Messier 8-Lagoon Nebula

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Mon May 02, 2011 11:13 pm

Friday night was relatively clear and took my time to mark out balance points on the mount with the new scope taking payload duties. Re-did alignment and by that time Scorpius was rising. Did some observations and ended with a short run of 3x5mins exposure test with the new scope on a close up of the Lagoon Nebula. Hope you like it! Sorry processing was done in a lazy way....zzzzzzzz

- SV102ED+SSDSI II (capture)/Baader 10x60+DSI (guider)/Nebulosity (capture+process)/PS CS3 (post process) - 3x5mins/Astronomik Ha filter

Post by **Airconvent** » Wed May 04, 2011 12:02 am

Nice effort Tim.
Thanks for sharing! [smilie=cool.gif]

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Wed May 04, 2011 1:06 pm

Thanks Airconvent. I'm not pleased with the way it turned out as I will admit...it was a half hearted shot that night. No real planning. Processing was haphazard. But wanted to share a different take on a common sight.

Hopefully the weather is good this weekend and I can proceed with a better one like this!

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Wed May 04, 2011 1:20 pm

Nice work Tim. Looks like a beautiful rose to me.

Now that you have tried imaging with SV102, any initial quick thoughts about that as compared with imaging with your megrez 88?

wucheeyiun · Post by **wucheeyiun** » Wed May 04, 2011 2:28 pm

Nice capture

... ha ha ... time to upgrade to a ap130, toa130, or flt132 blah blah ...

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed May 04, 2011 4:02 pm

Nah, he NEEDS an AP Starfire 155

Post by **rcj** » Wed May 04, 2011 6:54 pm

waita minute... how did ya make the stars so small???

Clifford60 · Post by **Clifford60** » Wed May 04, 2011 8:31 pm

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Wed May 04, 2011 10:38 pm

Firstly, thanks guys though this image doesn't do much justice...lol! Will take a better one once this rain is done with!

@Gary
Not fair to compare them both but I do miss the fast lens of the WO. But the SV's larger aperture makes a large difference for me (pardon the pun). Payload wise, the SV is a pretty light scope considering it's size. And if no one wants the 88FD I may re-instate it into my AP equipment.

@cloud cover & wucheeyiun
I wish I wish!!! lol!! But the length would knock my window sill top when slewing! My pier is not in the balcony but the planter box outside, and a large 130-ish scope scares the hell outta me hanging off my balcony!! If I had the space I would luv an 8" Astrograph...yum!!

@remus
Yah...the stars came out small. Probably during the processing which I ran through in a lazy manner with Nebulosity. Also some PS actions reduced it. Was experimenting alot with scope, payload, PS actions and some different processing variations. Ended up with this and decided to share it. It is my first proper image with the SV as well as a Ha filter. So new ground for me leh! Once I can establish a workflow and learn more...I wanna change Astro Cams! Any recomendations???

@Clifford
Thanks bro!

Overall the test with the new (well new to me but 2nd hand) scope was a good one. And the time spent on extra counterweights for near perfect balance paid off with slewing just a little outta the central FOV. Autoguiding also improved more and now that I have the niggles out I can do more practice with this set up! Will definately post something new the moment the sky clears!

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed May 04, 2011 11:06 pm

SBIG 8300 C/M? I see some going used on A-mart for $1600 now... only no integrated guide chip...