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Come join the friendliest, most engaging and inclusive astronomy forum geared for beginners and advanced telescope users, astrophotography devotees, plus check out our "Astro" goods vendors.
The California Nebula (NGC 1499/Sh2-220) is an emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus. It is so named because it appears to resemble the outline of the US State of California. It is almost 2.5° long on the sky and, because of its very low surface brightness, it is extremely difficult to observe visually. It lies at a distance of about 1,000 light years from Earth. Its fluorescence is due to excitation of the Hβ line in the nebula by the nearby prodigiously energetic O7 star, Xi Persei, also known as Menkib.
The California Nebula was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884.
All comments, good, bad and indifferent are welcome. And as always, thanks for looking
What you see is what you get,
Clear Skies!
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro
Very nice Chris. It's crazy how large this target is that even with your 80mm you cannot capture the entirety in a single frame. Well done on the processing.
Really nice Chris! You certainly caught a piece of California!
Nice work. If you get more imaging time, you might even be able to bring out even more nebulosity.
Just curious why the L-Pro and not the L-eNhance? Looks like the L-Pro did a decent job though.
Keep up the nice images!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Juno16 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:41 am
Really nice Chris! You certainly caught a piece of California!
Nice work. If you get more imaging time, you might even be able to bring out even more nebulosity.
Just curious why the L-Pro and not the L-eNhance? Looks like the L-Pro did a decent job though.
Keep up the nice images!
I wanted to grab some data of the Monkey Nebula with the L-Pro because I wanted to see the differences between the two filters. California was visible before the Monkey was so I grabbed some data. It's currently a royal pain to swap filters at the scope with the Pro being a clip filter and the Enhance a 2" inch that threads into my camera rotator. I haven't processed the Monkey run yet. I learned a lot processing the California Nebula, masking just the nebula and enhancing the Ha then inverting the mask to make the stars look more natural by removing the Ha. That came from you when you mentioned saturation in the last image. I also played with the Star Spike Pro plugin, and it actually does a somewhat decent job of colorizing the stars, I'm working with that now. Also working with the full spectrum camera, I'm glad now that I didn't modify my 600D. It will be my go-to camera when I'm wanting to image anything that is not Ha.
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro
AstroBee wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:26 pm
Very nice Chris. It's crazy how large this target is that even with your 80mm you cannot capture the entirety in a single frame. Well done on the processing.
Thank you, I'm learning. This one taught me a lot!
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro
Juno16 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:41 am
Really nice Chris! You certainly caught a piece of California!
Nice work. If you get more imaging time, you might even be able to bring out even more nebulosity.
Just curious why the L-Pro and not the L-eNhance? Looks like the L-Pro did a decent job though.
Keep up the nice images!
I wanted to grab some data of the Monkey Nebula with the L-Pro because I wanted to see the differences between the two filters. California was visible before the Monkey was so I grabbed some data. It's currently a royal pain to swap filters at the scope with the Pro being a clip filter and the Enhance a 2" inch that threads into my camera rotator. I haven't processed the Monkey run yet. I learned a lot processing the California Nebula, masking just the nebula and enhancing the Ha then inverting the mask to make the stars look more natural by removing the Ha. That came from you when you mentioned saturation in the last image. I also played with the Star Spike Pro plugin, and it actually does a somewhat decent job of colorizing the stars, I'm working with that now. Also working with the full spectrum camera, I'm glad now that I didn't modify my 600D. It will be my go-to camera when I'm wanting to image anything that is not Ha.
I understand! For some reason, I thought that you had a filter drawer. I don't even like opening up my drawer in the dark and handling a $200+ filter (in a drawer). If you ever go that route, it really isn't too bad swapping out while imaging. I did it a little while ago.
I just started trying out a uv/ir cut filter instead of my usual IDAS LPS D-1 (light pollution) filter on M45. I have always used at least an lp filter in my Bortle 7 skies. Quite surprised how well the uv/ir cut seems to be working. Swapped to the L-eNhance for a few hours on the Rosette.
Thanks for the reply and very glad to hear that things are going very well on the processing end. To me anyway, the processing can be more challenging than aquisition!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Juno16 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 8:14 am
[
I understand! For some reason, I thought that you had a filter drawer. I don't even like opening up my drawer in the dark and handling a $200+ filter (in a drawer). If you ever go that route, it really isn't too bad swapping out while imaging. I did it a little while ago.
I just started trying out a uv/ir cut filter instead of my usual IDAS LPS D-1 (light pollution) filter on M45. I have always used at least an lp filter in my Bortle 7 skies. Quite surprised how well the uv/ir cut seems to be working. Swapped to the L-eNhance for a few hours on the Rosette.
Thanks for the reply and very glad to hear that things are going very well on the processing end. To me anyway, the processing can be more challenging than aquisition!
My next addition is going to be a 2" filter wheel once I sell my 1.25" version that I bought when I didn't know any better. It's never been out of the box. Then I'll replace my clip filter with its 2" version. Beyond a doubt processing is more challenging. However, I wish that were the case last night. I couldn't get anything to plate solve reliably last night except for ASPS in blind mode in its standalone app. Focus kept fluctuating and the skies were clear. I'm thinking I had power cables to close to the focuser cable and that was introducing random shifts in the focus. Focus kept jumping around like it had a mind of its own. Broke everything down and reworked my cable bundle, I'm hoping that solves the problem
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro
Sometimes sessions just seem to be plagued with issues and other times not. Thankfully, most sessions go well!
Let me know if your re-cabling makes a difference. I bundle all of the cables together in a cable sleeve and not had any issues.
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Juno16 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:31 pm
Sometimes sessions just seem to be plagued with issues and other times not. Thankfully, most sessions go well!
Let me know if your re-cabling makes a difference. I bundle all of the cables together in a cable sleeve and not had any issues.
I managed to get ASTAP to plate solve but it was still hit and miss and I was chasing Polar Alignment with TPPA, the only time it ever does that is if my location is incorrect in the mount. I double and tripled checked that and it was good. Bhatinov focusing was still goofy. So now what? I focused my guide scope and guiding was working spot on, tracked five-minute subs for 20 images no issues but Stellarium was acting goofy. It would show the scope position slowly drifting off then jump almost an entire degree, checked location in Syn Scan and it was good and no complaints from PHD2. I'd plate solve and sync the mount and Stellarium would show the scope where it actually was but only for a few moments before it started drifting again. At the end of the night, I decided to check star alignment in the mount and Venus was there. Venus was not visible from my current location. I had synced on her from my previous location, it's about a degree further north, which is about what Stellarium was showing when it jumped. How Venus survived in the mount's memory through two power cycles I have no idea since I don't normally park the mount at the end of each session as I break down every night. If I do when I start the mount up the next session, I tell it to ignore the park information.
Any ways, lessons learned. While the data capture was a bust due to moisture, wispy clouds and a target that was really too small for my scope to resolve it was a good session. I also solved wireless connection issues to the mount and the office, so now I can work from inside these cold winter months.
Clear Skies!
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro
I managed to get ASTAP to plate solve but it was still hit and miss and I was chasing Polar Alignment with TPPA, the only time it ever does that is if my location is incorrect in the mount. I double and tripled checked that and it was good. Bhatinov focusing was still goofy. So now what? I focused my guide scope and guiding was working spot on, tracked five-minute subs for 20 images no issues but Stellarium was acting goofy. It would show the scope position slowly drifting off then jump almost an entire degree, checked location in Syn Scan and it was good and no complaints from PHD2. I'd plate solve and sync the mount and Stellarium would show the scope where it actually was but only for a few moments before it started drifting again. At the end of the night, I decided to check star alignment in the mount and Venus was there. Venus was not visible from my current location. I had synced on her from my previous location, it's about a degree further north, which is about what Stellarium was showing when it jumped. How Venus survived in the mount's memory through two power cycles I have no idea since I don't normally park the mount at the end of each session as I break down every night. If I do when I start the mount up the next session, I tell it to ignore the park information.
Any ways, lessons learned. While the data capture was a bust due to moisture, wispy clouds and a target that was really too small for my scope to resolve it was a good session. I also solved wireless connection issues to the mount and the office, so now I can work from inside these cold winter months.
Clear Skies!
Thanks for the clear skies wishes, but clouds started moving in yesterday and rain is predicted for next week. Oh well, I was fortunate to get out a few nights this week. Very fortunate!
Heck yeah! Get inside! I love doing visual occasionally and love it outside. For imaging, I just set up, watch the flip, and break down outside. The rest of the time, I’m eating snacks, watching tv, or napping. Still use a laptop for acquisition, but use Team Viewer to run the session from indoors on the desktop. Life is grand!
Are you running a usb cable from the mount hc or using a direct connection and bypassing the hc? The only reason that I ask is because I just went hc less and really like it.
Take care Chris and have fun!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Juno16 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:11 pm
Thanks for the clear skies wishes, but clouds started moving in yesterday and rain is predicted for next week. Oh well, I was fortunate to get out a few nights this week. Very fortunate!
Heck yeah! Get inside! I love doing visual occasionally and love it outside. For imaging, I just set up, watch the flip, and break down outside. The rest of the time, I’m eating snacks, watching tv, or napping. Still use a laptop for acquisition, but use Team Viewer to run the session from indoors on the desktop. Life is grand!
Are you running a usb cable from the mount hc or using a direct connection and bypassing the hc? The only reason that I ask is because I just went hc less and really like it.
Take care Chris and have fun!
Clouds and rain blew in early this morning for me too, at least for the next 10 days.
I stopped using the hc almost from the beginning once I figured how to get the app to work on the PC. It's been in the box now for the last six months. I want one more item for the mount and that's the Wi-Fi module so I can use the virtual hc from my phone when I want to do visual. Being cabled is such a pain and I do love my tech!
Maybe if I wish for it, it will happen!
Clear Skies!
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro
chris_g wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:27 pm
Clouds and rain blew in early this morning for me too, at least for the next 10 days.
I stopped using the hc almost from the beginning once I figured how to get the app to work on the PC. It's been in the box now for the last six months. I want one more item for the mount and that's the Wi-Fi module so I can use the virtual hc from my phone when I want to do visual. Being cabled is such a pain and I do love my tech!
Maybe if I wish for it, it will happen!
Clear Skies!
Which app is that Chris? I tried EQMOD, but I like GSS better.
While imaging, I also run TeamViewer on my phone, but I have to be careful. I accidentally moved the focuser position the other night when I was laying on the couch and had to stop the sequence and run autofocus!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
chris_g wrote: ↑Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:27 pm
Clouds and rain blew in early this morning for me too, at least for the next 10 days.
I stopped using the hc almost from the beginning once I figured how to get the app to work on the PC. It's been in the box now for the last six months. I want one more item for the mount and that's the Wi-Fi module so I can use the virtual hc from my phone when I want to do visual. Being cabled is such a pain and I do love my tech!
Maybe if I wish for it, it will happen!
Clear Skies!
Which app is that Chris? I tried EQMOD, but I like GSS better.
While imaging, I also run TeamViewer on my phone, but I have to be careful. I accidentally moved the focuser position the other night when I was laying on the couch and had to stop the sequence and run autofocus!
I use SynScan and Remote Desktop. I've got the remote desktop app on my phone but my display is entirely way to small, I can't imagine trying to do anything using it. I tried EQMOD at first but had issues with it. I'm sure it was me thinking back on it now.
Image Cam: Canon 6D (Ha mod), 600D (Stock), SVBony SV405CC
Image OTA: EvoStar ED80, WO Z73, C8-A XLT
Mount: EQ6-R Pro Pier, AZ-EQ5 Pro Pier
Guide OTA: Orion 60mm, WO 32mm, ZWO OAG, SV501P
Guide Cam: ZWO 120mm, 290mm mini
EAA OTA: Orion ST80
EAA Cam: SVBony SV705C
EP: Baader Hyperion Modular Set
Filters: L-Pro Canon EOS C, L-eNhance, L-Pro, Optolong Ha 7mm, Optolong Oiii 6.5mm, Optolong Sii 6.5mm, ES H-Beta
Session Control: Mini PC/Win11 Pro, APT 4.1, PHD2 2.6.10
Processing: PixInsight, DSS 4.2.6, Adobe PS CC, Astronomy Tools Action Set, Star Spikes Pro