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LDN1235 (Shark Nebula), Ben Hayes
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LDN1235 (Shark Nebula)

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
LDN1235 (Shark Nebula), Ben Hayes
Powered byPixInsight

LDN1235 (Shark Nebula)

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

My first attempt at imaging dark nebula, this one with the RedCat51 telescope and ASI295MC one-shot color camera.  I realize that a longer integration time is needed, but thought I'd post what I was able to capture in a little over 5 hours from a Bortle 4 site between 6 pm and midnight, after which the target became obscured by trees.  The skies were finally clear with no moon ... only my neighbor's Christmas lights!  

Seeing was below average due to a significant amount of moisture in the lower atmosphere which became noticeable as the night went on and temperatures dropped to 19°F (-7°C).  As the target dropped lower on the northern horizon, light pollution from the nearby town caused some gradients, which PixInsight's Automatic Background Extraction (ABE) and Dynamic Background Extraction (DBE) was able to remove.  I have so much to learn about  processing these dark nebula images to bring out the dust and structures..

But I find these types of targets very fun to shoot, especially because they are so dim that you have no idea if the image will turn out from any individual light frame that appear on your screen during the imaging session.  I used the Telescopius website to preview and frame the image, copied the mosaic CSV coordinates and rotation angle into a text file, then imported them into ASIAir's "Plan" mode to set up the imaging plan.  Knowing the rotation angle the RedCat51 was at from the previous imaging session and the new angle it needs to be set at from the Telescopius app, I manually rotate the RedCat51 telescope (easy to to with its built-in rotating ring feature).  Take a few 5 sec images, plate solve and use the rotate target feature  built into the ASIAIR software makes framing the target relative quick and easy.   I'm using ASIAIR version 2.0 software running on an older ASIAIRPro (with antennae retrofitted to extend it's wifi range)  to run the gear unattended overnight.

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LDN1235 (Shark Nebula), Ben Hayes

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