DSO Quickies with Asteria TCR 150 f12 R35

[jolasa]

Ales, Mike, as requsted ...

These images were on a CN new thread 10 days ago, the thread was closed down by CN after 2-3 days. 

Following are some quickie images of a few DSO's taken in late July 2013 a few days after I got my Asteria TCR 150 f12 R35 from Mike who had the scope at SCAE.

I say "quickies" because I did not spend much time gathering these images, or processing, or post-processing.  I just wanted to quickly see what the scope could do.  No flat or bias subs used.  Just lights and darks, processed in Deep Sky Stacker, and some brief post-processing in Photoshop CS2 (levels, minor color correction, etc.).

All the following DSO shots are stacked from 20 x 90 second subs (30 minutes total) at ISO 800.  Forgot to mount my IR/UV cut filter like I usually do when refractor imaging, so stars are a bit bloated.

Field of view of all image is 43' x 28', which is the calculated FOV with this f12 scope and a Canon T1i (500D) DSLR,  with a CMOS sensor with a 4752 x 3168  (15 Meg) array of 4.7 x 4.7 micron pixels.

Equipment:
Asteria 150 TCR f12 R35.
EQ-G mount (easily handles the scope's 18 lbs).
Canon T1i (500D) Gary Honis full-spectrum modified DSLR.
Windows 7 laptop.
ASCOM/EQMOD mount control.
Starry Night planetarium software for scope control.
Alignmaster polar alignment for PA.
Backyard Canon EOS for camera control.
Guiding with a small 50 mm finder scope and Orion SSAG camera.
PHD Guiding.

More and better images coming soon, if the weather here in Northern Californa improves (lots of clouds last 6-8 weeks).

JonS

[jolasa]

M8 (Lagoon nebula)

[jolasa]

M16 (Eagle nebula, with "Pillars of Creation" made famous by a Hubble image at the center)

[jolasa]

M17 ( Omega nebula, also known as Swan, Checkmark, Lobster and Horseshoe nebula)

[jolasa]

M20 (Trifid nebula)

[jolasa]

M51 (Whirlpool nebula)

[bn1777]

Those are great shots Jolasa.
Nice round stars al the way out to the edge and I see no CA at all .
You are a bit like me on this , I to post my luna shots un processed , straight out of the camera , sized and posted .
Anyone can process out any artefacts today using a computer and that's cheating in my book as it does not show what the telescope can deliver , native .
Hows about a few of the scope set up ?
Thanks mate .
Brian.

[Mike]

I agree with Brian. I downloaded my favorite of the group, M16. I zoomed way beyond the true resolution at the edge and the stars are round. Seeing your images is rekindling the DSO astrophotography bug in me. I've been away from it for several years but I'm really enjoying your images especially since you're using a relatively inexpensive setup to get them. Please keep them coming!

Mike

[mikey cee]

Aug 22, 2013 0:54:35 GMT -5 bn1777 said:

Those are great shots Jolasa.
Nice round stars al the way out to the edge and I see no CA at all .
You are a bit like me on this , I to post my luna shots un processed , straight out of the camera , sized and posted .
Anyone can process out any artefacts today using a computer and that's cheating in my book as it does not show what the telescope can deliver , native .
Hows about a few of the scope set up ?
Thanks mate .
Brian.

You got to be carefull in how you read a post. Here is what he said again...he did do "some" post processing!
I say "quickies" because I did not spend much time gathering these images, or processing, or post-processing. I just wanted to quickly see what the scope could do. No flat or bias subs used. Just lights and darks, processed in Deep Sky Stacker, and some brief post-processing in Photoshop CS2 (levels, minor color correction, etc.).



Read more: istarscopeclub.proboards.com/thread/404/dso-quickies-asteria-tcr-150#ixzz2cj4jZ93B

[jolasa]

Brian, I think one is unlikely to see any significant CA in DSO shots unless the shots contain a really bright star.

Mickey cee, I did not do any post-processing to make stars at the edges round. They are round in the original DSLR RAW images, and hence they are round in the final very low resolution JPG images above. My guiding has always been my strong point, nice round stars to the edges regardless of the scope used (8" SCT, ES 127 APO, the Asteria 150, and an 8" Ritchey Chrretien). This is the result of: a hypertuned EQ6 mount; good polar alignment; well-balanced scope on mount; good guide scope and camera; good, simple guiding software (PHD); and of course a little bit of luck!

JonS

[mikey cee]

Jon all I was alluding to was your use of Photoshop for some minor processing and color touch up etc. Some might get the impression these are next to raw images with the scope. Then our detractors can launch in say they were doctored up. We just don't want our side to say these had no processing whatsoever that's all I wanted to point out. Mike

[Mike]

At a boy Mikey. Keep us on our toes Buddy. Goodness knows we need to in order to survive.

Jon, don't take anything Mikey says as anything but looking out for us. He has our best interest at heart. Also Jon I want to say you are a most welcome edition to the Istar family. Your images and efforts are certainly appreciated. Ales and I have discussed what you have done to promote Istar and Ales wants me to convey his sentiments. Keep it up. We're all looking forward to your next imaging session.

That also goes for all you guys that stick up for us. Joe, Mikey, Kevin, Matt, Brian, Kitch, Jim, Roberto, Neil...
I'll come back and add more. Geez, now I got this started I'm afraid I'm leaving somebody out.

Hey Mikey, do you have a picture of your setup here on the ISC? If so, where is it? If not, would you mind posting it in the gallery section? Some guys have asked what kind of setup you have. All I say is "Colossal!"

Mike

[mikey cee]

Sure thing Mike may be later today or tomorrow for sure I got lots on my plate today. Mike

[jolasa]

Thanks all for the great input.

JonS

[mikey cee]

Mike H. the pics are now in the Gallery. Mike