PacMan 2.0

[jnelson]

Not a new version of the 80's video game but my second attempt at capturing NGC 281/PacMan Nebula in Ha/Oiii. Recently posted a version using the C8 w/0.63 reducer, AVX & ASI533MC, 90 x 120s, that was reasonable but could have been better particularly with some bloated stars. So, never letting a challenge go unanswered, I went out 2 nights later & grabbed 34 x 120s again using the C8 & ASI533MC in Ha/Oiii before the clouds rolled in, but stacked both a 0.63 & 0.5 reducer in the optical train to try to improve the pixel scale. Also, again using the OAG, tried to tighten up the tracking. Processed again in GIMP w/star reduction. Processing was more of a challenge due to vignetting but was able to take care of most of it except for some remaining at the edges.

Vitals (sorry, my medical background): w/0.63 alone--pixel scale: 0.63 arc-sec, astrometry/RMS: RA 0.98" Dec 1.44"
w/0.63 + 0.5--pixel scale: 0.76 arc-sec, astrometry/RMS: RA 1.32" Dec 0.43"

Had a fair amount Dec backlash when calibrating first time but significantly less the second time which I think was probably due to better PA. Definitely helped tracking in Dec.

Thanks again for looking!

[messier 111]

vey nice shot , thx .