StarTools

Captured IC 2944 Running Chicken Nebula over 3 nights under Bortle 7/8 City suburban skies
I haven’t imaged this object since 2021 so it was a new challenge using the more superior Antlia ALPT 5nm OSC filter
I chose 2 minute subs in lieu of 3 minute and made sure I captured plenty of good data

PHD2 guiding was smooth on all 3 nights ( only discarded 5 subs )

Took some good advice from Stefan and reprocessed the image which did provide more detail in the outer regions

Astrobin link below for high resolution image and acquisition details

https://www.astrobin.com/jz7rdo/B/

Thanks for looking

Comments welcome

Hi Martin,

looks great! I think it's an improvement and appears more natural. Histogram looks better, too. You are of course right that 'Isolate' helps with pushing back busy star fields and a noisy background resulting from Bortle 8 data. I don't use Isolate anymore since too much data is lost in my experience (of course that's easier with Bortle 4 data - you certainly know from your dark site). In order to push back the stars I am rather heavy handed in Shrink.

Anyway, amazing image. Just love these southern DSOs

Regards
Stefan

Hi Stefan,
Thanks for your kind comments and advice
I’m not done with my 2600MC camera yet
I was going to embark on my Mono journey but maybe later this year
The 2600MC is also an excellent camera for broadband targets like globs , some nebula and galaxies
Galaxy seasons approaching in a months time , can’t wait to capture some Southern hemisphere’s favourites

Clear Skies
Martin

Hi Martin,

sure the 2600MC is a great camera. I use a budget variant with the same sensor so I can relate to that Can't imagine what you can do with the mono one under your dark sky site

Can't wait to see you galaxy pics. Do you plan to image the Sculptor Galaxy? Or is that a different season...? That's a great southern galaxy I always like looking at.

Regards
Stefan

Stefan,
In regard to Mono I was more thinking of my Bortle 7/8 City / Suburban site where Narrowband would shine !!
Folk have been getting great results from the Antlia 3nm Ha , Oiii and Sii filters under heavy LP
Of course Mono would be great at my dark site for broadband targets too

Some Southern Hemisphere targets in Galaxy season
NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy
M83 Pinwheel Galaxy
NGC 55 String of Pearls Galaxy
NGC 300 Southern Pinwheel
NGC 1365 Great Barred Spiral Galaxy
NGC 5128 Centaurus A Galaxy
M104 Sombrero Galaxy
NGC 6744 Pavo Galaxy
NGC 4944 Tweezers Galaxy
NGC 247 Burbridge Chain

And many many more …… depending how how deep your rig can go

Clear Skies
Martin

You're right, using your mono with filters with really narrow band passes under light polluted skies makes much more sense.

Wishing you good luck with your galaxy projects

Regards
Stefan