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That’s a beauty, Bruce!

NGC 2903 is a barred spiral galaxy in Leo, well-known as "the one that Messier missed".? It has an unusual mass distribution, with over 75% of the total mass contained in the spiral arms rather than in the nucleus.? Professional studies have shown the nucleus to be an active area of new-star formation with numerous "hot spots" in the infra-red spectrum.? This unusual level of star formation is thought to be fueled by the central bar structure seen in this image.

The image was captured during 5 nights in February-March 2024 from SkyPi Remote Observatory using a 12.5" PlaneWave scope and a QSI-640ws camera at f/8 for a final LRGB integration of 17.5 hours



Thanks for looking,
Bruce W.

Thanks Pete.

Given your experience, if you see an area for improvement in my images, I am open to your critique.?

The ME on the left has an Astro-Physics 305mm F/3.8 Riccardi-Honders Astrograph mounted on it. I picked it up nearly 2 years ago now. It is the scope I used for the 2 images I posted earlier.?

The MX on the right has a 10" Meade SCT that I used for visual with my Borg 101mm F/4.1 mounted on top of that. I don't guide with the Borg and the Meade was causing issues with my T-Point model, so I have since removed it.?

Both of these systems are active on every clear night. I just need to find some time to process all of the data!!! :)

Barry?

Great images!

Warren and I started back in 2005 with IP4AP.com and we morphed into MoP w Ron during the pandemic because we couldn't do two weekend workshops in Buffalo and San Jose. It's been fun!

I don't think I can go wrong with a Paramount. What are the two larger OTA's on your mount?

Pete

Too funny.

I know you and I have communicated back and forth on other topics such as the SXAO, however I didn't know you were part of that project with Ron and Warren. I expect that you have done everything possible with your data then.?

As a relative newcomer to PI, I will have a closer look at your project. I have only processed 2 images in PI thus far and have a lot of data to go through. Here are my first 2 attempts. I hadn't posted them on this forum, because I didn't capture the data with my QSI.?



As for your direction in leaning toward a Paramount, I will share that I use both an MX and an ME. Both work wonderfully with T-Point and I continue to image with my Borg101 unguided and a 450 point model. Interestingly, my ME has a Periodic error below the noise threshold. They are both excellent mounts. I believe Kevin (also a participant on this forum) uses an MX as well.?

Here is a quick pic of mine mounted in my observatory.


I'm happy to answer any questions you might have.?

Barry

Barry,

Yes, I do use PixInsight. I'm one of partners at mastersofpixinsight.com, we've been educating on processing since 2005. :)?

I can remove the gradient as you'll see in the images attached, the luminance image with the gradient removed compared to where I started in the ?image in my last post. I've also attached the final LRGB of the Deer Lick is all done with my RCX and this camera. The gradient or I should say defect is picked up as data in the final calibrated images so background extraction will not get it all no mater what tool I use (and I've used them all).

Even with results like this I'm just manipulating the hell out of the data and I need a lot more signal than normal to overcome the manipulation used to remove the defect. The RCX is 17 years old and it's probably time for an upgrade. Looking at a Paramount and I have not decided on the OTA.

Thanks for your feedback and suggestions.?

Regards,

Pete

In reading your last message it made me think about how you might approach removing the gradient.?

Do you use Pixinsight? If so, the most recent version that came out last week has a new gradient removal tool. I haven’t used it yet, but have watched a few videos on it. There are mixed reviews due to all of the different options available and lack of documentation.?

The other option would be to use DBE or Graexpert. I have had great results from DBE, although it does take some time to set up.?

Something to consider with the data you have from that setup.?

Barry

Barry,

I think all in all its a keeper at this point. The only issue I have it that the mechanical shutter has an issue and I need to clean the rubber O ring if Its been sitting for too long. QSI did send a few spares along when we troubleshoot this issue. Recently the problem reoccured and I will take sometime now that my system is down and replace the O ring.

The attached image shows the problem. The gray scale image is the 16200 and the processed images of the same object (one highly stretched) with the 8300. You can see the old sensor was mostly inside the gradient ring.

Thanks, for the feedback.?

Pete

On Fri, Mar 15, 2024 at 05:54 AM, Peter Proulx wrote:

QSI6162

Good morning Pete,

That is unfortunate to hear your imaging train is giving you troubles like that. I wouldn't have imagined that kind of problem and I assume it was difficult to pinpoint.

I'm afraid CCD's have lost much of their value with the mass exodus to CMOS units. While there is still a market for them, unfortunately their values have dropped significantly.? It is my opinion that the remaining market is for those who have permanent setups and can afford the additional imaging time in order to lower the noise and thus get to a reasonable and comparable value to what the CMOS sensors are producing.?

Recognizing this significant drop in value, I picked up an FLI 16200 last year (same chip as your QSI) complete with FW and the required 50mm filters all for less than $4000 USD. These cameras sold for over $10k on their own only a few short years ago! I have paired my camera with a Astro-Physics 305 Riccardi-Honders and it? makes for a wonderful imaging train.?

There is a rather old ad on CN right now for a QSI6162 which is listed at $2099.?The same seller has also listed it on Astromart for $1899???

My advice would be to incorporate your camera into your new imaging train. It is an excellent camera with a decent sized chip. If you choose otherwise, I would at least try to pick something up that will use your current filters.

Best of luck with your decision.?

Barry

I might have purchased the last QSI6162 2 years ago. Do these CCD based cameras have any value these days in the world of CMOS based cameras? I the time of purchase I was on the fence of going CMOS, but my QSI683WSG had served me so well over the years and I was using a Starlight SX-AO that the 6162 would kind of fit right into my imaging train.?

Unfortunately, the 10" Meade RCX that I've been using this on was not designed for modern full size chips. There's a circular gradient that shows in images that was always there but just on the outside of 8300 imaging circle. While I've been able to work around the gradient in post processing I've decided to move on to a new OTA and mount. I'm thinking of purchasing one of the new 700 series cameras, so my question about value.?

Regards,

Pete

Some of you may have been unable to link to my website because it had been stepped on by the hosting service. :-(? I have now restored it so image links should work again.

Regards,
Bruce W.

Hello Scott,
The sensors used in the cameras have electronic shutters so there is no need for a mechanical shutter for taking the images. We are looking to use one of the filter wheel slots as a shutter for shooting dark frames and plan to supply the cameras with a filter-size disc for this purpose for customers who wish to do so.?

Yes, great news. Will these cameras have a mechanical shutter?
Scott

Any idea why when I click on the link I get an Http 500 error -?

This page isn’t working right now

?can't currently handle this request.

I tried yesterday and today and I get the same message.

Manning B

Hello Keith,

Yes, it is a bit different from the original 700 design, the dual filter wheel and case style have been postponed for the time being but will hopefully be incorporated into the 800 series in the future.

Thanks?

Geof & Kevin, thanks for the feedback.

Bruce

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This is an image of the Medusa nebula (Abell 21), a large, dim planetary nebula in Gemini. It wasn't discovered until 1955 and was thought to be a supernova remnant because of its visual structure.? But measurement of its expansion rate in the mid-70s caused it to be reclassified as an old planetary nebula.? The progenitor star is the bright blue dot slightly right of center, glowing brightly in blue and ultra-violet as it passes through a helium burning phase on its way to becoming a white dwarf star.? I originally imaged this target in 2017 but didn't get enough data to avoid an overly noisy result. So this version is a mash-up of that original data combined with new data from both 2023 and 2024 in New Mexico, all using the same setup - a 12.5" PlaneWave scope and a QSI-640ws camera at f/8.? The total time spent on the target was 32.6 hours using LRGB, Ha, and Oiii filters.



Thanks for looking,
Bruce W.