MetaGuide: Ant Nebula with EdgeHD11 on CGE-Pro at f/10 and f/2 (hyperstar) with Atik 383L+ and ASI 1600-MM Cool
No processing other than levels and crop. Acquired and focused with SGP. Guided with MetaGuide or unguided.
Automatic focus by SGP at start and at approx 40 minute. Focus with Robofocus on the primary focuser.
Click for full size
Ant Nebula in Ha
| Imaging Optics | Celestron EdgeHD 11 at f/10 |
| Mount | Celestron CGE-Pro |
| Guiding Software | MetaGuide with dithering from SGP |
| Guiding Mode | Off-axis guiding with Hutech OAG5 |
| Imaging Camera | Atik 383L+ |
| Guiding Camera | QHY5iii-174 |
| Collimation | MetaGuide |
| Focus | SGP and RoboFocus on the primary focuser - no mirror locks used - nothing manual |
| Exposure Time | 8 hours: half 15m subs and half 30m subs |
| Image Scale | 0.40" per pixel |
| Raw FWHM | Down to 1.7" in 30m subs |
| Image Processing | Calibration and stack in custom software. Levels stretch in PhotoShop. No other processing or sharpening. |
| Image Acquisition | SGP |
| Other Software | PECTool, TheSkyX Pro for best guidestar selection with field of view indicator (FOVI) |
| Other Hardware | Pyxis OAG Rotator for best guidestar, Telegizmos 365 cover, Long usb cable to outside setup |
| Date | August, 2016 |
| Filter | Astrodon 3nm H-alpha |
Close up of the nebula itself - slightly sharpened in Photoshop. Levels applied.
Maxim measurement of fwhm in 30m sub-exposure at 1.66"
(Click for full resolution)
Hyperstar image with ASI-1600MM Cool, unguided stack of 60x30s exposures.
1.4"/pixel with fwhm approximately 3.5"
Baader f/2 Highspeed 2" H-Alpha filter. Dithered with SGP using direct mount (unguided).
ASI settings: Gain 50, offset 20, USB Limit 40, Temp -10C, Raw16 format.