I upgraded my camera

     Well it hasn't been the best summer for astro imaging with all the forest-fire smoke and clouds but I did manage to get some good images captured.  I decided to upgrade my imaging camera from a 2mp. ZWO ASI290MM Cool to the 20mp. ZWO ASI183MM-Pro. What a difference 18mp. can make.  Now I am able to capture wider field images which gives me the opportunity to image larger objects.  My 290 was a great starter mono camera which was easy to use and was great for learning R.G.B monochrome processing.  This new 183 camera has 2.4 micron pixels which are smaller than the 2.9 of the older 290.  This still makes it suitable for lunar, solar, and planitary as well as deepsky imaging.  

The New Camera along with its Specs.

 

     The Images below were captured from my BackYard Observatory in Sherkston On.  I'm still using my Tele Vue NP101 APO refactor supported by a Losmandy G11 Equatorial mount.  Also a ZWO EFW  7 position filter wheel holding Optolong 1.25" LRGB and SHO filters and the ZWO EAF. 

All image processing was accomplished using Deep Sky Staker and Photoshop CC 2021.

M20, the Trifid Nebula.  Captured using RGB filters.

NGC6995 The Eastern Veil Nebula, Captured in HOO (Ha,OIII,OIII)

The center section of the Veil Nebula complex named Pickering's Triangle in HOO

NGC6960 The Western Veil known as the Witches Broom in HOO

IC1396 The Elephant Trunk in SHO (SII,Ha,OIII)

IC5070 The Pelican Nebula. This is a monochrome image captured in Ha. After processing I colorized it red.

Next time "My New Mount"

 Galaxy Season 2021

 It's been a very busy imaging season this year. I am happy with the results of my work.  All these Galaxy images where captured with my ZWO ASI290MM Cooled camera.  It was attached to a Tele Vue NP101 f5.4 APO refractor.  My mount is a Losmandy G11 with Gemini 1 Goto controller.  I use a ZWO EAF running the Moonlite focuser and a ZWO 8 position EFW. 

All the images where aquired with Sharpcap.  Deep Sky Stacker was used for image calibration and  stacking. Photoshop CC2021 was used in image processing.  

On average I captured these images the same way.  Taking 120 to 180sec. frames in Red, Green, and Blue with a gain of 120 to 300. I would capture 20 frames of each colour, along with Darks and Flats.

 

Here are my results.

 

NGC4656 The Hockey stick

 

NGC4631 The Whale & Pup

 

M104 The Sombrero Galaxy

M64 The Black eye Galaxy  (monochrome image)

M63 The Sunflower Galaxy

M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy

R.G.B. Season

     Sorry it's been a while since I've posted any images but I have plenty today.  I spent most of my time imaging the planets.  Capturing them in RGB  had a bit of a learning curve, in capturing techniques and processing.  Basically 3 times the work.  There are plenty of great tutorials on line to help as well as great free software.  I used many programs, Firecapture for Image capture and filter control, PIPP for image stabilization,  Autostakkert for Video stacking, RegiStax 6 for Wavelet sharpening, and Photoshop CC 2020 for final processing.  All images where captured using a ZWOASI290mmc camera on a Tele Vue NP101 telescope.  For the planets I used an Antaries 3x barlow.

 Mars

 

Jupiter

Saturn

Lunar

Ha Solar Lunt LS60THa

White Light Solar

Deep Sky