outreach here on Mauna Kea, everyone wants color.

 

Don

Don,

 

Depending on the focal length (assuming you will use with the C11) you should get pretty good detail even with the 224. Mono cameras generally provide better detail as there is no obstructive bayer matrix. But with your focal length and beautiful skies results should be exceptional.

 

Hiten

[Ptarmigan]

Pretty cool.    

[Rickster]

Outstanding!

[Robrj]

Dang!  Now I want a ASI290MM 

 

Great shots!  I like the image size as well. 

 

I just shot M87 last week with the Ultrastar and 30s exposures.  I can barely see the jet in mine.   It's nowhere near as clear as yours and I have slightly darker skies than you do (red/orange) (f/5 Skyview Pro 8" w/Optolong CLS-CCD filter) (10x30s):

Edited by Robrj, 27 February 2017 - 06:29 PM.

[Astrojedi]

Thanks Ptarmigan, Rick, Rob.

 

Rob,

I can definitely see the jet in your capture. The jet is actually pretty bright so I would suggest using shorter exposures to capture it otherwise the galaxy's halo swamps it.

 

Hiten

[Robrj]

I'll do that next time I'm out.  I'll probably also try the X^0.25  exposure setting instead of linear.  That might help as well.  I wasn't aware of the jets on M87 when I shot it.  

[kuba_mysluk]

Hiten,
You break the system with this M87 jet pic. My respect, Sire!

I tried it many times, but got something barely visible, if any. Possible I just overexposed it, exactly as You suggested post above.

Will try put my Lodestar mono instead Infinity color and use short expositions.

 

Edit: here is my best jet :/

Kuba

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Edited by kuba_mysluk, 28 February 2017 - 01:32 PM.

[mclewis1]

I can definitely see the jet in your capture. The jet is actually pretty bright so I would suggest using shorter exposures to capture it otherwise the galaxy's halo swamps it. Hiten

It is quite bright, and those shorter exposures are indeed the key ... shorter exposures and some focal length. Most folks have actually captured it without realizing it. A little close up examination of M87 often shows the jet in old pics.

 

Here's an example ... tight crop from an older pic where I was just trying to capture the group of galaxies. C6 at something around f5 (I was testing some focal reducers), Mallincam Xtreme, 15s, AGC4. Single frame, only brightness adjusted.

 

 

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Edited by mclewis1, 28 February 2017 - 09:59 PM.