M57 Experiment

[sdbodin]

The famous Ring Nebula is the subject of this imaging experiment. Actually a twofold experiment, one to see if short exposures yield more detail and two, keep from oversaturating the core features. So, did 30/10 second and 5/30sec and 1 minute exposures, used only 35 of the 40 subs, total exposure about 10 minutes . Well the results are mixed, of course. Didn't oversaturate the core, but 10 seconds is too long for much if any 'lucky' imaging sharpening to be effective. Anyway, the OSC camera did a nice job on the colors.

Again, Meade 16 LX200 at f6 with Starizona reducer, ASI1600MC-cool camera, 200 gain, 50 offset, -18C, UV/IR filter, no dark, quarks, flats, bats, or ghosts either. Guided with Meade 107D 4 " SCT at 2 sec rate thru QHY5L-II mono. Captured and stacked in Nebulosity, final in PS CS5, posted image 50% crop and 33% full size.

Clear skies,
Steve

[messier 111]

very nice work , thx .

[bobharmony]

I'll declare the experiment a success, Steve! I love the dust lanes running through the central darker nebulosity, and the central star shows up quite nicely. Congrats on this acquisition process.

Bob

[MariusD69]

Looks great! Well done, Steve!

[Makuser]

Hi Steve. A very nice job on your M57 (Ring Nebula) image. And the shorter exposure times worked out quite well for you. Very nice bi-color nebulosity, and as Bob said, the central star shows up just fine. Thanks for sharing this capture with us Steve, and keep up the great work.