26 replies to this topic

[nmoushon]

The August 2019 Challenge is now open. The target is IC 5070 The Pelican Nebula. To reduce the number of stickies, please submit your entry to this thread.

 

The Rules will remain pretty simple:

      Your Equipment
      Your Data, Captured This Season
      Your Processing
      One Entry Per Member

 

To increase participation over such a diverse group, the winner will be selected by random drawing. Please feel free to start a thread requesting guidance on your entry prior to submitting it, the whole purpose of this challenge is to learn and compare on a common target. Entries must be submitted by midnight eastern time on August 31, and I will try to announce the winner early in September.

 

Note: If I am late announcing, gently nudge one of the moderators in a private note, it helps. Seriously, PM one of us!

 

Please display an image in your post, not just a link!!

 

I hope everyone has fun with this one, and with that,

 

Let The Games Begin

 

**Disclaimer** - If the selected winner does not reply and pick a target with-in 3 days of the winner being announced the Mods will then select the next target.

[Gipht]

The sky cleared just after midnight so I went out for a picture of the Pelican Nebula.  This picture is taken with an ASI183MM-Pro using a 8" f/2.8 power-newt on a CEM60 mount, guided.  47x2' H-alpha for luminance and red,  15x4' OIII  for Green and blue for  2 hours 34 minutes integration.  Stacked in DSS.  Processed in Star Tools and Gimp.

 

 

 

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[johnsoda]

Click on small image for better quality image and acquisition details. 

 

 

 

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[BobW55]

In keeping with the spirit of things.

This is my first shot at trying to get a real image of anything.  Found out after the fact I kind of did things wrong, hench no color.  But hey it is IC 5070.

 

ES 102mm FDC100

ASI294 MC Pro

CEM 60 Guided

ASIAIR 

No Filters, No FR/FF

Was attempting 180 second subs.

Still looking for a mentor.

 

 

 

If you must laugh, lets have a beer and laugh together

Edited by BobW55, 10 August 2019 - 11:50 PM.

[cuivienor]

17 hours of exposure time ( 48 x 480s HA, 45 x 480s SII, 60 x 300s OIII) with a 1400mm f7 EdgeHD telescope with ASI1600MM-C, captured with NINA. White Zone.

 

 

Taken between July 30th and August 4th in Tokyo. Vixen AXJ mount.

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[AstroGabe]

Here's a crop of the Pelican and North American Nebula region I took earlier this year.  

 

Details:
Scope: Rokinon 135mm @ f/2.8
Camera: QSI690-wsg8
Mount: AP1100 GTO
Ha: 20x5min
OIII: 22x5min
Software: Voyager, APCC, Pixinsight

3.5 hrs total exposure

 

 

Full frame:

[AKHalea]

Here is my attempt at this target. The night was very warm (80-85 F avg temp) and the moon was half lit, though quite far from target. So I was surprised to get a reasonable image in just over 2 hours of time. 

 

 

Capture details: Date of capture - August 9, 2019. 

Outside temprature : Very warm between 80 and 85 F (typical S. Texas in summer),

Location : My backyard in S.Texas (Bortle zone borderline 7/8. SqM ~17.8 to 18)

OTA : Stellarvue Access 80ED with 0.8xFR (focal reducer), Eff focal length 448mm with FR),

Imaging camera : HA modded Nikon D5300 (uncooled DSLR),

Filters : Omega Optical's NPB tri-band filter (w/bandpasses at HA, OIII and HB emission lines) 

Guiding : None

ISO 1600, f5.6, 155 minutes of total integration time (102x90sec). 

 

The length of each sub was basically limited by skyglow (LP!!), so I had to take as many subs as I could before the target went into the tall trees in my backyard. Here is a link to a higher resolution image posted on my Flickr album. Hope to see many better images of this target ..... Anil

Edited by AKHalea, 11 August 2019 - 01:50 PM.

[rgsalinger]

ASI071 One Shot Color Camera. About 4 hours of subs (no flats) using my TV127is. Processing was entirely done in Pixinsight except for applying a minimum filter in Photoshop because I don't know how to do that in Pixinsight.

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[Ladyhawke]

This was taken last Saturday, August 10, 2019. It was partially cloudy and I was struggling to stay awake and almost gave up on imaging that night but clear sky chart said it was supposed to be clear later that night so I opened the dome and left the camera looping images until the clouds were not in sight anymore. I fired sequence generator pro, saw the first 5 min sub come in and passed out, woke up around 4:00 am with some data stored, images still in progress. I was not perfectly focused so I didn't think I was going to get an image at all but since it was just the second time testing this combo equipment I didn't even get upset, just aborted my sequence and fine tuned focus for the next imaging session. I was pleasantly surprised when I processed the image and saw that it didn't look bad so I kept working on it.

 

This is 45x300 sec exposures in SHO

Mach1 GTO

Celestron Edge 11"

Hyperstar 4

ASI 1600 mono

ZWO mini filter wheel

Baader Fast NB filters

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[Acer]

We had a clear night last night, so I decided to shoot the Pelican Nebula for the first time.

 

 

 

 

 

This was a short 4.6 hour integration shot in my Skywatcher MN190 telescope and ASI183MM Pro astro camera. 

 

18, 300 sec Ha images

18, 300 sec OIII images

20, 300 sec SII images

 

Shot with a Skywatcher MN190, EQ6R-Pro and a ZWO ASI183MM Pro

 

 

Edited by Acer, 13 August 2019 - 06:54 AM.

[rkelley61]

This is my first try at imaging IC5070.  Taken over 5 nights from 8/7 through 8/12.  Capture with SGP, processed using PixInsight. 

Ha 135 90s
SII 135 90s
OIII 101 90s

ES127 F/7.5
ASI1600MM Pro
G11

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[kskostik]

El Toro staring at 56Cyg in the Pelican nebula, IC5070
 

Imaging telescope: Explore Scientific 102mm ED APO triplet FCD100

Imaging camera: QHY183M
Mount: EQ6 R pro
Guiding telescope or lens: off-axis guider QHYOAG
Guiding camera: QHYIII290C
Focal reducer: Stellarvue 0.8 FF&R
Software: EQMOD, SGP, Sharpcap, PHD2, Pixinsight
Filter: Astronomik 6nm OIII, 6 nm Ha, 6 nm SII.
Ha: 36 x 600 sec
OIII: 24 x 600 sec
SII: 21 x 600 sec

[GoBlue]

I dislike pelicans so here is my Rabbit nebula.....

Imaged 8/3 & 8/8.

 

ES ed 80 triplet apo f/6 - 480mm fl.

Full spectrum modified T3i w/ IDAS LPS D1.

Orion starshoot and 50mm guide scope.

AVX.

 

40 x 240 plus 41 x 180.

 

BYEOS, PHD2, DSS and PS.

 

Peace.

 

 

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[SebaAstro]

Here is my 10 Hrs integration of Pelican Nebula I took on Aug the first week of Aug an finished on Aug 10.

Ha filter --> 45x 240 Sec, 15 C, GAIN 139

OIII filter --> 45x 240 Sec, 15 C, GAIN 139

SII filter --> 45x 240 Sec, 15 C, GAIN 139

Of course FLAT, DARKS have been added to calibrate light frames.

 

Post processed with Pixinsight. 

 

Equipment:

Astro-Tech Refractor 6500/420 mm AT65EDQ Quadruplet
ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro

iOptron ieq45 pro

 

[Dave53N]

Here's my attempt at the Pelican Nebula with an OSC camera. The skies cleared long enough the last two nights (Aug 19 and 20 2019) to enable collection of 3h 8m of data.

 

Equipment:
Scope: ES ED102-FCD100 at f7 (714mm) with Starfield  field flattener
Camera: ASI294MC-Pro
Mount: CEM60
Guide scope: Starfield 60mm with ASI120mm-S
Filter: IDAS NB1 nebular contrast enhancer.

 

Exposures, all at gain 200 and -15C:
Lights: 98 x 120s; Darks: 40 x 120s; Flats: 40 x 7s with LED pad; Dark flats: 40 x 7s.

 

Processing software: DSS, APP, GIMP 2.10 and RawTherapee (for noise reduction)

 

[zach540]

First attempt at IC 5070.

Gear:
iOptron CEM 60
PoleMaster
Williams Optic ZenithStar 73 w/ Flat73A
ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
ZWO Mini EFW
Baader Ha, Sii, Oiii filters

 

Acquisition:

17 Aug 2019
Sii - 15x 180 sec (Gain 200, Offset 30, -20 temp)
Ha - 15x 180 sec (Gain 200, Offset 30, -20 temp)
Oiii - 15x 180 sec (Gain 200, Offset 30, -20 temp)

 

Software:

SGP, PHD2, Pixinsight

 

Location:

Backyard, Calhan CO

 

 

Edited by zach540, 21 August 2019 - 05:50 PM.

[Bretw01]

I imaged IC5070 on 8/19 and 8/20/2019, the only chance I have had so far. Moonlight hurt the quality, but have to take what I can get. Also had issues with guiding giving me football shaped stars. PHD2 at first said most likely a faulty cable, which I replaced. Then it said possibly a cable snag, so I checked all cables and moved one that I thought may have been a problem. After that the message was possible mechanical problem with the mount. Mount is less than 6 months old (sigh). Also on second night after meridian flip the guide camera was not picking up any stars, even though the framing was the same. After multiple adjustments I was able to get something to guide from. Anyone know the lifespan of the Orion SSAG?

 

EQ6R-Pro

SVQ100

ASI 183MC Pro

SSAG + 80mm guidescope

PHD2

SGP

PixInsight

 

111x180 @ gain 50

30 flats

30 darks

70 bias

 

[Rocketrat1]

Here is my wide angle view of the Pelican Nebula, shot last night. I only got about an hour of data but I think it still turned out pretty good.

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[rekokich]

The image was taken with the small TSAPO65Q astrograph, iEQ30pro mount, full spectrum modified Canon T3i camera, and guided with the Orion 60mm F4 SSAG pro.

It is a stack of 16x360sec exposures, iso 1600, with the Astronomik 12nm Ha filter, and 7x360sec exposures, iso 1600, with Astronomik CLS-CCD filter, 40 darks, 40 bias, processed with DSS, XnView, Star Tools, and Neat Image..

 

[Christian-UAE]

Hello.

 

here my contribution and my first SHO combination image ever done.

 

Captured in during this August in the UAE, Razeen desert.

 

Takahashi FSQ-85, Asi1600MM-pro, Astrodon narrow-band filters

• 7.5 hours HA
• 6 hours SI
• 3.5 hours O3
• Total integration time 18 hours

 

Processed entirely in PixInsight

 

Regards

Christian

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Edited by Christian-UAE, 26 August 2019 - 06:05 AM.

[dani4]

Captured last weekend. This is my first atempt. I hope you like it 

• 36x300s lights -10º, 15 darks, 40 bias, 0 flats (failed taking them )
• SW EQ6-R Pro, SW 150PDS, Baader MKIII MPCC, Optolong L-eNhance, ZWO ASI294 MC PRO  
• Guiding: SW 80/400 and ZWO ASI290MC 

 

Edited by dani4, 27 August 2019 - 02:40 AM.

[dec12252]

Here is my attempt at the Pelican in H alpha taken from my Bortle 8 suburban backyard.  Minimal processing in PI.  RGB star field was added to H alpha image.

 

Dave

 

Scope: SVQ100

Mount: AP 600E

Camera: ASI1600MM-Pro

Filters: Baader 3.5 nm Ha, ZWO RGB

Image Stack: 6x10 min Ha, 3x2 min RGB

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[Der_Pit]

Some intermediate contribution, I don't really have enough time to properly process the data I have so far, but as deadline rushes in I'll show what I have:

 

Scope: A-P Stowaway (old) w. TSFLAT2 flattener

Mount: CEM60EC

Guiding: ZWO OAG+ASI290MMmini

Camera: ASI1600MM Pro

Filters: ZWO RGB

Image Stack: R:60x72s  G:135x72s  B:119x72s  (6.3h total)

Rec: EKOS/PHD2

Pro: IDL, GIMP

 

[larryjh]

Hi everyone.  I usually post on the EAA forum, but they are not doing "Objects of the Month" anymore.  I think there is some significant overlap between EAA and traditional imaging as the software and processors become more powerful and things can be done in real time that used to only be able to be done in post processing.  My images aren't intended to be prize winning since I'm trying to get a decent image in a short amount of time.

 

Equipment:

Scope: Celestron Omni XLT150

Mount: Ioptron ZEQ25

Camera: ZWO ASI 294MC Pro

Other stuff: Explore Scientific HR coma reducer, Orion Accufocus

 

Data:

15x32 sec @250 gain lights (thermal -5 deg C) with 20xflats applied real-time with stacking, no darks or bias.  Unguided.

 

Processing:

real time stacking in Sharpcap with FWHM filtering and mild sharpening.  Faststone Image Viewer (freeware) for final touches adjusting contrast, noise, etc.  Image reduced in size to fit within posting limits.

 

 

 

[TelescopeGreg]

Hi folks,

 

Ok, first off, I'm amazed at the variety of image interpretations so far.  Very creative crew out there.

 

Second, the field of view of my telescope is a bit narrow for an object this size, so this is a bit zoomed in compared to the rest.  It's basically the Pelican's upper body.  I didn't realize the poor framing during the imaging, as it is too dark an image to see anything in the individual subs on the camera.  So, I was imaging on faith that the plate solve using the guide scope was close enough for the imaging scope.  Seemed to work, though I would frame the head region if I were to do it over.

 

The image was processed differently than what I've done in the past.  Instead of using Deep Sky Stacker, I used Sequator.  It's not nearly as full featured / optioned as DSS, but Sequator appears to work perfectly on my Linux PC under Wine.  It's also much faster, very clean, very easy to use.  The stack here took about 25 minutes; a similar stack in DSS 4.1.1 took 10 hours.  That said, there is a new version of DSS 4.2 that is known to be a lot faster, but I haven't tried it as yet.  And there's still the Linux/wine issue.

 

Sequator, for some reason, seemed to produce a stack with smaller stars, and less walking / pattern noise than DSS.  Instead of being blobby, the noise looks more stringy, almost creating an embroidery sort of pattern.  Sequator doesn't seem to have a place for Dark-Flats, so they weren't used.  My guess is that this raised the black level, so the blobs don't show.  No idea how they do the pixel math.  I'm still playing with the settings, but so far, it looks like a tool worth exercising a bit more.  Not sure if it can be made to handle LRGB, however, but this is from my DSLR.

 

Remaining processing was done in StarTools, beginning with the Contrast tool instead of Develop, due to the high dark level.  Seemed to handle it well.

 

Taken 8/25/2019

Telescope:  Celestron 8" f/5 Newtonian (f/5.6 with coma corrector); 1,150 mm net focal length

Mount:  Celestron AVX

Guider:  Celestron 80mm f/7.5 scope, ASI174mm Mini camera; PHD2 on a Raspberry Pi 3B

Camera:  Unmodified Nikon D3200; exposures 20 seconds at ISO 12,800

294 Lights (98 minutes integration), taken 8/25/2019

20 Darks

20 Flats

Stacked in Sequator, Processed in StarTools 1.3

 

Enjoy,

 

Greg

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