Threading the Needle

[Colorado_CJ]

We finally had a clear night last night, so I shot the Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565).

This is an excellent example of an edge on spiral galaxy.  It is almost exactly edge on with us, showing the core of the galaxy being sliced in half. 

I was only able to shoot a total of 3 hours on this subject.  I plan on going back at a later date to add more data so I can get a more detailed, clearer image.

Last night was a test of sorts as I ran everything (mount, guiding, camera, plate solving) with just a tiny Raspberry Pi and a battery system I built.  I wanted to get a setup that is able to be run fully off of a small deep cycle battery.  The 35 Amp Hour battery that I am using should be able to run the full imaging setup for two nights before needing to be charged.

This will make for a great setup to take to the mountains and to some truly dark sites.  I plan on taking this the Chaco Canyon shortly.

Anyway, on to the image.

This was shot using the following equipment:

Skywatcher MN190 Mak Newt (1000mm F5.2)
ZWO ASI 183MM Pro Imaging Camera
Astrodon LRGB Filters
EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
ZWO ASI120MC-S Guide Camera
ZWO ASIAIR (Raspberry Pi imaging computer)

Luminance:  60 minutes
Red:  37.5 minutes
Green:  42 minutes
Blue:  42 minutes


 

[Kevin Gallagher]

   Just amazing CJ!! In terms of what can be spent, you are using a very modest setup, and the pictures you've posted have been brilliant.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

   Just amazing CJ!! In terms of what can be spent, you are using a very modest setup, and the pictures you've posted have been brilliant.

+1.

[LesPalenik]

Amazing, indeed

[Paulo Bizarro]

Excellent work.

[kers]

indeed amazing!
I am not into photographing stars, so i have some basic questions.
please correct:

Do i understand that your image is made with a 1000 mm  f5.2 lens
it is a 1inch sensor so it is about 1500mm full frame...
You use a cooled sensor that is found in a sony rx100 to minimize noise
and a folowing device to keep the stars in place.
You make separate R, G and B photographs - why is that exactly? the only way to do it? - more detail? no bayer matrix...?
There is no IR filter i guess ? so you registrate also IR? and UV perhaps?

Pieter Kers

[Colorado_CJ]

Thanks everyone!

indeed amazing!
I am not into photographing stars, so i have some basic questions.
please correct:

Do i understand that your image is made with a 1000 mm  f5.2 lens
it is a 1inch sensor so it is about 1500mm full frame...
You use a cooled sensor that is found in a sony rx100 to minimize noise
and a folowing device to keep the stars in place.
You make separate R, G and B photographs - why is that exactly? the only way to do it? - more detail? no bayer matrix...?
There is no IR filter i guess ? so you registrate also IR? and UV perhaps?

Pieter Kers

Yes, it is a 1000mm F5.2 "Lens" with a 7.5" objective.

The sensor can cool down to 40 degrees C below ambient temperature.  I usually cool to -20C.  The cooled sensor is almost noise free with exposures up to 10+ minutes. 

The sensor is a mono sensor, so there is no bayer matrix.  You can buy color sensors, but the detail and sharpness is greatly reduced, since you are using 4 separate pixels to make up 1 color pixel.  The mono sensor is also MUCH more sensitive when using narrow band filters such as 6nm Hydrogen Alpha, Oxygen III or Sulphur II filters.  These three filters are used together to create a "hubble palate" image on deep sky objects.

The luminance filter is an IR/UV blocking filter.  You have to use the luminance filter, especially with refractors, or you get very bloated stars.  The RGB filters also filter out IR/UV.  If you are using a mirror system, IR/UV does not bloat the stars.

Hope this helps!

[rabanito]

Wow!