NGC7635 - Bubble Nebula - First proper attempt with CCD

This is my first image with the CCD camera, this was done as a test to be able to see what sort of exposure times I can push to with the setup, it came out well considering there's only 4x600S in RGB

www.flickr.com/photos/30345959@N08/9486623498/

Image Details:
RGB Capture: 4x600S
HA Capture: 4x1800S 7NM
Darks / Flats: 23 Darks / 23 Flats
Camera: ATIK 383L+ Mono CCD ( www.atik-cameras.com )
Filter Wheel: StarlightXpress 7x36mm unmounted
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT8RC
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ6Pro GEM Mount Pier Mounted
Guide Camera: QHY5
Guide Software: PHD
Image Acquisition: Maxim DL
Pre-Processing / Stacking: Nebulosity 3 ( www.stark-labs.com )
Post Processing: Adobe Photoshop
Plugins: GradientXterminator and Noise Ninja

Simon

Simon - that's a good first image.

For the RGB - were there 4 images for each colour? (120 mins total)?

How did you calibrate? I ask because the image shows some (seemingly) hot pixels, notably in red and blue. But to be honest, they're barely noticable. Thanks for sharing!

Hi Dave

so the 4x600S was for each filter in RGB so that would be 4x600Sx4 = 160min, plus then the 4x1800S of HA 7nm data.

I noticed the hot pixels too, it may well be the low number of RGB Frames that is the mitigating factor there. I'm planning on getting more RGB and putting together OIII and SII data to build out my Hubble Pallette composition of the bubble too

Simon

Lovely image! I find it very difficult to get anything decent on this with my FOV - I always end up cropping huge amounts and the resolution is just not there, my main issue is I need more data though! Is that image cropped much or is that the native FOV you get from your setup?

That's only ever so slightly cropped due to not all frames coming from the same night, but that image is more or less the FOV from the AT8RC

190 mins total - that's why you got so much detail. And yes, the "noise" would of course be (relatively) reduced with more data. Oh for continuous crystal clear skies here in Ireland...

How are you finding the ATIK in terms of software/drivers, ease of use, cooling capabilities, quality of build etc? Would you recommend the brand in general?

Cheers
Dave