quickie M45

[BABOafrica]

Usual problem with too many clouds... I was able to sneak in a quick M45 one morning.

WO66mm APO on AVX with Fuji X-A1 (modded at iso6400)

35 x 60s

I was surprised to see so many spikes on the bright stars. Not sure what that was due to...

After all, I was using a refractor.

BABO

[Larry 1969]

That's a pretty good amount of dust and detail for 35 min TOT. Those spikes are strange though. Sort of like the JWST!

Larry

[KathyNS]

Nice one!

That is definitely a weird spike pattern. The angles are pretty distinctive (40 degrees, not 45), so it ought to be possible to track down the source.

[BABOafrica]

Nice one!

That is definitely a weird spike pattern. The angles are pretty distinctive (40 degrees, not 45), so it ought to be possible to track down the source.

The only thing I can think of as far as a possible source is a thin film of dust on the lens. Plenty of dust around. Would that do it?

BABO

[KathyNS]

Nice one!

That is definitely a weird spike pattern. The angles are pretty distinctive (40 degrees, not 45), so it ought to be possible to track down the source.

The only thing I can think of as far as a possible source is a thin film of dust on the lens. Plenty of dust around. Would that do it?

BABO

It is very unlikely to be dust. The pattern is too symmetrical. You have three diffraction sources, with the middle one exactly half-way between the others. You didn't by any chance leave the Bahtinov mask on, did you? (We have all done it!)

[bobharmony]

It is very unlikely to be dust. The pattern is too symmetrical. You have three diffraction sources, with the middle one exactly half-way between the others. You didn't by any chance leave the Bahtinov mask on, did you? (We have all done it!)

I was wondering what the Pleiades dust would look like with a bahtinov mask in place. The mask was my first thought when I saw the spikes. If so, that is a very nice focus job!

Bob

[jrkirkham]

It looks to me like a design from a Bahtinov mask. If so, I kind of like it. It adds a touch of sparkle.

[Gordon]

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

app.php/article/9-17-2022-tss-astrophot ... of-the-day

[Juno16]

Congratulations Babo!

Nice image for almost no integration time. Mask on ornot!

[Makuser]

Hi Babo. A very nice M45 (Pleiades) image. Excellent contrast and the Merope Nebula shows up well for just 35 minutes of data. I think the Bahtinov mask adds a nice artistic touch to your capture. Thanks for sharing this work with us on here Babo and congratulations on receiving the TSS APOD Award today.

[Unitron48]

Very nice! I like the "JWST effect"! Congrats on your APOD recognition.

Dave

[TheButcher]

Excellent BABO and Congrats on the APOD!!! Well Done!!!

[BABOafrica]

Bhatinov mask ???

Well, it was 3 am when I got out of bed to check if the skies where clear and, seeing no clouds, got the scope revved up.

And I always check focus with a B-mask before I begin collecting light frames.... So, who knows?

BABO

PS And, Gordon, thanks for the award!

[Mirrorgirl]

well done Babo really good

[Ylem]

Congratulations on the well deserved APOD, it's a beautiful image.

[Mirrorgirl]

That's a pretty good amount of dust and detail for 35 min TOT. Those spikes are strange though. Sort of like the JWST!

Larry