NGC281 - Pacman Nebula in Hydrogen Alpha

Tonight I managed to finish off my Hydrogen Alpha data capture on Pacman, just need to build up my OIII and SII in order to create my Hubble Palette version
39x900S with a Baader 7nm HA Filter, 25 Darks, 25 Flats
Total exposure time 9.75 hours

Imaging Scope: Astro-Tech AT8RC
Imaging Camera: ATIK 383L+ Mono CCD Cooled to -20C
Guide Camera: QHY5II
Off Axis Guider: TS 9mm OAG
Mount: Skywatcher EQ8 Pro (Steel Pier Mounted)
Image Acquisition Software: Sequence Generator Pro
Dark/Flat/BIAS frame subtraction and Stacking: Nebulosity 3
Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Gradient Xterminator, Noise Ninja



Full image here: www.flickr.com/photos/30345959@N08/16030764250/

Clear Skies
Simon

That is a great shot on its own. I looked at the high resolution on Flickr - beautiful round stars and the overall picture is SOOOO clean......great job. Looking forward to the finished colour version.

Thanks, appreciate the comment, out of a total of 42 frames, I am going to re-process this with the Ultimately best frames (I think around 25 of them) to see what a difference it makes

Out of all the frames I never had a single aircraft intrusion, and with the EQ8 being extremely stable I think I am ready to push for >15 min exposures for Narrowband

Simon

Now that you are on a pier - there is no reason that you can't push those exposures. I use 20mins as my norm now that I have a pier also (I have tested 30 mins - OK...no problems) . Only thing is that if you lose one sub (for any reason) then it is a lot of time wasted.

Because of where the farm is, it is right under the flight path for Gatwick, the farm is 5 miles out from the runway, so I did this as a test, I plan on going for 20-30 min exposures, especially for SII and OIII

I was planning on doing a Mosaic of M45 to generate a 40Mpx version, but the planes get in the way

I presume you have a large guard dog and you cover that gear when it rains

Simon

I am sure you will work out exactly the approaching and departing flight paths and work longer subs in the other quadrants......bit of a bummer though if they have planes in holding patterns just where you want to shoot. It will obviously be a challenge that you will get to grips with......but I don't envy you being so close to aircraft routes.
Yes re the dog - I leave the scope out all the time I am here in Spain (have a great cover also that fully protects it). I take the cameras (& laptop) in after every session. Last year I spent a lot of time planning a shed with drop down roof sections. After much deliberation I decided to go for a dome (I knew it would be the end solution anyway one day). I bought from Pulsar in the UK and it is now within an hours drive from me - expecting delivery today or tomorrow actually:-) That will be the next big project for me - getting that assembled and fully operational.

I have some other shots in progress at the moment - grabbing what I can of the Veil (East) as it sets just at sundown each evening and also spent until 0300hrs this morning out grabbing Jellyfish nebula.....will need another night on that to get good data. I also have done quite a few hours again on Rosette - with a wider FoV than before - that has yet to be processed. These are all in narrow band obviously -at this time.