Tarantula Nebula - very bright on 27 Feb 2015

[PETER LOO]

Caught this spider at Bedok South on Friday night, the object is bright all the while, but is always covered up by cloud due to it low lying Dec of approx -69 deg. Since the weather is now getting better, it should be easily captured using 300 mm focal length onwards when the cloud band becomes thinner.

ngc 2070 27 Feb 15 by Astro shots & stuff, on Flickr

snap 120s Tarantula by Astro shots & stuff, on Flickr

Bedok South by Astro shots & stuff, on Flickr

[Grievous]

Didn't know there's a good site at bedok south!

Perhaps I can join u once I got my gear ready and my kids asleep.

[PETER LOO]

Hello Charlie, it is the field facing Block 163 Bedok South Road, has a clear fov for Southern Sky, has quite a high level of light pollution, only good for practice shots as you noticed from my pics the green patch caused by l.p. very difficult to remove. Once gain competency, we may have to visit sites like Mersing to make good / stunning shots whenever possible

[Airconvent]

Awesome shot Peter! You just imaged a nebula in another galaxy...cool !

[PETER LOO]

Thanks Airconvent, yah , i must admit that i was quite excited to image this object since about 5 years ago with security cam for a start, as it resides in the LMC, which is quite challenging most of the time. The spider like core is now very bright once the cloud is blown away, saw it on 27th & 28th Feb through 50mm guide scope (display on computer sceen, not eyepiece) as elongated patch, exciting still

[kochu]

Good Peter. Looks more like a Beetle.
Kochu/2-3-15

[PETER LOO]

Thanks Kochu it does look a bit like the Rhinoceros Beetle though lol ..

[ivan]

Looks great, Peter! Must have been very clear that night.

[PETER LOO]

Thanks Ivan, one word to describe 27 Feb 2015 South West view from Bedok South field, shiok uh ! , i made 25 captures ranging from 14s to 120s, you can see that even the 14s is able to get something out of it (but looks like the cluster, not sure), as for the 120s, it is over exposed, the histogram moved to the right side and looks like still can go a little more. 28th Feb sky reached this point in about 75s, so was poorer.

Exposed to the right by Astro shots & stuff, on Flickr

[rcj]

tough low object! great work Peter!