Heart of The Heart "Melotte 15" 23.25hours!!!

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[SlipperySquid]

With the recent unprecedented run of clear skies I thought I would stick with one target and go for broke!

So with getting about 4 hours sleep a night I decided on going for the centre of the Heart Nebula IC1805 which is known as Melotte 15. There's lots going on there an I was hoping that my scope and ccd combo would produce an interesting target a bit different from the usual.

So using 15 minute subs I managed to get 31 usable exposures in each channel losing a few to PHD throwing epic guiding fits for no apparent reason  but to keep me on my toes.

Scope used was the Megrez 72 with the venerable Atik 16hr pulling in the photons.

These are the longest stacks I have ever done with nearly 8hrs of data per channel with the filters mapped to the Hubble palette but the colours slightly muted so as not to blow the detail (this is still work in progress as I'm finding it quite hard to get a good balance of colour and detail without one compromising the other)

Anyway end of waffle I hope you like  this one!!


 

[flamencopaul]

Frighteningly good...I want me some narrow band filters and a sensitive ccd...keep up the good work!

Paul.

[SlipperySquid]

Thanks Paul!

Below is a crop of the central area to show off a bit more of the detail.

[guntop]

That's great. Decided to get myself a Megrez 72 with my birthday lolly.

Allan

[SlipperySquid]

Have you bought it yet Allan? New or second hand?


Matt.

[guntop]

On order. It's a new one. Hope to get in the next 3 or 4 days, just in time for the weather to turn cr.....p for the rest of the year.

Allan 

[SlipperySquid]

I hope you enjoy it mate! It's really nicely built though I do find my dew shield is a bit loose so I have to use a dew heater strap to top it sliding down all the time!

It is at F6 so needs a little longer on the subs and it does need a field flattener (cheapest one which I use is the SKYWATCHER field flattener which is about £60 and is the same as the william optics one and works reasonably well!

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reducersflatteners/skywatcher-field-flattener.html

Just need to get the spacing right and bob's your uncle!

[guntop]

Thanks for the info.

Allan