First wide field image

[Andy Elliott]

My project this Summer was to build a widefield rig around the Samyang (Rokinon) 135 F2 camera lens. I used the Astrodynium ring system as the supporting structure, which works great as it is specifically designed for this lens. I have paired the lens with my ASI2600MC OSC camera, added the ZWO 30F4 miniscope and the ASI120mm for guiding. I am controlling focus using a ZWO EAF. I had an old Pegasus Astro Pocket Power Box which I have used for power outputs to the dew heaters, camera and focuser. A powered USB hub takes care of the connections to my laptop.

I have not had much chance to test it out yet, but I did manage a single session with no moon in August. This is the resultant image. I must say I am impressed on how this lens performs and am looking forwards to trying out on some other targets I have lined up.

This is a view of an area of sky between Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Apart from the rather obvious large area of nebulosity towards the top of the image (NGC7822), there are several other interesting objects on view.

In the centre of the image lies SH2-170 also known as the Little Rosette nebula. Below SH2-170 we can see the faint circular outline of the supernova remnant LBN 576 (Abell 85), also known as the Garlic Bulb or Popped Balloon nebula. To the left of LBN 576 we can see LBN 593 (SH2-173), otherwise known as the Phantom of the Opera nebula.

There are other small patches of HII nebulosity on view. To the right of LBN 576 we can see a bright patch of nebulosity, this is LBN 565 (SH2-165), below this is the faint LBN566 (SH2-166). In the bottom right corner, we have SH2-164 and moving inwards to the left from this we have SH2-168.

Acquisition details and the full res image is here: https://app.astrobin.com/i/bgy4rn

Thanks for looking.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Andy! This looks super cool. I love the detail you got, and it's neat seeing all of the different objects that we normally capture individually all in one frame. I think you did great!

I set up the exact same setup as you last year. But my results were the opposite of yours. Mainly, I had a super weird gradiation and coloring throughout much of the image. None of the gradiation Correction processes in Pixinsight could correct, I took it into Photoshop to fix it the best I could. I have had so little clear skies, that when I get a chance to image with my rig, I just my Askar Fra500 as I haven't wanted to waste a night on it. But I probably need to do that again.

I believe I had mine set to f4, what was yours set at?

And did you use a filter? I think I used an Optolong L-Pro.

 

[Andy Elliott]

Hey Andy! This looks super cool. I love the detail you got, and it's neat seeing all of the different objects that we normally capture individually all in one frame. I think you did great!

I set up the exact same setup as you last year. But my results were the opposite of yours. Mainly, I had a super weird gradiation and coloring throughout much of the image. None of the gradiation Correction processes in Pixinsight could correct, I took it into Photoshop to fix it the best I could. I have had so little clear skies, that when I get a chance to image with my rig, I just my Askar Fra500 as I haven't wanted to waste a night on it. But I probably need to do that again.

I believe I had mine set to f4, what was yours set at?

And did you use a filter? I think I used an Optolong L-Pro.

Thanks Jim. Yes I am using my set up at F4, any lower and the stars were wrecked. For this image I used the Askar DuoBand Ha/OIII, and shot the stars in RGB. I did have to ditch a lot of my frames, those taken when the seeing wasn't too great (i.e. light cloud, moonlight). The frames for this image were from a clear night and no Moon. I guess the wide field is going to be more susceptible to light pollution / moonlight. I am in a Bortle 3 area.

 

[JimFox]

Thanks Jim. Yes I am using my set up at F4, any lower and the stars were wrecked. For this image I used the Askar DuoBand Ha/OIII, and shot the stars in RGB. I did have to ditch a lot of my frames, those taken when the seeing wasn't too great (i.e. light cloud, moonlight). The frames for this image were from a clear night and no Moon. I guess the wide field is going to be more susceptible to light pollution / moonlight. I am in a Bortle 3 area.

Yeah, I think the wide field is more susceptible to LR and moonlight. I really need to try it again. My initial desire for it was to be able to get that Antares region all in one frame. I guess if I wanted to do that again, I better hurry as it won't be visible that much longer, it's just finding clear nights that line up with my schedule has been my issue.

 

[Andy Elliott]

Yeah, I think the wide field is more susceptible to LR and moonlight. I really need to try it again. My initial desire for it was to be able to get that Antares region all in one frame. I guess if I wanted to do that again, I better hurry as it won't be visible that much longer, it's just finding clear nights that line up with my schedule has been my issue.

Ahhhh....Antares, I wish. Its just low for me and a really short imaging window. I will have to give it a try (next year) maybe.

 

[JimFox]

Ahhhh....Antares, I wish. Its just low for me and a really short imaging window. I will have to give it a try (next year) maybe.

I am heading to my sons house next week who lives near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The forecast keeps looking better and better for clear skies when I am there. I will have my telescope gear with me. All of our talk about the 135mm, has me thinking that maybe I will try it again on the first night. I will be there 5 nights, so I can use the 135mm setup the first night and see how it goes, and capture Antares. And then switch to my Askar Fra500 for the rest of the nights.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Spectacular! On AB at full size one can really appreciate the quality of that lens for astro. I think you must have gotten a 'good' one . Great work!

ML

 

[Andy Elliott]

I am heading to my sons house next week who lives near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The forecast keeps looking better and better for clear skies when I am there. I will have my telescope gear with me. All of our talk about the 135mm, has me thinking that maybe I will try it again on the first night. I will be there 5 nights, so I can use the 135mm setup the first night and see how it goes, and capture Antares. And then switch to my Askar Fra500 for the rest of the nights.

Ahhh...good luck. I will be looking forward to seeing your results! I know what you mean about trying to decide what gear to use, the answer could be a second mount I guess (I wish!). Clear skies.

 

[Andy Elliott]

Spectacular! On AB at full size one can really appreciate the quality of that lens for astro. I think you must have gotten a 'good' one . Great work!

ML

Thanks Mike. The lens is pretty amazing really, just need to accept it will have limitations, particularly when seeing conditions are not ideal.

 

[JimFox]

Ahhh...good luck. I will be looking forward to seeing your results! I know what you mean about trying to decide what gear to use, the answer could be a second mount I guess (I wish!). Clear skies.

I actually do have a capable 2nd Mount, the ioptron Gem 28. It's sitting gathering dust since I got the AM5 2 years ago. I would need a 2nd camera to use it though.