Sh2-129 Flying Bat Nebula and almost a disaster.

[carastro]

This is taken over 4 nights, but some nights I didn't collect much due to cloud, short nights and Clamshell dome obstruction as dome wouldn't move onto Dome table (but now fixed).

On the last night (21st June) I almost had a disaster as because I had put a cover over the kit to protect it while my dome table problem was being repaired, when I tried to take it off last night, it caught the filter wheel and spun it round so it became detached from the lens and both the Atik camera and EFW crashed onto the floor. I was obviously very concerned that they were both broken, but luckily I think the foam flooring might have saved it. Only trouble was it all had to be re-rigged and new flats done etc etc. I supposed I just have to count my lucky stars and learn my lesson, and the camera and EFW are now also tied on.

So much for putting a cover over the kit to protect it!!!

I decided not to waste any more time trying to reveal the Squid in Bortle 8, though I did do twice as much data on Oiii as the Ha with a fast lens.

In total:
Ha 12 x 600secs (total 2 hours)
Oiii 2 x 20mins, 2 x 30mins, and 7 x 15mins 3 x 900secs binned x 2 (4 hours 10 mins)

Atik460EX and Samyang 135mm F2 lens @ F2.8
Guided on HEQ5

Total imaging time 6 hours and 10 mins.

[MariusD69]

Wonderful image! Great job!

[StarBru]

Wonderful image and I am glad the camera and EFW is not broken!

[Gordon]

Congratulations Carole on having your image selected as todays TSS APOD!

app.php/article/6-23-2020-tss-astrophot ... of-the-day

[Makuser]

Hi Carole. Another fine image from you here with beautiful emission nebulosity color in your capture. I am so glad that you escaped any equipment damage during setup. Thanks for sharing this delightful view with us Carole, and congratulations on winning the TSS APOD Award today.

[STEVE333]

Wow Carole, that was an adventure! I can't imagine how you felt when you heard the equipment hit the floor. Your heart must have stopped!!! Hopefully all is OK. Then the problems with the Dome not coming off. You will likely remember this night for a long time.

A very nice attempt at capturing the Squid. You did capture a bit of the "core" so it wasn't a complete failure. Actually not a failure at all. Sh2-129 turned out beautifully. You captured a lot of the surrounding nebulosity too. Congratulations on getting the APOD award.

Cheers,
Steve

[Graeme1858]

That's an excellent image. The detail around the nebula is lovely.

Hope your camera and filter wheel aren't damaged!

Congratulations on the APOD.

Regards

Graeme

[Hankmeister3]

Awesome grab. Glad the hardware survived the fall!

[TheButcher]

Awesome image Carole! Well done! and Congrats on the APOD

[SirTalllPaul]

Just beautiful.

[Ruud]

It's so good. What a gorgeous image. It's Awesome! (and congrats, Carole, on scoring a new TSS APOD)

Full points for this one.

[OzEclipse]

Wonderful image Carole.

[Greenman]

Great Image Carole, I must find out how to stack multiple exposures and dark, as it gives good depth to the image. Glad no damage was done from protecting your equipment. Congratulations on APOD!

[helicon]

Very nice image Carole and congrats on winning the APOD!

[Astrovetteman]

Beautifully done Carole!! Congratulations on the APOD! I had a similar experience with my TV-85 when I was attaching it to the mounting plate....it slid off the mount and I caught it with my left hand just before it hit the concrete....we can both thank our “lucky stars “!!
Great Image!!
Tom

[carastro]

Wow folks, I had not logged on for a couple of days and had forgotten I had posted this.

Thanks so much for the IOTD.

Also thanks every-one for your nice comments. I have actually got another image to post since this one, so camera and EFW seem to have survived, but must not let it happen again.

I should explain about my Dome. It's a SkyShed POD, so the clamshell bit opens OK, but I have a dome zenith table to slide the dome onto if I need to image nearer the Zenith, and something was obstructing it. All sorted now.

Carole

[Kanadalainen]

Hi Carole,

Great image, I really love my Rokinon 135mm lens. They are so sharp.

Good on you, no damage to the equipment. I had a wrenching moment this past year with the big mirror on my dob, and like you all is well.

[carastro]

I must find out how to stack multiple exposures and dark

Most people start off using Deep Sky Stacker, it's free and easy to use, (just stick to the default settings until you get more confident).

Carole

[jthommes]

Well done Carole. Great wide field showing the full extent on this emission structure.

[carastro]

Thanks Jim.

Carole